When, how much and with what?

Hornbeams develop long roots

In contrast to beeches, hornbeams are deep-rooted. They develop a heart root that supplies the tree with nutrients and moisture from deep layers of the earth.

Fertilize is therefore only necessary as long as the freshly planted tree does not yet have long roots.

Provide nutrients when planting

If you are planting a hornbeam, you should lay a good foundation of nutrients beforehand. Dig out the planting hole and improve the soil with ripe compost or Horn shavings.(€ 32.93 at Amazon *) Then you only need to give a little fertilizer in the following years.

Suitable fertilizers for hornbeams are:

• compost
• Horn shavings
• Slow release fertilizer
• Bark mulch

When is the right time to fertilize?

You should only fertilize hornbeams in spring and again in May. Then the trees sprout again and need nutrients.

You shouldn't fertilize again later in the year. If the hornbeam then develops new shoots due to the nutrients, these can no longer mature.

In cold Winters they freeze to death and die.

Fertilize hornbeams more often on sandy soils

Have a sandy bottom in the garden, it can make sense to fertilize the hornbeam more often. Are well suited Slow release fertilizerthat are given in the spring.

The best fertilization for hornbeams: leave leaves lying around

the Leaves of the hornbeam hang on the tree for a long time. The last ones only fall off when new shoots begin in spring.

Just leave the leaves under the tree. With this you fertilize the hornbeam in a completely natural way. The leaves decompose and release nutrients. They also loosen the soil, prevent soil moisture from evaporating and keep weeds away.

However, the foliage must be healthy. at Fungal or pest infestation you must carefully sweep up all the leaves and dispose of them in the trash. This will prevent further spread of the infestation.