Watering hornbeam

• Hornbeam Origin
• Hornbeam care and location
• Pruning hornbeam
• Fertilizing hornbeam
• Watering hornbeam

Hornbeam Origin

The hornbeam (betulus carpinus) is a deciduous tree in the birch family (Betulaceae). Within this family, it belongs to the subfamily Coryloideae and is thus more closely related to the hazel than to the beech.

It is primarily found in Europe and grows as a shrub or tree up to 25 meters tall. The hornbeam is also known as European hornbeam, common hornbeam, and hornbeam. The hornbeam symbolizes courage, steadfastness, and justice. It is also often considered a symbol of vitality and freshness. This is due to its special ability to endure even the most severe mutilation and sprout again.

The leaves of the hornbeam are elongated-lanceolate and arranged alternately. They are shiny green on the upper side and lighter and hairy on the underside. In autumn they turn yellow to orange.
The male flowers form long, green catkins, while the female flowers are smaller and have fewer petals. The fruit of the hornbeam is called a wingnut. The nut is enclosed in a leaf consisting of three wings. From the leaf, the nut draws the nutrients it needs until it ripens.

The hornbeam is also very popular as a hedge plant because it is easy to trim and forms a dense, green hedge. It is also well suited as a solitary plant or as a tree in larger parks and gardens.
The hornbeam is hardy and can also be planted in colder climates. It is a valuable source of food for birds and other animals in the garden.

Hornbeam care and location

The hornbeam is an undemanding and adaptable plant. However, it prefers a location with plenty of sunlight and permeable, humus-rich soil. To support its growth and development, it should be planted in an area with sufficient space. 

Pruning hornbeam

To promote the health of the hornbeam and to maintain its shape, occasional pruning is necessary. The best time for pruning is in spring, before the next growing season begins. Excess, diseased or damaged branches can be removed to rejuvenate the crown of the hornbeam and promote growth.

Fertilizing hornbeams

Go to the Fertilize Organic fertilizer such as compost or horn shavings is well suited. The best time to do this is in spring, when the hornbeam awakens from its winter dormancy and the next growth period begins.

Watering hornbeam

During dry periods, regular watering is important to keep the soil moist. If the soil becomes too dry, the hornbeam leaves turn yellow and fall off. In this case, the tree should be watered thoroughly. Climate change has diverse impacts on nature, and many trees suffer from the hot and dry periods. Depending on the location and the climatic conditions, more frequent watering may be necessary than in previous years. When watering with a garden hose, a lot of water is lost through seepage or evaporation before it reaches the hornbeam's roots.

An efficient option is watering with baumbad Premium watering bagsThe bags have a capacity of 75 to 100 liters and two holes at the bottom that allow water to be distributed evenly to the tree over several hours, moistening the soil evenly.

Drip irrigation allows the hornbeam's roots close to the ground to absorb the water, saving water because it doesn't seep unnecessarily into the soil. Evaporation of moisture is prevented by covering the soil with the irrigation bag. The bag is placed around the tree trunk like a jacket and zipped shut. The bag is then filled with enough water so that, after further adjustment, no wrinkles are visible at the bottom, and then allowed to fill. 

To provide young hornbeams with enough water, it is sufficient to fill a tree bath watering bag. For existing trees with a larger trunk diameter, several watering bags can be connected to one another using the zippers. A layer of mulch is useful to keep the moisture in the soil and suppress the growth of weeds.