Beech hedge as a wind breaker?

[HealysH]

Hi, I am planning to start a no dig on a new patch of land in the front garden approximately 23ft from the house. The plot is 72ft (north south line)by 36ft (east west). As we are pretty wind exposed I was planning on planting a beech hedge as a wind breaker around the plot. Just wondering how tall to grow it. And whether beech is a good option or maybe go for something else. As it is our front garden we would like it to look as natural as possible.

[charles]

I would think hard HealysH before planting any hedge. They use space, and a lot of water in summer months, then need maintenance.
I am not expert on hedging plants and leave others to answer that.
Homeacres is pretty windy and the veg grow fine, I use fleece/row cover in spring.

[Heiko]

Hi there, we are living in the north of Germany. We’re using a beech hedge (variety: so called hornbeam) and made good experiences so far. I have to trimm it twice a year, and the leaves decay during autum / winter on the bush. So, there is no work with them. Hornbeam – hedges like it dry, they don’t like “weet feet”. We never had any need for watering. Most important (from my point of view) is the distance from the hedge to the bed. The hedge should ‘nt shadow the bed. The height for our hedge is about 1,70 mtr. high – right size to keep some privacy and to work on. Greetings!

[HealysH]

Thanks all, I see I forgot to mention that we are on top of a 660 ft mountain. Thankfully on the leeward side but still enough wind to cause crooked growth in my Brussels sprouts and anything else growing over a foot tall.

[Heiko]

Hmm… That’s different, I do not have experiences with mounty areas like that. Probably are stonewalls are a better solution… (In our area the farmers builded earth-walls to mark the border of their fields. It protected also the ground from erosion.)

http://www.grossefehn-touristik.de/land-leute/das-fehntjer-land/wallhecken.html

Greetings – Heiko

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