Beech Hedge

Hi
I wonder if I call upon you for advise please?
I've planted further Beech trees (to make a hedge) expanding on the ones recently planted by the landscaping company on my new house.
I have copied the distance between the ones they have planted which is around 20cm appart, is this correct?
Also do you advise to cain the new trees (currently 40cm in height) and when should I start to top them?
Thanks for your help, much appreciated.
Steve

 

20cm is fine, but you've already done it so too late to be asking that question!

Cain? Do you mean insert support canes? No need to do that at all.

Top them when they get close to the ultimate height you want them at.

 

Resist the temptation to wait until they reach the desired height - before you trim . The trick is to trim them back each year until the base of the hedge is bushy/dense and then let them grow to height.

It takes longer for the base to go bushy if you have a tall hedge.

I planted a beech hedge at my old place - planted them is a staggered double row.

No cains needed - even if the hedge is planted wonky - the beech will naturally grow straight up and the hedge will eventually look straight.