The last deciduous tree in my garden to open up this spring was a European beech. Normally I pinch the new shoots as they open, but as this tree was recently repotted, I let the new shoots elongate to help the tree recover. Now that it’s clear that the tree responded well to the work, […]
Beech
Spring growth on Japanese beech – understanding when to pinch
Buds on Japanese beech are easy to spot – they’re the long, pointy things at the ends of branches. Japanese beech buds They are among the last buds to open in spring. Once most of the quince, maples, and plums are in full gear, the beech buds begin to elongate. Elongating bud Once these buds […]
Cleaning up a Japanese beech forest
Two years ago I found myself with a few dozen young Japanese beech. They were mostly the same size and age, and they weren’t very far in their development as bonsai. They were perfect, in other words, for a group planting. Young Japanese beech Because the trees were so similar to each other, I started […]
Beech – on top of the mountain
As we approached the pass near the top of White Mountain Forest Road, the flora signaled a change in elevation – fir gave way to pine, maples to beech. Maples added golden hues to beech-covered hillsides until they dropped away, leaving the silvery-bronze beech and a scattering of white pines. I found the beech impressive […]
Restoring a Japanese beech
You never know what you’re going to find when you repot a tree for the first time, or when you finally get around to addressing a tree’s major flaws. The Japanese beech below was due for a reboot. The tree’s owner began by working on the roots. Japanese beech Poor nebari In addition to removing […]