Beech plants (Fagus Sylvatica) or hedge plants are very suitable to be used as your home fence because of their fast growth and beautiful plant shape. If you want to grow this plant for a hedge, you have to choose the place where you want to plant it, plant it properly, and keep it growing well. For more info, follow from the first step below.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Prepare the Land
Step 1. Choose where you will plant it
Beech is not too fussy when it comes to choosing a location for planting, both in sunny and cloudy places. Beech will thrive in soil that contains high levels of acid.
The only thing you should avoid when choosing where to plant beech is land that contains litany soil or soil that is too wet
Step 2. Check whether the soil in the field contains clay or not. The trick is to check the soil with your hands whether the soil is moist and sticky on your hands, if yes, it means the soil contains clay
You can also see it from the cracks in the ground.
If your land conditions are like that, you can replace beech with hornbeam (Carpinus betulus)
Step 3. Prepare your land for the next season, it is better if you plant during the dry season so that it is easy to cultivate the soil, if it is the rainy season, you may find it quite difficult to cultivate the soil because it is too wet
Do not immediately apply fertilizer because it will make the soil hot and will certainly make the plants wither
Step 4. Remove weeds that are around the land you want to use to plant beech, especially if there is killer grass, of course it will be a problem
Keep and clean your land.
If you have a long time to prepare the land, you can use plywood boards to cover the soil in your land. Overlay the plank with the rock in the area where you will be planting the beech. This is done to keep the soil out of the sun, so grass won't grow on your field
Part 2 of 3: Installing the Fence Frame
Step 1. Choose the sapling that you will use, whether you will buy new shoots or shoots that have been stored in pots
Shoots that are new or not in pots are cheaper than those stored in pots which are heavier and more expensive. But if you buy shoots that are not potted, you must plant them in the ground immediately or they will wither soon, as opposed to those stored in pots which can last longer.
If you can't afford to plant the entire area of the fence at once, it's better to choose shoots that are kept in pots
Step 2. The beech shoots you buy will look like dead plants
Plants used for fencing usually have a section called a 'whip' which is about 60 cm high. Don't be surprised if the shoots that are not in pots look like dry stems, within a year the stems will start to grow leaves.
Step 3. Take care of the seeds until you are about to plant them
If you bought one without a pot, check it for damage during shipping and add a little water without removing the wrap from the store you bought it from. For those in pots, keep the soil moist until planting.
Seedlings that are not in pots should be stored in a cool place, not in a hot place, and watered regularly
Step 4. Plant on a quiet day
Ideally, you plant this plant on a calm day where the wind is not too strong or on a cloudy day, so you will not be disturbed by the wind or the hot sun. Wait for the shoots or seedlings to dry before you plant them.
You should plant this plant at the end of the rainy season, or the beginning of the dry season for better yields
Step 5. Plan the distance between one seedling and another
Usually the younger seedlings are planted in good soil conditions because they are very susceptible to wilting, in contrast to seedlings that are quite old which have good resistance. So that the density of plants on the fence is good, plant 5-7 seeds per meter.
- If you want it to be even denser, plant 5 to 7 seeds per meter.
- Distance is also needed so that there are no gaps in the fence, if you want the plants that propagate on the fence to be denser, then estimate how many plants per meter are needed.
Step 6. Give the seeds that use the pot more space
For seedlings that use pots, the density is greatly influenced by the size of the seeds. Look at the label advice given by the seller, but usually you can only grow 4 to 6 plants per meter.
- If you plant them in a line, plant 4 seedlings per meter.
- If planting them in 2 rows as suggested, plant 6 seedlings per meter..
Step 7. Wet the roots of the seedlings with water in a bucket for a few hours
Do not soak too long because it will cause the roots to rot.
To prevent this, you better wet it before planting and do it regularly
Step 8. Clean the roots before planting
Once removed from the bucket, check for broken or damaged roots, if any, trim them with a garden knife.
Do not cut the roots excessively
Step 9. Make a hole for planting
Do not go too deep, just until the roots of the seeds are buried, or do not press the seedlings into unusual positions because it will damage the roots of the seedlings.
Roots must be completely buried, lest any visible roots come out
Step 10. Fill with soil and water the planted seeds
Bury and gently press the soil until it is solid. Then water the seeds. Watering can remove water bubbles in the soil.
Part 3 of 3: Maintaining Fences
Step 1. Give a little fertilizer in each seed planted
Fertilizer will help keep the seedling or plant warm, get enough water, and prevent weed growth. You don't have to buy chemical fertilizers, just giving animal manure (such as chicken) will also be quite effective. These home-grown mulches include:
- Cut the weeds.
- Fertilize regularly.
- Clean fallen leaves.
- Cut off the dead bark.
Step 2. You can protect your plants from gusts of wind or wild animals by wrapping your plants in plant plastic that will adapt to the plant as it grows
Step 3. Water regularly in 2 years during growth
Most plants will die from lack of water. So you have to keep watering periodically for 2 years.
- Water the plant only when the soil looks dry, this will also help the roots grow deep and strong because the roots will always seek water to reach the soil.
- Focus your attention on watering during the dry season because that season the plants will need more water than usual.
Step 4. Periodically trim your hedges if they look too dense to prevent birds from making nests in your hedges
- For the first two years only cut the leaves or the tips so that the plant remains thin (not too thick).
- For the next 3 years, you can form your hedge, try to cut the top evenly so that sunlight spreads to each part of the plant in a balanced way. Then try to keep the height of the hedge at 1 meter, then thin it out and you can adjust the height of the hedge as you wish.
Step 5. Feed your plants
It may look weird or old-fashioned, but plants need nutrients to grow. Give additional fertilizer so that the plants grow strong and healthy.
You can also use a nutrient-boosting liquid that can be purchased at a plant store
Step 6. Protect your hedge from grass and wild animals
You will certainly feel worried if there are wild animals that damage or eat the hedge, you just need to make a protective fence around the hedge. To prevent grass from growing, you can use a mat or plywood board on the ground around the hedge to prevent grass from growing:
Put a few sheets of newspaper under the fence and use the bark as a barrier. This is to suppress the grass does not grow
Step 7. After your hedge is ready
There must be a time when the plant loses its leaves, leave the fallen leaves under the hedge. The fallen leaves are useful as fertilizer and suppress grass growth.
