Beech trees are an iconic staple in many landscapes, whether man-made or natural. However, one of the key factors in growing a healthy, beautiful tree is allowing it enough space to reach its full potential. No matter the amount of care you put in otherwise, a tree needs a certain amount of space for its roots to spread.
How much space do beech trees need? Mature beech trees generally need between 40 and 50 feet of space. Juveniles being transplanted may need less, although they will struggle if not moved to an area with more available space.
A common mistake is assuming that because beech trees have shallow roots they need less space than other trees with deeper root systems. However, beech trees are right on par with other species of large trees- and 40 to 50 feet of space is perfectly average. As we go through this guide, you’ll learn more about planting and spacing beech trees, as well as the different species you can select for the best fit.
Let’s Talk About Beech Trees
To begin, let’s take a look at beech trees in general. Beech trees are known for their silver to gray-toned bark, which tends to be thinner than other types of trees. It’s this bark that can also make them an ideal contrast to many landscapes as the seasons change.
Another notable aspect of beech trees is their wide-spreading habit. This makes them ideal for filling up empty spaces in the landscape, as well as providing plenty of shade (and shelter) for humans and wildlife alike.
Beech trees typically have serrated leaves (meaning you can see ‘teeth’ or ridges along the edges), although the rest of the leaves are relatively smooth in texture with a classic green hue. When trees flower in the spring, they grow male flowers that have a yellowish-green color.
The Space Beech Trees Need
As we mentioned, most beech trees need at least 40 to 50 feet of space to grow properly. This isn’t surprising, as most large trees should have at least this much space to remain healthy as they grow into maturity.
There are some crucial reasons behind this ample spacing that you should take note of.
Spacing beech trees properly isn’t solely to make sure that they get as wide and as tall as possible. And spacing beech trees far from other trees also doesn’t mean they can’t have other neighboring plants near them.
One reason that beech trees need so much space is that they have a shallow root system. If you plant other trees or very large plants too close to them, beech trees often grow suckers.
Suckers are growths that are extensions of the tree itself. You can think of these as the ‘mini me’ of the tree. This might not seem like an issue, although the more suckers that grow, the more nutrients are taken away from the main tree itself. Not only that, but it can cause some problems while doing the rest of your landscaping.
Another reason beech trees need space is also due to their shallow root systems. These shallow roots can be unintentionally damaged by planting too close to the tree’s main trunk. To help prevent accidental damage, it’s a good idea to mulch around your beech tree as a signal not to interfere with the critical root zone.
Keep in mind that beech trees don’t just grow to be very tall. They also grow to be very wide.
The mature spread (also known as the width) of beech trees can reach up to 80 feet! If you plant other trees in the proximity of this spread, chances are that either one or both of the trees will end up being damaged. As branches collide and rub against each other, it opens up several different opportunities for breakage and scrapes that can lead to greater issues later on.
By placing beech trees far enough away from other trees, you can reduce extra pruning (due to damaged limbs) and allow each tree to get enough light and resources to properly grow. Annals of Botany shows the effects on beech trees when they’re surrounded by other trees.
Give Them Space From Foundations
Although beech trees have a shallow root system, that doesn’t mean that they’re good company for man-made structures. That doesn’t mean you can’t plant a beech in your yard, but you need to be mindful of the space.
At the least, you should plant beech trees no less than 20 feet away from your home, although you should give them 35 feet or more.
Remember that beech trees have root systems that expand far from their trunks. The more space away from foundations, sidewalks, and roads that you can give your beech tree the better.
Benefits Of Having a Beech Tree
There are obvious aesthetic benefits to having a beech tree. These towering trees are a seamless addition to many landscapes and provide visually pleasing pops of color wherever they’re planted.
While you may be most interested in the size and appearance of the beech tree, there are plenty of other reasons to plant a beech tree as well.
Shelter For Wildlife
Beech trees are well known for providing shelter to local wildlife. It’s an even bigger bonus if you’re a fan of spotting different species of birds or enjoy seeing little critters run about.
However, the fact is, beech trees provide crucial shelter for a variety of wildlife, all of which are important to the balance of the ecosystem.
As more trees are taken down, large trees like the beech can provide homes for many species. Not only that, they’re a beacon in the summer due to the vast amounts of shade they create.
As an added bonus, the beechnuts they grow are a favorite source of nutrition for several species of wildlife. So consider planting a beech tree for the greater good of the surrounding ecosystem. You’ll provide food, shelter, shade, and ultimately, some measure of safety.
Easier Maintenance
For as large as they are, you might be surprised to find that beech trees actually require less maintenance than many other large tree species.
In particular, beech trees don’t need trimming as frequently as many other trees. For many tree owners, this is a huge relief- trimming is often one of the biggest chores you have to worry about when you’re caring for your tree.
Of course, that doesn’t mean you can neglect to prune your beech tree altogether. However, you can limit a lot of the pruning and trim to that which is strictly necessary.
For instance, you don’t need to worry about trimming back limbs when they’re perfectly healthy and growing normally. You should, however, prune branches that rub against others or have visible damage.
