The Beech Tree: [Cultivation, Care, Irrigation, Pests and Diseases]

The beech tree, Fagus sylvatica, the common beech, is one of the most valued species in gardening for two fundamental reasons: it offers ideal shade and provides very good wood.

This last characteristic has allowed good pieces of wood to be obtained from it that allow quality carpentry to be worked on.

It is a deciduous species and has a rather slow development, being able to reach up to 40 meters, so you will have to be patient.

The good news is that after it is well established, you will enjoy one of the most robust species in the world, although it does not mean that it can suffer damage.

Do you want to know how to enjoy a beech tree at home? Let’s see it.

Important points when planting a Beech

When? in autumn.
Where? In a space with light and protected from drafts.
How do we prepare the land? With humus and high humidity.
How should we water? By dripping, abundantly, without flooding.
How often do you have to water? In summer, daily or every two days. In winter, twice a week.
What pests and diseases does it have? The aphid, the beetle and the powdery mildew.

When to plant a beech?

To ensure that the beech tree develops well, it is best to carry out its planting during the fall, preferably at the beginning.

This will prevent it from having to deal immediately with winter frosts and cold winds, giving it a better environment while it settles.

Where to plant a beech?

The sowing of the beech tree will have to be done in a space where it gets enough sunlight daily, although it should not penetrate directly.

It is also important that it is protected from the drafts that usually blow during the winter and that could affect its structure.

This is because the beech tree does not develop deep roots, making it easy for any wind to pull it out of position.

How to prepare the land?

The favorable plantation of the beech tree will start from a land that has a good amount of nutrients, especially humus.

However, it is necessary to mention that it adapts quite well to other types of soil, as long as they have a good level of humidity.

To achieve the latter, it is best to water the land frequently days before planting, so that moisture penetrates.

How do we water the beeches?

Irrigation must be carried out directly on the trunk of the tree by means of a drip or the support of a hose.

It is important that the land where the tree is never dry out, but the risks should not produce waterlogging in its surroundings.

How often do we water?

Watering during hot weather will be frequent, almost daily, thus preventing the soil from drying out because it could drastically affect the tree.

When temperatures drop, the frequency of irrigation will also drop, without forgetting that the tree can also dry out during this period.

How to plant a beech step by step?

Choose the space where you will place the beech tree, ensuring that it has enough development area.
Moisten the soil frequently in the days before planting to allow it to be very soft and the tree to get a pleasant space to develop.
Dig a shallow hole to bury it. The roots of the beech tree themselves remain shallow, so there is no need to overexert yourself at this point.
Place the seeds that you have collected at this same time, although you should know what will start their development process when spring arrives. This procedure can also be done in pots if the area where you live has very low temperatures during the winter.
Water abundantly because, as we have already mentioned, it is a species that needs a high humidity environment.
Keep the pot in a cool space but in semi shade to allow it to have the ideal conditions to develop.

Beech tree seeds can be worked by stratification during the autumn and winter months and then sown in spring.

What care does the beech need?

Pruning is an action that will be possible to carry out during the winter in order to ensure that it develops the desired structure.

In addition, pruning also allows new shoots to come out, which is ideal for promoting the proper development and health of the tree.

Another care that you must have with beeches is to provide fertilization during the spring, especially in its growth stage, which is when it needs it most.

The ideal product for beech is organic fertilizer, which is also very efficient in maintaining good soil conditions.

It is necessary to check the pH of the soil, ensuring that it remains between 4 and 6 so that it is in better condition.

What pests and diseases affect the beech?

In general, the beech tree is quite resistant to any enemy attack, but that does not exempt it from sometimes being a victim of them.

aphid

The aphid is one of the pest species that causes the most damage to these plants, feeding on the sap that is their vitality.

The worst thing is that its attack can trigger a disease known as bold. All this can be avoided by making the appropriate fertilizations.

Beetle

Another pest that sees the beech tree as a good source of food is the beetle, since it consumes both the leaves and the wood.

Its proper treatment is necessary to prevent the plant from being lost. By getting out of control, it is capable of destroying the structure of several trees.

powdery mildew

Lastly, there is a disease known as powdery mildew. This has the property of damaging young beech trees.

However, their actions are only generated when they do not receive the necessary care for proper development.

You have to be careful because it usually attacks in spring.

The beech tree is an ideal species for gardens that are large and need shade, also for the creation of unique forests of this species.

How long does a beech live?

Beech trees have a long lifespan, being able to live for approximately 250 years.

In areas where the conditions are ideal for its cultivation, the hope increases to more than 300 years.

How long does it take to grow a beech?

The beech grows very slowly, so you have to be patient to see an adult tree, which could be up to 20 years after planting it.

How long does it take to produce fruit?

The first fruits begin to appear after 20 years, but in this first instance they are not useful for multiplication.

We will have to wait until he is 40 years old to obtain useful fruits to multiply.

Can it be grown in a pot?

When they are young specimens they can be worked in a pot, and even as a bonsai.

Having it in these conditions will interfere with its development.

How many times does a beech produce fruit?

It generates a single annual production.

Should a beech be pollinated to obtain fruit?

Pollination must be carried out so that the fruits can be obtained and this part of the intervention of pollinating insects.

How cold can a beech tolerate?

It has no problems with cold or frost, as it can resist down to -18° C.

How many beeches can be planted per hectare?

It is possible to work between 70 and 110 beech trees per hectare.

What kind of fertilizer does a beech need?

It does not require fertilization when planted in fertile gardens or gardens that receive an annual dose of organic fertilizer.

How much heat and/or drought can a beech tolerate?

It is not a species that tolerates hot weather well, so it is not usually planted in tropical climates.

It is also not a lover of drought, so an environmental humidity of at least 40% and watering during the summer must be ensured.