I have a two-year-old copper beech hedge, and my wife mistakenly pruned the tops instead of the sides. I'm wondering if it will ever grow taller than it currently is, or if this will affect its growth negatively?
2 Answers
If it's a hedge you prefer to keep compact, pruning the tops might actually be a good move. It will help prevent the hedge from becoming too leggy, which means it could end up full of leaves at the top and bare at eye level. Copper beeches typically grow taller every year if you allow them to. Your wife's pruning might have been the right approach after all!
Yes, your hedge can still grow taller, but the way it was pruned might disrupt its natural growth pattern. Next year, when it gets a bit wild, just choose one shoot to become the new leader and trim the others down. With a little care, it should bounce back by the following year!
True, but it's only about 2 feet high right now, so I'm curious how much taller it can realistically get.