How To Plant A Beech Tree
If you’re thinking about how much space beech trees need, you’re probably also considering planting one. Planting a beech tree isn’t too difficult, although you do need to consider more than just spacing before you start digging.
Beech trees can live between 200 and 300 years.
That means that where you plant should be a careful decision. It’s not as though you’re planting a tree with a shorter lifespan of only 40 to 60 years. This tree is going to last for several generations and through many changes to the surrounding landscape.
Beech trees, like any other tree species, must compete with their neighbors if they’re too close together. In a publication from Oecologia, however, beech trees were seen overtaking oaks when their roots were competing for resources.
Soon, we’ll cover exactly what requirements you need to fulfill to keep your beech tree healthy. But for now, let’s get to the foundations of what makes planting a beech tree successful.
Find The Right Soil
Fortunately, beech trees can tolerate a wide variety of different soil types. That’s a bonus if you have soil that may not be ideal for other species of trees. If you really want to optimize your tree’s growth, it’s best to plant in the ideal soil type.
Beech trees prefer soil that is slightly acidic, with plenty of nutrients (although you can add nutrients if your soil is somewhat lacking). With that said, beech trees can tolerate soil types including more acidic, loamy, clay, slightly sandy, and more.
The best soil for beech trees is slightly acidic, rich in nutrients, and well-draining.
You can test your soil with a kit like the Moistenland 4-in-1 soil meter. It allows you to detect pH (acidity or alkalinity), moisture levels, nutrient density, and light that reaches the area.
Planting The Tree
You can plant beech trees from seed. However, it will take significantly longer for the tree to reach a substantial height. Juvenile trees also require somewhat more care than established trees. Consider this when you choose to grow a beech tree from seed (although it’s certainly possible to choose this route).
Your other option is to buy a young tree from a nursery. This is the route the majority of people choose because it gives you a head start on the tree’s growth, and makes the early years more manageable.
Before you start getting ready to plant, make sure you select a site with plenty of room for the tree to spread out.
That means you should ensure your tree will have at least 40 feet to spread out in any direction.
When you’re ready to plant, it’s just a few steps until you can put your tree into the ground. Now, it’s time to start digging. Take note of the size of your tree’s root ball. The hole you dig should be larger than the root ball by two or three times, at least.
Digging a larger hole serves many purposes, although the largest is to allow the dense root ball to spread out. Because digging inevitably loosens the soil, you’ll be making it easier for the root system to become established.
You should always check nutrient levels in your soil before you plant. If your soil isn’t exactly nutrient-dense, you can add compost to the bottom of the hole, and the soil you’ll fill the hole with.
You can use a compost like Charlie’s Compost if you don’t want to make your own, or don’t have time to.
Once you have these steps finished, go ahead and gently place your beech tree in the hole. Try to keep it even and level to allow it to grow straight more easily. Fill in the hole with the remaining soil around the tree. You don’t need to pack the dirt too tightly- you still want to give the roots some wiggle room.
Beech Tree Requirements
So, once you’ve planted your beech tree, what else do you need to do to ensure its health? Beech tree requirements aren’t exceptionally hard to manage, although you do need to take care of a few key factors.
Soil and space are important- but so are proper watering, nutrient enrichment, and the right amount of sunlight.
If you have naturally nutrient-dense soil, then you’re lucky. However, trees will certainly use up many of these nutrients over time. Fertilize your beech tree at least once annually once it’s established.
Use a fertilizer with equal parts nitrogen (N), potassium (K), and phosphorus (P). These nutrients are the main parts of the NPK formula, which should be listed on any fertilizer you buy. Look for a fertilizer with a ratio that shows all of these in equal parts (ex. 5-5-5 or 10-10-10).
Then, measure the root zone of your tree. For most beech trees, this is an area that extends around 12 inches beyond the canopy of your tree.
You only need to spread fertilizer over the root zone. Once you apply the fertilizer, make sure to water the soil where the application is to allow it to seep down to the roots.
Another thing you should know is- beech trees are somewhat sensitive to drought, and even more so when they’re younger.
Young beech trees need more frequent watering than established trees. As the tree matures, you won’t have to water it quite as often. However, juvenile beech trees should be watered weekly unless there’s rain.
This is another category in which mulch becomes important. As we mentioned earlier, mulch helps protect beech trees from accidental damage to their naturally shallow root zones. In the case of juvenile beech trees, mulch also helps retain moisture in the soil- which they very much need. An added benefit of mulching is that it slowly releases nutrients into the soil.
Are There Smaller Types Of Beech Trees?
Let’s say you love the look and the benefits of beech trees, but you’re not sure if you can handle such a large tree. You’re certainly not alone.
Are there smaller varieties of beech trees? In fact, there are small species of beech trees which include:
- Dwarf beech (many varieties and cultivars)
- Tricolor beech
- Tortuosa beech
- Purple Beech
- Parasol beech
Up next, we’ll look at these smaller beech species and what you should know about each of them.
