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Hornbeam | Carpinus Betulus | 1m Instant Hedging Length
  • Hornbeam | Carpinus Betulus | 1m Instant Hedging Length
  • Hornbeam | Carpinus Betulus | 1m Instant Hedging Length
  • Hornbeam | Carpinus Betulus | 1m Instant Hedging Length
  • Hornbeam | Carpinus Betulus | 1m Instant Hedging Length
  • Hornbeam | Carpinus Betulus | 1m Instant Hedging Length
  • Hornbeam | Carpinus Betulus | 1m Instant Hedging Length
  • Hornbeam | Carpinus Betulus | 1m Instant Hedging Length
  • Hornbeam | Carpinus Betulus | 1m Instant Hedging Length
  • Hornbeam | Carpinus Betulus | 1m Instant Hedging Length
  • Hornbeam | Carpinus Betulus | 1m Instant Hedging Length
  • Hornbeam | Carpinus Betulus | 1m Instant Hedging Length
  • Hornbeam | Carpinus Betulus | 1m Instant Hedging Length
  • Hornbeam | Carpinus Betulus | 1m Instant Hedging Length
  • Hornbeam | Carpinus Betulus | 1m Instant Hedging Length
  • Hornbeam | Carpinus Betulus | 1m Instant Hedging Length
  • Hornbeam | Carpinus Betulus | 1m Instant Hedging Length
  • Hornbeam | Carpinus Betulus | 1m Instant Hedging Length
  • Hornbeam | Carpinus Betulus | 1m Instant Hedging Length
  • Hornbeam | Carpinus Betulus | 1m Instant Hedging Length
  • Hornbeam | Carpinus Betulus | 1m Instant Hedging Length
  • Hornbeam | Carpinus Betulus | 1m Instant Hedging Length
  • Hornbeam | Carpinus Betulus | 1m Instant Hedging Length
Hornbeam | Carpinus Betulus | 1m Instant Hedging Length

Instant Hedging

Hornbeam | Carpinus Betulus | 1m Instant Hedging Length

£260.00
Select Instant Hedging Height

AT A GLANCE

Commonly chosen for its toughness and classic look, Hornbeam forms a strong, long-lasting privacy screen. Its ribbed, mid-green leaves turn golden to copper in autumn and often remain on the branches through winter, giving a smart, year-round structure that suits both traditional and modern properties.

  • UK Native
  • Full Sun
  • Partial Shade
  • Deciduous
FREE Delivery

Enjoy FREE mainland UK pallet delivery on all our instant hedging. Orders are typically dispatched and delivered within 30 working days of purchase. 

Your plants arrive securely wrapped on pallets, ensuring they stay protected and ready for planting. Deliveries are curbside only and require solid access for an 18-tonne lorry and pump truck.

For properties with restricted access or locations outside our standard delivery network, contact our team for tailored delivery advice and a personalised quote.


Read our Delivery Policy for full details.
Planting

We offer an optional professional planting service for customers who’d like our team to take care of the complete installation. Please note this is an add-on only service and must be purchased with our instant hedging.

 Our standard planting package starts at £1,500, which includes the planting of up to 18 instant hedging units (1 m each). To learn more about preparing for your planting day or to add our professional service to your order, visit our Professional Planting product page and visit our Terms of Service.

 If you’d rather plant your hedge yourself, we’ve created a DIY Planting Guide with step-by-step advice on site preparation, positioning the units, and helping your new hedge establish successfully.
Size & Handling

Each instant hedging unit is a mature, ready-grown hedge section designed to provide instant privacy and structure from the moment it’s planted. Supplied in convenient 100cm lengths, every section arrives pre-clipped, approximately 40cm deep, and grown to your chosen height for a finished, professional look straight away.

Your hedge will be delivered in strong cardboard troughs, measuring around 30–40cm wide and 35cm deep, with pre-cut lifting points for use with lifting hooks or or careful two-to-four-person handling.

These are substantial, field-grown hedge units, and proper handling is essential. Each section typically weighs between 100–200kg (and occasionally more), so please ensure suitable help or mechanical equipment is available to move and position your hedging safely and efficiently on site at the point of delivery.
Why Choose Instant Hedging

Each instant hedging module is made from 3–5 mature plants per linear metre, carefully grown together over several years to form a dense, seamless living screen. From the moment it’s planted, your hedge provides instant privacy, structure, and an established look that feels like it’s been part of your garden for years.

Unlike buying individual plants that need time to fill out, often leaving gaps and uneven growth, our instant hedging gives you a complete, uniform hedge straight away. There’s no need to measure planting distances, worry about spacing, or wait years for coverage.

Every section is professionally grown, pre-clipped, and evenly spaced, ensuring a consistent height and clean, finished face from day one. Simply choose your desired height and measure the metres you need. It’s that easy to transform your outdoor space with a ready-made, mature hedge.

