Distinctive features of the beech plant, planting and care in the open field, advice on breeding, possible diseases and pests, facts to note, species.
Beech (Fagus) belongs to the genus of arboreal plants belonging to the Beech family (Fagaceae). Basically, all representatives of this genus can grow in the temperate climate of European territories, as well as in Asia and in the north of the American continent. These trees are the most common species in European forests, and in the mountains they can be found at an absolute height of 2300 meters.
| Family name | Beech |
| Life cycle | Perennial |
| Growth features | Wood |
| Reproduction | Seed and vegetative (cuttings, rooting of cuttings, grafting) |
| Landing period in open ground | Planted in March or mid-autumn |
| Substrate | Any soil |
| Illumination | Partial shade or bright lighting |
| Moisture indicators | Watering is needed at a young age, drainage is recommended |
| Special Requirements | Unpretentious |
| Plant height | 20-30 m |
| Color of flowers | Green yellow |
| Type of flowers, inflorescences | Earrings, capitate |
| Flowering time | April |
| Decorative time | Spring-autumn |
| Place of application | As a tapeworm, group plantings, the formation of hedges |
| USDA zone | 4, 5, 6 |
If we talk about the Russian name of the plant, then it goes to the Orthodox term "bukъ", which comes from the Germanic word "boka", which has a direct translation "beech". Similar names are found in German, Dutch, Swedish, as well as Danish and Norwegian. But everywhere they lead to the word "book", since the first discovered runes (symbols denoting the writing of the ancient Germans) were written on sticks made of beech wood or on its bark.
Beech is a broad-leaved tree that can reach 30 m in height, while the trunk diameter is often measured by two meters. The trunk is quite smooth to the touch, as it is covered with a thin layer of gray bark. Beech foliage falls off with the arrival of autumn. The leaf plate is simple, whole-edged, or there are rare notches on the edge. The shape of the leaf is oval or oval-oblong. Its length is in the range of 5-15 cm, and its width can vary from 4 cm to 10 cm. Leaves grow on the branches alternately and are arranged in two rows. On the reverse side there is sometimes pubescence. Beech leaves are distinguished by a beautiful dark green color, which, with the arrival of autumn, acquires a bronze or straw-yellow tone.
Since the crown of a beech tree, consisting of entire foliage, is rather dense, the upper branches tend to shade the lower ones over time. Those, in turn, not having enough light to carry out photosynthesis, begin to die off and fly to the ground. Therefore, a beech tree growing in a forest usually has no branches almost to the very top and as if its crown is kept only on a bare trunk. It is this feature that all varieties of representatives of this genus have, as well as other trees that grow closely in the forest. The branches form a cylindrical crown with a rounded top.
Buds are formed even in winter, they are scaly, elongated, often not exceeding 2.5 cm. The flowering process occurs in the spring, and just at this time the leaves unfold. The flowers of the beech are unisexual, from which inflorescences are collected, outlines resembling earrings. Pollination here is by means of wind (anemophilia). If the plant is located as a tapeworm, then the fruits will ripen in 60 years, in groups fruiting will begin in about 20-40 years.
The fruits of beech are nuts, which are somewhat similar to acorns, and they can be used for food. In addition to tannin, which has a bitter taste in the fruit, there is a poisonous alkaloid phagin, which disappears during the frying process. Fruits are triangular, reaching 10–15 mm in length. Their shell is woody, with four cavities, from which beech fruits are collected in pairs or in 4 pieces. Such a shell is called a plus.
Usually, due to its size, it is preferable to grow this tree as a solitaire for decorating the landscape with it, and with some effort, it is possible to get a beech in a bonsai style house.
Growing beech in the open field
- Landing place should be light and sunny, but partial shade will do. Since the plant is large, creating a dense shadow with a crown, it is better not to plant anything else next to it.
- Priming. Beech is a picky plant and can grow well on any soil, but sour and trampled substrate will not suit it. Land for planting is prepared in almost six months. The pit is dug in the fall and filled with water. A thoroughly mixed soil mixture should consist of garden soil, peat and mineral preparations (for example, Kemira-Plus).