Dwarf Beech
As the common name indicates, this species is much like the traditional beech tree, although smaller. Like other species of beech trees, the dwarf beech group has many different cultivars.
Cultivars of dwarf beech trees vary greatly in size, appearance, and coloring, as well as requirements, and tolerances.
This is fortunate for people that don’t have space for a full-size beech tree. There are cultivars to fit every landscape and every preference. Next, we’ll look at some of the most popular and most common varieties of dwarf beeches.
Tri-Color Beech
The tri-color beech (Fagus sylvatica Purpurea and Fagus sylvatica Roseomarginata) stays true to its name with leaves that vary in color from green to pinkish purple and white along variegated edges. As the seasons turn, the spectacle of color becomes even more compelling when the leaves take on warm golden and bronze hues.
These trees need less sun than other varieties- partial sun is ideal. If they receive too much sun, the leaves become discolored.
If you like beech trees but have less space to plant, tri-color beech trees might be the right fit.
These trees reach a maximum height of 30 feet and have a spread of about 20 to 25 feet at the most. Because of this, they also require much less room than larger species of beech. Aside from that, they have many of the same requirements as other beech trees,
Tri-color beech trees grow best in USDA zones 4 to 7.
Tortuosa Beech
Fagus sylvatica Tortuosa or Tortuosa beech is one of the smallest varieties of beech trees. It reaches only 10 to 15 feet upon reaching maturity, making it suitable for smaller landscapes and yards.
Tortuosa beech trees are easily recognized by their twisting, contorted growth habit.
This small beech species has the sleek, silvery bark of larger beech trees, with smooth, somewhat shiny green foliage. They have a fair spreading habit, although their crown tends to grow closer to the ground. The somewhat weeping form and dense canopy of the tree add to its appeal.
Tortuosa beech trees still provide plenty of shade and remain a spectacle in the landscape no matter the time of year.
Tortuosa beech trees are best suited to USDA zones 5a to 9b.
Purple Beech
Fagus sylvatica ‘Dawyck Purple,’ or the ‘Purple Beech’ are easy to care for, even with how low maintenance the typical beech is. As you might glean from the name, they’re known for their eye-catching purple hues. However, this tree isn’t limited to purple alone.
Purple beech trees begin with warm red foliage in springtime, and progress to green violet by summer. By winter, they go through another color change to gold and bronze.
This particular cultivar of purple beech does well with both full and partial sun. If you want to optimize the color, however, it’s best to plant them where they can get full sun. Dawyck purple beech trees typically reach around 25 to 30 feet at maturity, although they can be pruned as they grow to maintain a smaller size.
They’re low maintenance and have very few problems- as a bonus, they’re even deer resistant. As long as they’re in well-draining soil, and receive proper nutrients, you can expect an easy tree to care for.
Dawyck purple beech trees grow best in USDA zones 4a through 7b.
Note: there are many cultivars of purple beech, and not all of them are dwarf varieties. Make sure to check the specific species you’re looking to plant. Even established varieties may have different characteristics, depending on how they were grafted (University of Belgrade, Faculty of Forestry).
Parasol Beech
Fagus sylvatica ‘Tortuosa Purpurea,’ or the Parasol Beech, is similar to the Dawyck purple beech in a few ways. Not only that, but it combines some of the most unique characteristics of other dwarf beech cultivars.
Parasol beeches grow to only about 10 to 15 feet tall at the very most. In fact, many of these trees can reach only 5 to 10 feet tall and are often wider than they are tall. Like other purple beeches, they have violet to reddish leaves which transition to gold and bronze once autumn arrives. The leaves also have a smooth, shiny texture that adds another aspect to their visual interest.
Another notable characteristic of the parasol beech is that it combines purple foliage with contorting, twisting branches and has a nearly weeping habit.
Like the other purple beeches, it does well in full or partial sun, although full sun exposure is a requirement to maximize the foliage’s color.
These trees are hardy to USDA zones 4 to 7.
Wrapping It Up
The most important thing to remember when you plant a beech tree is to give it at least 50 feet of space. Dwarf beech cultivars are smaller and therefore have less space requirements. However, you should always check the needs of your specific species.
These trees will be a lasting fixture in your landscape for hundreds of years if you tend them properly, and it all starts with finding the right space.
Resources
Leuschner, C., Hertel, D., Coners, H., & Büttner, V. (2001). Root competition between beech and oak: a hypothesis. Oecologia, 126(2), 276-284.
Nicolini, E., Chanson, B., & Bonne, F. (2001). Stem growth and epicormic branch formation in understorey beech trees (Fagus sylvatica L.). Annals of botany, 87(6), 737-750.
NONIĆ, M. Ž., SKOČAJIĆ, D. M., GRBIĆ, M. N., & ŠIJAČIĆ-NIKOLIĆ, M. T. (2017). Variability of Quantitative and Qualitative Characteristics of Fagus sylvatica ‘Purpurea’ Clones Produced by Grafting. Notulae Botanicae Horti Agrobotanici Cluj-Napoca, 45(2), 400-407.
