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Hornbeam
https://weetrees.co.uk/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=17406		 Page 1 of 6
Author:  Koren [ 25 Feb 2018, 23:50 ]
Post subject:  Hornbeam
Picked this decent sized European Hornbeam up yesterday. Think it was a good deal - £25 down from £50 (from Crossway's Nursery Purley - for those local to me). I had to chop the top a bit to get it in the car, as you can see in pic #2. I like the base and the taper, but not entirely sure what to do with it. Thinking to keep it quite tall, maybe half the height it is now? I thought I'd ask first, as you can always chop more off, you can't unchop! Probably leave the roots and soil alone this year? Forgot to add anything for scale, the lower trunk is probably as thick as my wrist.
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Author:  Gary Jones [ 26 Feb 2018, 00:36 ]
Post subject:  Re: Hornbeam
I think you'll need to build the next trunk section from one of the bottom two or three branches. Up to them is nice gentle movement and some taper, above them it's mostly straight with little interest.
Author:  Sizzla [ 26 Feb 2018, 06:31 ]
Post subject:  Re: Hornbeam
Nice! Have u looked at the nebari yet?
Author:  Brendan [ 26 Feb 2018, 09:53 ]
Post subject:  Re: Hornbeam
Quite a fast solution for a nice tree here:



Image2018-02-26_08-46-44 by BrendanR2012, on Flickr


Image2018-02-26_08-51-10 by BrendanR2012, on Flickr

Image2018-02-26_08-43-38 by BrendanR2012, on Flickr
Author:  Gary Jones [ 26 Feb 2018, 10:39 ]
Post subject:  Re: Hornbeam
Gary Jones wrote:
I think you'll need to build the next trunk section from one of the bottom two or three branches. Up to them is nice gentle movement and some taper, above them it's mostly straight with little interest.


Or a broom from the same point as Brendan suggests - certainly a quicker way to get to a result.
Author:  Koren [ 26 Feb 2018, 22:40 ]
Post subject:  Re: Hornbeam
Thanks guys. That does seem like a sensible/easy option. I was originally wndering about something a bit taller using a mid-level branch with a long sloping cut to give some taper to a new leader. Something like this (excuse the poor photoshop, only have GIMP atm, not proper photoshop, and I'm bad at drawing with the mouse). Strung them together into an animated GIF to hopefully illustrate better.

Image

I don't have a lot of experience with hornbeam at all unfortunately. I only have a young one in the ground that I've not touched yet.
Author:  TomB [ 26 Feb 2018, 22:51 ]
Post subject:  Re: Hornbeam
Koren wrote:
a long sloping cut to give some taper to a new leader.

In my experience long sloping cuts don't end up looking very good.
I'd probably be looking to make the cut between the three low branches, similar to Brendan's virtual. Though I'd want to see what the roots looked like first.
Author:  john blanchard [ 26 Feb 2018, 23:16 ]
Post subject:  Re: Hornbeam
Hornbeams are quite spreading trees contra to your virtual. I initially thought of a broom just like Brendan's if you want to develop a tree taller than a broom from the low branches, I'd uncover the surface roots to help find the front. Then choose which branches to keep. And do a reduction cut this year.
Author:  BobbyLane [ 27 Feb 2018, 00:33 ]
Post subject:  Re: Hornbeam
You could have this one for 20quid
Image2018-01-17_04-44-21 by Bobby Lane, on Flickr
ImageIMG_6394 by Bobby Lane, on Flickr
Image17974571_10155185370615629_1886975812_n by Bobby Lane, on Flickr

just needs to develop a canopy, already in training pot with good soil
Author:  Koren [ 27 Feb 2018, 10:57 ]
Post subject:  Re: Hornbeam
TomB / John - thanks for those insights, will bear in mind and probably go with Brendan's plan. I do like natural looking brooms anyway. You both (and Sizzla too - forgot to reply before sorry) said about nebari - I haven't checked yet, the soil is quite dense. I will make that a priority once the buds start to extend.

Bobby - damn that's tempting, thanks for the offer. I'll think about it. I think I'm over capacity really already!
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