- Planting beech held in spring before bud break or in October or early November. But in the latter case, you will need shelter for the winter. The seedling hole is pulled out with a size of 80x80 cm, since the roots will develop strongly. A drainage layer of broken brick or crushed stone is placed on the bottom. Then a little of the prepared soil mixture is poured onto it and the plant is placed, gently straightening the roots. Sprinkle them on top with a prepared substrate and watered them with warm water. The surface of the ground in the near-trunk circle is mulched with hay to preserve moisture.
- Fertilizers for a beech are necessary only while it is young. With the arrival of spring, you can add a solution of mullein or manure, as well as mineral complexes and potash products (for example, Kemira-Universsal). In the autumn, a simple digging of soil is carried out in the near-trunk circle.
- Watering. Only adult plants do not need soil moisture, as they are able to provide themselves with moisture. When the seedlings are still young, it is recommended to water at least once every seven days. Plants will also have the taste of spraying and "sprinkling", as this will not only help wash the dust from the deciduous mass, but also some pests. After watering or rains in the near-stem zone, the soil must be loosened so that air can flow to the root system. Then the near-trunk circle is covered with spruce branches or grass, it is possible with sawdust so that moisture remains in the soil for a longer time.
- Pruning. Since, as it grows, the beech is abundant in the formation of branches and foliage, it will be necessary to prune them. But the growth rate of the plant is slow, which contributes to the creation of hedges from the crown and deciduous mass. With the arrival of spring, sanitary shortening of the shoots is carried out. Remove all branches frozen after winter or those that have begun to give a lot of shade for the lower ones. It is also recommended to cut off such branches that have been infected with diseases or pests, or have broken. When the beech grows, no pruning is done.
Beech propagation methods
Reproduction is carried out using seeds, cuttings, grafting or rooting of cuttings.
Usually, the last three methods are quite complex and do not provide a guarantee of obtaining a seedling. But sowing seeds can give good results. The biggest challenge in this process is the collection of seed. The shape of the seeds is somewhat similar to the seed, and it is better to start collecting them from September to mid-autumn. If the fruits of the beech fell to the ground, it means that they are fully ripe and the seed germination will be higher. The color of the ripe seeds should be brown, and they themselves should be dry. In winter, the seeds must be kept cool, for example, the material is placed in a box and covered with gauze or dry cloth. You can put a container with seeds on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator, which will simulate the natural wintering conditions.
Closer to spring (late February - early March), you need to remove the seeds, warm them up and carry out pre-sowing treatment. Before sowing the seeds in a container filled with a moistened peat-sand mixture, it is recommended to hold them for some time in a weak solution of potassium permanganate (it should be barely pink, otherwise the seeds will simply burn out). To make germination faster, you can perform scarification - opening the seed shell. It can be opened gently with a sharp knife or the seeds can be rubbed against sandpaper. It is important that the core is not damaged.
Seeds are planted one at a time from a container (peat cups), since at first the seedlings will begin to actively develop. The seed is placed in the hole, covered with a substrate and watered abundantly with warm water. In order for the humidity to be kept constantly high, the pots must be wrapped in a plastic bag. With such care, daily ventilation and periodic moistening of the soil are important, avoiding both waterlogging and drying. In about 14–20 days from the moment of planting, the seedlings will germinate. Young beeches will need a lot of good lighting, but shade from direct sunlight, frequent moisture and high humidity in the room. It is recommended to plant seedlings in a permanent place in open ground, only after 2-3 years.
Often, beech is propagated by means of green growth. If there is a stump from an old felled tree, then young shoots are quickly formed around it. Such a shoot in the spring with a knife must be carefully cut off, while a small depression is made on the cut of the seedling - this place will become a source of growth of new root shoots. The shoot should be immediately placed in a container with water, which are periodically changed to prevent its stagnation, and the cut or the resulting roots of the seedling itself will need to be rinsed with water to remove the mucus accumulated in this place. After sufficiently strong roots appear on the seedling, planting can be carried out in a permanent place of growth. It is important to remember that young beeches react very negatively to transplantation (the roots begin to weaken and growth slows down) and therefore the place must be chosen carefully.