SAVE 5%

WHEN YOU BUY 5+ METERS

SAVE 10%

WHEN YOU BUY 10+ METERS

SAVE 15%

WHEN YOU BUY 25+ METERS

SAVE 20%

WHEN YOU BUY 50+ METERS

SAVE 25%

WHEN YOU BUY 100+ METERS

Hornbeam | Carpinus Betulus | 1m Instant Hedging Length

Hornbeam | Carpinus Betulus | 1m Instant Hedging Length

Hornbeam is a brilliant choice if you want a hedge that looks good in every season and copes with real-world conditions. Its dense foliage creates a resilient screen through spring and summer, with retained copper leaves offering winter cover. Equally at home in town or country, it brings a crisp, traditional feel and is exceptionally forgiving on heavier soils. If you’re after a durable hedge with style and substance, Hornbeam is hard to beat.
GROWTH & MAINTENANCE OF Hornbeam | Carpinus Betulus | 1m Instant Hedging Length

Hornbeam can reach 20–25+ m as a free-growing tree, but for hedging we recommend a final working height of 2–4 m. At this height it stays easy to trim, keeps excellent density, and remains practical to manage year after year.
You have flexibility depending on your design goals:
• Maintain at the supplied height with regular trims for a neat, uniform screen.
• Let it grow taller and broader where space allows — just plan for extra access and a little more trimming effort over time.
To keep foliage full from top to bottom, shape the hedge slightly wider at the base than the top. This lets light reach lower branches and prevents thinning near ground level.
Planting Position & Access

Hornbeam is notably adaptable — thriving in full sun to partial shade and coping better than many species with heavier or clay soils (so long as drainage is reasonable). It can be planted near walls, fences or boundaries. Wherever possible, leave 0.5–1 m of working space to access both faces and safely reach the top. Good access = easier long-term maintenance and a consistently tidy finish.
Spacing & Interaction with other plants

Consider how neighboring plants will influence the hedge over time:
• Positive: Companion shrubs or groundcovers benefit from the shelter Hornbeam provides; mulching the root zone helps moisture retention and soil structure.
• Negative: Large, thirsty trees or vigorous shrubs planted too close can compete for moisture and nutrients. Avoid severe root competition and soil compaction along the hedge line to keep growth even and dense.
Give Hornbeam enough room above and below ground and it will develop into a robust, long-lasting hedge with a crisp, classic look.

Watering Hornbeam | Carpinus Betulus | 1m Instant Hedging Length

Watering is the single most important job when establishing hornbeam hedging into new ground. In production plants are watered little and often to create dense structure; once planted they need slow, deep soaks that reach the full root zone rather than light sprinkles. Test the top few centimetres and water only when dry. Free-draining soil is ideal—clays hold on to moisture, sands shed it quickly, and windy aspects dry faster, so adjust frequency. Keep drainage open so the pit never stays wet, and maintain a neat mulch collar to conserve moisture without touching stems. Morning watering with a gentle trickle is best. For the first 12–24 months aim for even moisture during active growth and minimal winter watering; after establishment, help only through extended hot, dry spells.
Early establishment phase

In the first 12-24 months, during the warmer growing months water deeply whenever the top few cm are dry; increase in heat or wind, mulch, and avoid standing water, and in the dormant months water only in prolonged dry spells when ground isn’t frozen; maintain mulch and ensure free drainage.
How to notice under-watering

In order to notice under watering, look out for leaf-edge scorch, mid-day flagging that perks up at night, and early leaf drop with dry soil.
How to notice over-watering

In order to notice over watering, look out for lower-leaf yellowing and drop while soil stays wet, soft new growth, and dark, water-soaked bark at the base.
3+ Years after planting

Once established (after 2–3 years), give deep water only during extended heat or drought to keep soil evenly moist; mulch and ensure free drainage.

feeding Hornbeam | Carpinus Betulus | 1m Instant Hedging Length

AT PLANTING

Incorporate a balanced slow-release fertiliser or root-stimulating granules into the planting area (following manufacturer instructions) so your hedge gets a strong start.

YEARLY FEEDS

Apply a general-purpose, slow-release fertiliser in early spring (March/April) so the hedge has nutrients as growth starts. In later spring you can consider a light feed if growth appears weak or colour is faded.

FOLLOW CAUTION

Avoid excessive high-nitrogen feeds in summer, you don’t want rampant, weak growth that flops. For hedges, steady, controlled growth is far better than fast, floppy shoots.

TRIMMING Hornbeam | Carpinus Betulus | 1m Instant Hedging Length

How and when to trim

Trim in late summer after the main flush of growth has slowed to create a neat, formal line. Use sharp shears or hedge trimmers, following the hedge’s natural shape. For a tidy start, a light formative trim in spring before leaf-out is also suitable. Avoid cutting during frost or drought.
QUICK TIPS

Technique for the perfect Hornbeam hedge
• Shape slightly wider at the base than the top so light reaches lower branches and prevents bare patches.
• Trim the growing tips evenly along the face to build dense lateral branching and a crisp, uniform appearance.
• Prefer small, regular trims over infrequent hard cuts — steadier shaping = healthier plants and neater results.
• Keep tools sharp for clean cuts and quick healing.
• Maintain 0.5–1 m access along both sides wherever possible so you can reach the top safely and keep lines true.
HARD CUT BACK AND REDUCTION

