The American beech tree is popular for its deep gold or copper autumn foliage and for its shade-producing canopy. Although you can purchase a sapling and transplant it into your yard, planting beech tree seeds is relatively simple. Follow the steps below to grow beech trees from seed.
Beech trees are stately, large deciduous trees that can grow over 100 feet tall. Their smooth silver bark and brilliant golden fall foliage make them prized ornamental landscape trees. Beech trees also produce edible nuts and have uses for lumber and firewood. Growing beech trees from seed can be an affordable way to produce many new trees for your property With some simple steps, you can successfully grow these beautiful trees
Collecting and Storing Beech Seeds
The first step is collecting ripe beech seeds in the fall. Look for brown beechnuts that have already dropped from the tree. Collect them from the ground before squirrels and other wildlife get to them first. Good places to find seeds include under known beech trees in parks or wooded areas.
Store the seeds over winter in a cool, moist place like a refrigerator crisper drawer. Mix them with slightly damp peat moss or sand in a sealed plastic bag or container. The cold moist stratification mimics winter conditions and helps break their dormancy so they sprout in spring.
Planting Beech Seeds Outdoors
Once spring arrives, you can begin planting your stratified beech seeds directly outdoors. Choose a site with partial shade and moist, well-draining soil. Amend sandy or clay soils with compost to improve drainage. Rake away any leaves or debris and loosen the top few inches of soil.
Space seeds 8-12 inches apart in rows or groups. Plant them 1-2 inches deep, laying them on their side. Gently firm the soil over the seeds and water well after planting.
Cover seeded areas with wire mesh or other protections to deter squirrels and birds from digging up and eating the seeds. Remove any protections once seedlings become established.
Caring for Beech Seedlings
Keep the seed bed consistently moist until seedlings emerge which takes 1-2 months. Water gently to avoid washing away small seeds and seedlings. Apply a light mulch of leaves or straw around seedlings to retain soil moisture.
Thin overcrowded beech seedlings to the strongest 1-2 plants per spot. Transplant extras to other areas or share with gardening friends. Space seedlings at least 2 feet apart to allow adequate growing room.
Control weeds which compete for water and nutrients. Pull weeds by hand or apply organic mulch to smother them. Avoid using chemical weed killers near desired seedlings.
Transplanting Beech Saplings
After 2-3 years of growth, beech saplings will be ready to transplant to their permanent landscape positions. This gives them time to develop stronger root systems that can handle transplanting.
Choose a transplant site with partial sun exposure and fertile soil. Dig a hole twice as wide and just as deep as the sapling’s root ball. Carefully remove the sapling from its original spot, keeping the root ball intact. Set it in the hole so the top of the root ball is level with the ground. Backfill with native soil, tamping down gently to remove air pockets. Water deeply after transplanting and mulch around the base.
Stake taller saplings for stability until their roots establish. Prune only broken or dead branches at transplant time. Otherwise allow the sapling to grow naturally into its beautiful mature shape.
Long Term Beech Tree Care
With proper siting and care, beech trees can thrive for over 300 years. Prune only to remove damaged or crossed branches. Avoid heavy pruning that removes the tree’s naturally tiered branching shape.
Irrigate during droughts until trees become established. Mature beech trees are quite drought tolerant. Apply a balanced, slow release fertilizer annually if soils are infertile.
Watch for signs of beech bark disease, including weeping cracks or dull gray patches on the normally smooth silver bark. Promptly remove affected trees to prevent disease spread.
Growing beech trees from seed takes patience, but it’s a rewarding way to propagate these stunning trees. In time, you’ll enjoy their graceful forms, golden autumn color, and abundant nuts. With proper care, your homegrown beech trees can become a beautiful legacy that lasts for generations.
Step 1 – Collect Beech Tree Seeds
When collecting beech tree seeds, find a healthy beech tree that is growing within a 100 mile radius of where you will be planting the seeds. This will ensure that the soil and climate it will be growing in is best matched for the variety of beech tree. Seeds should be collected in the autumn, between mid-September and late-November, once they are beginning to fall from the tree. The brown husks of fully ripened beech seed will begin to open on its own, showing that it is ready to be planted.
Step 2 – Prepare the Planting Area
Beech trees should be planted in a sandy loam soil. Turn up the planting area with a spade and then rake through. For best results, test the soil where you collected the seed. If possible, attempt to match the soil texture and pH level of your planting area with the conditions where its parent plant grows.
How To Grow Copper Beech From Seed/Nut
FAQ
Are beech trees easy to grow?
It can sometimes be challenging to grow turfgrass beneath a beech due to its shallow root system and dense foliage growth. Beeches do not do well in parking lots or along streets where their root structure cannot expand significantly. They are sensitive to salt so should not be planted near sidewalks that are salted.
What is the easiest tree to grow from seed?
Cherries are incredibly easy to grow from seeds. Apples are very easy to grow from seeds, but you won’t get the variety of apple you took the seeds from! It’ll be genetically random.
How to plant a tree from seed step by step?
- Put some stones at the bottom of the pot and fill it almost to the top with compost.
- Plant the seeds about 2cm deep, then press down the compost and water it thoroughly.
- Put the pot outside in a shady corner. …
- Check it every week to make sure the soil hasn’t dried out.