Beech "fagus sylvatica" 1-8

It needs a substrate that is always moist. Water regularly, allowing the root ball to dry out slightly between waterings to avoid excess water. 

In spring/summer, it should be watered regularly, and every day when the weather is hot! In winter, on the other hand, water according to how closely you monitor the soil. Thanks to the rain and cold you won't necessarily need to water regularly as the substrate will remain moist. 

Important: Don't hesitate to water the whole root ball right down to the roots. The water will drain out through the holes in the underside of the pot, or you can bathe the tree in water for a few minutes to make sure you water all the way down to the roots. We advise against putting a dish or container under your pot, as the water will stagnate and may cause the roots to rot (too much water = asphyxiation).

In the nursery, we use agricultural potting soil, which is made up of black peat, blond peat, aged organic matter, topsoil, horse manure and pozzolan. 

Repotting is done every 2/3 years, from January to March, before the plant starts to grow, but take care never to destroy the entire root ball when repotting, as the mycelium (white fungus) develops with the roots and lives in symbiosis. 20-year-old plants can be kept in the same pot or enlarged slightly when repotted.

In spring (May), you can prune your tree when the branches are tender. Prune the branches above the first leaf and above the second leaf for the weakest ones. To encourage branching and compactness, you should ‘pinch’ the young shoots after the first or second leaf. Buds open quickly; if you neglect pruning, you run the risk of very strong growth with elongated internodes. When the growing season is over, you can cut back an eye, following the direction of future growth.

Pruning to give it the structure you want is usually done at the end of winter (late February-March). To do this, prune the buds from the trunk and any unsightly branches.

In summer, you can rejuvenate the foliage by removing the largest leaves to let in more light.

In the nursery we use NPK 12 12 17 universal fertiliser. Put a small handful (small or large depending on the size of the pot) on the substrate from May to October, every 2 months.