Beech questions

Probably should have let no visible buds instead of leaving a viable bud on one side only.

So update has no major changes... autumn is here and buds have been set.



When should i leave no buds as a last resort to get backbudding?

My vote is patience & vigour.

Regular cutbacks???

barrosinc said:

I think half the trunk died. Still no buds..

Click to expand...

Looking at the picture, I am worried too. The slight brown-reddish tone of the bark on the right hand of the trunk would for me be a sign of dead/dying bark. Do a carefull check before taking any hasty action. This can be sunburn, and may take a year to really show as dead (cracking bark). Be carefull with sun: Beech are easily damaged by sun, so always keep the same side of the trunk exposed to the sun.

@MACH5 recommended me in another thread to remove the endbuds from stronger branches in winter to encourage back-budding. I was thinking similarly: You now have a strong tree, which has grown well this season. Perhaps you can trim back the whirl of shoots to 2 (One leader and 1 side-branch for now). ANd in late winter remove the strongest buds. See whether it responds?

I have 3 beech trees, and have had spontaneous buds on the trunk showing up n winter. I am in the "patience" camp, supported with strong growth and cut-backs of hardened off growth.

I placed it in full summer to get backbudding... first mistake. Did not get the intended effect and got a burnt tree.
I will remove the endbuds in winter. Thanks for the tip, leatherback.

barrosinc said:

I placed it in full summer to get backbudding... first mistake. Did not get the intended effect and got a burnt tree.
I will remove the endbuds in winter. Thanks for the tip, leatherback.

Click to expand...

Be cautious with how much wind you expose Beech to as well, they are not happy in wind.

JudyB said:

Be cautious with how much wind you expose Beech to as well, they are not happy in wind.

Click to expand...

Basically, they are annoying trees to work with
I love them.

leatherback said:

Basically, they are annoying trees to work with
I love them.

Click to expand...

Hahha me too. I have 3. (This one a red forest and a smaller one that I airlayered.

JudyB said:

Be cautious with how much wind you expose Beech to as well, they are not happy in wind.

Click to expand...

Might have been wind that burned this one a lot.

barrosinc said:

Hahha me too. I have 3. (This one a red forest and a smaller one that I airlayered.


Might have been wind that burned this one a lot.

Click to expand...

Yes especially in the spring on new leaves, you can burn them up in just one hour of wind.

Looks like it dried out, based on the location of the leaf damage. It also looks like part of the trunk is dead. I wouldn’t cut it at all, but let it ride out the winter and let it gain some strength next spring. They are slow to recover and slow to respond to begin with, and even worse when weak.

barrosinc said:

I placed it in full summer to get backbudding... first mistake. Did not get the intended effect and got a burnt tree.
I will remove the endbuds in winter. Thanks for the tip, leatherback.

Click to expand...

Max, as you have already noted, never place beech under direct sun. It is not needed to get back budding or smaller leaves. Rather it is how it's pruned and the correct timing of it. Aside of course from good health which is of primary importance. A placement in bright shade is sufficient.

Thanks @MACH5 and @Brian Van Fleet
What do you reckon, would a repot help?

barrosinc said:

Thanks @MACH5 and @Brian Van Fleet
What do you reckon, would a repot help?

Click to expand...

Maybe in the spring. Looks like it’s in dirt now...? Mine do well in akadama.

Brian Van Fleet said:

Maybe in the spring. Looks like it’s in dirt now...? Mine do well in akadama.

Click to expand...

I left it in the original soil. So, yes. Plain dirt.

If a bud were to appear, would have that taken place already??? The tree already had all leaves brown and ready for winter. All the bia on the branches are already there.

I thinking i should leave it budless and making it bud out on the trunk if no buds showed up by now.