Do beech trees grow on awful clay snotty soil!?

[Doing it for the kids]

We only have one on the whole farm and that’s a poor specimen in a hedge.

i don’t see many locally but getting grief for delaying a hedge planting session between house and farm yard.

plenty say they will be ‘ok’ ,planning on planting a mix but I don’t want these to flop when everything else doesn’t!?

advice welcome!

 

[andybk]

usually find oaks thrive around here in cold wet clay ground ,

 

[le bon paysan]

The only Beech trees we had back in England grew in lighter soil,just on the bottom of the Cotswold hills where it then ran down to the Vale of Evesham.

 

[A Sales representative]

I think hornbeam, is a beech look a like that does well in clay soils

 

[onthehoof]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
This - Hornbeam is similar to Beech but thrives on heavy clay, also a good hedgerow tree

 

[Wigeon]

Great trees hornbeams. Mystical and interesting. Clay here and loads of beeches too, though rarely in hedges.

 

[powerontheland]

Beech prefer Sandy soils I think

 

[onthehoof]

 

[Yale]

From the beech we have here I think they don’t mind clay as long as it has decent drainage,on a hedge bank with its feet dry.

Alder will thrive in wet clay.

 

[Kevtherev]

Dig a trench and fill it with compost and topsoil to help them get established.
Hornbeam a good alternative to beech.

 

[caveman]

Oak and sweet chestnut.
You know you need those fencing materials.

 

[Doing it for the kids]

Thanks all. Hornbeam is in the mix, about 25%, beech about 66% and then 3 others at 5% each. I may swop the ratios around a bit and I crew Hornbeam.

this is for a screening / ornamental hedge, not worried about fencing supplies!

 

[N.Yorks.]

(Blackthorn and Hawthorn are traditional hedging species good source of bird feed too.)

Lifted this off the Woodland Trust website for you:

Where to find common beech
Its natural habitat extends over a large part of Europe from southern Sweden to northern Sicily. It requires a humid atmosphere and well-drained soil. It can be sensitive to winter frost.

In the UK, common beech is only considered truly native to south-east England and south-east Wales. It grows in woods or as single trees, usually on drier, free-draining soils, such as chalk, limestone and light loams.

Beech woodland is shady and characterised by a dense carpet of fallen leaves and mast husks which prevent most woodland plants from growing. Only specialist shade-tolerant plants can survive beneath a beech canopy.

 

[Brisel]

The advantage of beech in a hedge is that it keeps its leaves longer in the autumn. As above, not suited to heavy soils, nor for coppicing or laying.

 

[Exfarmer]

Beech should do alright on heavy clay. All plants do not like going into a planting hole which turns into a puddle when heeled in. Be aware that grey squirrels love beech as do hares and rabbits. Any damage to the tree by grazing will always lead to a poor stem where rot sets in. It is nearly impossible to grow a good beech tree in the UK today.
used to have stand about ten acres of trees which were 60 years old, there was not 1 good one in the lot!

 

[Doing it for the kids]

The advantage of beech in a hedge is that it keeps its leaves longer in the autumn. As above, not suited to heavy soils, nor for coppicing or laying.

I think hornbeam clings on to its leaves quite well also.

 

[Brisel]

Beech should do alright on heavy clay. All plants do not like going into a planting hole which turns into a puddle when heeled in. Be aware that grey squirrels love beech as do hares and rabbits. Any damage to the tree by grazing will always lead to a poor stem where rot sets in. It is nearly impossible to grow a good beech tree in the UK today.
used to have stand about ten acres of trees which were 60 years old, there was not 1 good one in the lot!

Even on the chalk I used to look after, beech would get to a certain age and then rot from within. We were never short of firewood.

 

[caveman]

Where was the furniture industry mostly centered?
That aside.
If looking for ornamental, I would include a few cherry, thorns, crab apple, dog rose, etc.

 

[organicguy]

Oak and sweet chestnut.
You know you need those fencing materials.

But those two won't grow in the same place.
In my millenium wood I planted 10 sweet chestnut to coppice. Not one got above two feet!
Oaks and ash,and alder are now 30 ft.

 

[tinsheet]

Heavy clay here, beech trees everywhere, all our hedges are tall beech, beech all over west Somerset.