Japanese hornbeam

Japanese hornbeam should be watered once or twice a week, depending on the temperature and humidity. In the spring and summer, the plant needs about 1 inch of water per week. In the fall and winter, reduce your watering to about 1/2 inch to 1 inch per week. Keep an eye on the soil, and if it feels dry, then water it. Make sure not to water excessively, though, as this can harm the plant. If the soil is too soggy or waterlogged, you will need to reduce your watering.

Japanese hornbeam prefers partial sunlight and is tolerant of shade, but does best when it receives 4-5 hours direct sunshine a day. During the spring and summer months, its ideal to provide at least 6 hours of direct sunlight a day. As winter approaches, the direct sun exposure should be decreased to around 4-5 hours per day.

The Japanese hornbeam (Carpinus japonicus) can be pruned any time of year, although it’s best to prune them in late winter or early spring once the danger of frost has passed. Start by removing any dead, diseased or damaged branches. Cut these back to where they meet a healthy branch, just above an outward facing bud. For any larger branches that require a spur or 2 buds, be sure to prune above bud that is pointing in the direction of the desired growth. In practical terms, Japanese hornbeam is an easy plant to manage and does not require heavy pruning. Only targeted pruning is necessary for correcting a tree’s shape. Young trees can shape them and reduce their size by keeping whorls of branching to a minimum, leaving buds and shoots that will soon give rise to strong structural branches. If a tree has become too tall or wide for its given space or has become too mature for its design, pruning should be kept to a minimum. This entails selectively removing a third of the oldest major branches and leaving well-distributed regrowth from the stubs below to maintain strength and stability. Doing this every 3 to 4 years should keep your tree growing strong and healthy.