Hornbeam responds well to renovation but proceed in stages once the hedge is well-established. Significant height or width reductions are best spread over 1–3 seasons to ensure strong, even regrowth.
A closer look at Hornbeam | Carpinus Betulus | 1m Instant Hedging Length

Hornbeam, a native of southern England and much of Europe, has been used for centuries in formal estates and parkland for its strength and structure. Known for its pale grey bark and crisp, pleated leaves, Hornbeam retains its coppery winter foliage, offering near year-round cover. Its adaptability to both clay and chalk soils, and its elegant response to clipping, make it a favourite for both traditional hedgelines and contemporary landscapes seeking a refined, textural hedge.
Plants that pair well with Hornbeam | Carpinus Betulus | 1m Instant Hedging Length

Hornbeam’s crisp green leaves and elegant form suit structured gardens where it can anchor borders and frame vistas. Underplant with Evergreen groundcovers such as Geranium macrorrhizum or Euphorbia amygdaloides to enhance the hedge’s base and suppress weeds. Its ribbed foliage and coppery winter tones work beautifully alongside Lavender or Box topiary for a polished, architectural feel. The dappled light beneath mature Hornbeam makes it ideal for shade-tolerant companions like Hellebores, Heucheras, and Pulmonaria, which add colour and softness without distracting from the hedge’s neat structure.
Latin name and origins of Hornbeam | Carpinus Betulus | 1m Instant Hedging Length

Botanically, Carpinus betulus belongs to the birch family (Betulaceae), with Carpinus meaning “hornbeam” and betulus indicating its close resemblance to the Betula (birch) genus. This connection explains its smooth, pale bark and finely serrated leaves—features reminiscent of birches, but on a denser, more muscular framework. Across Europe, the Carpinus genus includes about 30 species known for their toughness, slow-burning wood (hence “horn” for hardness), and elegant form. Carpinus betulus is particularly valued for its resilience to pruning, wind resistance, and ability to hold copper-brown leaves through winter, lending structural continuity when other deciduous hedges stand bare.

Wildlife Friends of Hornbeam | Carpinus Betulus | 1m Instant Hedging Length

Hornbeam hedges are a cornerstone of woodland-edge ecology, offering shelter and foraging space for countless insects and birds. Their ribbed leaves host caterpillars and larvae that in turn feed tits and wrens, while the hedge’s dense form provides excellent nesting protection. In winter, retained copper leaves offer insulation and cover for small birds and mammals. As a resilient, long-lived species, Hornbeam quietly sustains local biodiversity and provides habitat stability for generations.
Tips for encouraging wildlife in your hedge

In the first 12-24 months, during the warmer growing months water deeply whenever the top few cm are dry; increase in heat or wind, mulch, and avoid standing water, and in the dormant months water only in prolonged dry spells when ground isn’t frozen; maintain mulch and ensure free drainage.
Toxicity Notes

Hornbeam hedging plants are non-toxic and pose no threat to humans, pets, or grazing animals. The leaves, seeds, and bark contain no known harmful compounds, and the tree has historically been used for tools and firewood due to its tough, clean wood. The hedge’s foliage is safe for contact and incidental nibbling by wildlife, including deer and rabbits, though not typically palatable. Hornbeam’s neutral chemistry makes it an ideal choice for biodiversity-rich landscapes and areas shared with livestock or domestic pets.
Foliage

The foliage on Hornbeam hedging plants is crisp and pleated, knitting into a tight screen that holds many leaves through winter (marcescence), which is invaluable for year-round cover. This persistent thatch insulates roosting small birds such as robins (Erithacus rubecula) and wrens (Troglodytes troglodytes), while the summer leaves support caterpillars of Phyllonorycter and Stigmella leaf miners that feed nestlings of tits and warblers. The shaded, leaf-mould base supports woodlice (Porcellio scaber), snails, and ground beetles, creating rich foraging for hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) on damp evenings.
Fruits

The fruits on Hornbeam hedging plants appear in late summer as clusters of small, winged nutlets enclosed within three-lobed papery bracts. These seed clusters, known as “hop-like” fruits, mature through September and October, swaying in the breeze much like miniature lanterns. They are an important late-summer food source for finches such as Carduelis chloris (greenfinch) and Fringilla coelebs (chaffinch), and for small mammals including dormice (Muscardinus avellanarius). The seeds fall gradually, ensuring a prolonged feeding period, while the leaf litter beneath supports detritivorous invertebrates like Porcellio scaber (woodlouse) and ground beetles. Hornbeam’s predictable seed cycle reinforces its status as a quiet cornerstone of hedgerow ecology.
Flowers

The flowers on Hornbeam hedging plants develop in spring, between April and May, emerging as slender catkins that sway gently beneath the branches. The male catkins release pale yellow pollen, while the shorter female catkins form small nutlets later in the season. Though Hornbeam is wind-pollinated and not a major nectar source, the pollen can provide early-season protein for bees on mild days. Its real contribution to wildlife comes later in the year, when the seeds ripen and feed small birds such as finches, while the foliage hosts numerous moth larvae like Phyllonorycter esperella and Stigmella carpinella, forming part of a vital food web. Flowering and seed set are strongest in good light and balanced moisture conditions.

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