Possible diseases and pests when growing beech
More damage to the plant is caused by butterflies and silkworm caterpillars, since they prefer to feed on young beech leaves, after which the branches become very bare, the tree weakens and becomes susceptible to diseases. Since this pest has the same color as the dark green leaves, it is difficult to spot it. But if the shape of the leaf plate became incorrect, the color changed to yellow and the foliage began to drop, then, in all likelihood, harmful insects became the cause. In dry weather, spider mites and aphids also pose a danger to beech, as they settle on the plant in whole colonies. If the above-described harmful insects are detected, it is recommended to carry out regular spraying with insecticidal and acaricidal preparations, such as Fitoverm, Confidor, Aktara or Aktellik. Full processing is possible while the tree is still young, since subsequently it will be possible to spray such a "giant" only partially.
From diseases, beech can be damaged by powdery mildew, which begins to cover the deciduous mass, like a whitish dense web, causing its discharge from the middle of summer. If mushroom caps appear on the branches and trunk, then this indicates putrefactive processes in the bark, which will subsequently lead to the wilting of the entire tree. The most effective means to combat these problems are various chemicals (for example, fungicides and Bordeaux liquid), but you can also use folk remedies, such as tincture on ash, grated laundry soap, and dandelion-based formulations.onion peel or garlic gruel.
Facts to note about beech
From the fruits of beech, oil is extracted, which in its qualities is not inferior to Provencal, and nuts can be eaten, like pine nuts, since they contain a large amount of protein, starch, sugar and valuable acids. If a drink is prepared from toasted beech nuts that is not only tasty, but also satisfying, somewhat reminiscent of cocoa. From the nuts, cake remains, which is used as a protein feed for livestock. Since the shell of beech nuts is hard, it can be successfully used as a fuel.
Beech wood has long been famous for its qualities, as it is distinguished by its beauty and hardness. It is even used to decorate cabins and saloons, cabins and compartments on ships, and is also used to decorate airplanes and trains. Wood is also a raw material for obtaining tar and creosote, which is a part of medicinal products used for skin diseases.
A beech tree blooms and bears fruit when it reaches 45-50 years, since such a plant lives from 300 to 500 years. In parks and arboretums, mainly beech varieties are used, they can also form hedges.
Description of beech tree species
Oriental beech (Fagus orientalis)
The area of natural growth falls on the lands of the Crimea and the Caucasus, it is found on the territory of the Balkan Peninsula and in the northern regions of Asia Minor. The height of the tree can reach 50 m, but if the plant is in the mountains at an altitude of 2000, it takes the form of a large shrub. The trunk has a grayish thin bark, but the wood has a snow-white color with light yellowish tones. Differs in resistance to putrefactive processes. The branches of the tree are very spreading, giving a lot of shade. Its crown, in contrast to the forest beech, is more rounded, the leaf plates are larger. The shape of the leaves is slightly elongated, the young foliage is painted in a light green color, but in the fall this color changes to yellowish red. There is also a different structure of the perianths. Prefers moist soil, perfectly tolerates shade, but very thermophilic.
European beech (Fagus sylvatica)
also found under the name European beech … This plant most often grows in the western regions of Ukraine, in Belarus and in the forests of western Europe. Forms pure beech forests on mountain slopes, at an altitude of 1500 meters above sea level. It can be found in deciduous and mixed forests. Shade-tolerant look. The trunk of the tree is slender, reaching a mark of 30 m, the branches form a powerful egg-shaped crown. The trunk is covered with light gray bark, when the branches are still young, then the bark on them is distinguished by a reddish-brown color. The shape of the leaves is elliptical, the surface is leathery, shiny, there is a slight waviness along the edge. In autumn, the dark green color scheme takes on bright shades from straw yellow to copper. There is a light fluff on the reverse side. The length of the petiole is rather short. There is a separation of the female and male flowers on the branches. The fruits look like nuts with three sides, they are surrounded by a plyus.
Large-leaved beech (Fagus grandifolia)
grows in the eastern regions of the North American continent. Prefers mixed forests and tolerates shade and drought well. The tree reaches 35–40 m in height. The straight trunk is covered with a smooth-to-touch bark with a bluish-gray color. The shape of the leaf plate is oval with a sharp point at the ends, painted in green color. A transverse vein pattern is visible on the surface.
Toothed beech (Fagus crenata)
Japan is considered the native land. It is a deciduous tree, reaching a height of 30 m. The trunk is very straight, in diameter it can reach 1.5 m, topped with a rounded crown. Leaf plates can be oval or diamond-shaped, their length is 7.5 cm. Their outlines are somewhat similar to laurel leaves. Until late autumn, the dark green shade of the leaves does not change.
Video about beech:
