Purdue University points out what most people fail to realize: that most trees grow many of their roots in the top 4 to 8 inches of soil, where warmth, moisture and nutrients abound. This question all comes down to tree size. By then you might decide to leave it where it is. It’s not mulched and the soil is dry. While the majority of roots grow in the top 2 feet of the soil, the deepest structural and anchoring ones do not penetrate deeper than 3 to 7 feet, according to Colorado State University experts. N/A. Water deeply, regularly during first few growing seasons to establish an extensive root system; reduce frequency once established. This year as the leaves opened I noticed the leaves on the top half of the tree are drooping and look dried out. Should we be worried, or is that normal? I would leave it for now just in case come dormant buds will emerge later in the season. These can be prevented if the symptoms are spotted early. Will I be able to prune the tricolor to keep it somewhat smaller than 20′ wide? John. Thanks. No that’s not normal, but these trees seem to do odd things some years, so I wouldn’t worry about it yet. A skilled pruner, say Iain from Anderson Gardens (your welcome for the plug Willie!) It’s about 20 feet tall now. In 2018, its first full season in our yard, it rebounded a bit, but did not fully flourish. Thanks, Pete. I can plant it a few feet further away if that would make any different. A mature tricolor beech outshines any display of roses in my opinion. I heard the roots of the tree are shallow. European beech take pruning amazingly well. Keeping watering it to the ground freezes but make sure it dries out between watering. Extending the mulch layer well beyond the drip line, the farthest reaches of the branches, protects the youngest, more tender root tips growing into new soil reaches. It is hard when you have trees delivered and planted in Nov as they have no leaves. I would wait till the worst of winter is over or till next Spring. Hi Jim – we planted a 10′ tricolor beech in late-summer 2017, in Michigan. It is now planted on a hillside in sandy loam, wide open to the south and west on the topside of a hill. They are in the parking strip & about 20 feet tall & were planted with root collars in 1999 When you plant it, it may need to be staked and it should be mulched and regularly watered this Summer. I’m spending a lot of $$$ to buy this beloved tree and sure don’t want to chance losing it. Thanks Jim! I’m in upstate ny , Syracuse Ny and it’s 80 ish consistently for the next 2 months if not a little hotter. Hi Jim, I will report back if and when it produces another crop of nuts. Also my backyard faces south. The front and opposite sides of the tree roots have tons of open space to spread out. do you see that being a problem? I wish I’d discovered your site a year ago, but delighted to have now found you and all of your great advice. Studies have shown no signs of insects or the presence of other disease vectors, adding to the mystery of how it is spreading. We have been excitedly watching the leaf buds form until today when we found the trunk and several branches covered in a light, off-white powder. At first I thought it is peanut in a shell, or maybe chestnut (in a shell), until I noticed germinated trees and saw pictures on Internet: it is beach tree. That tree grows across Europe and Britain, sometimes making whole forests, and sometimes mixed with other trees like oak. Keep watering when fall comes, but drop frequency down to once a week or longer. They recommended using a specific soap and brush. Should I let it be? my tricolor beech was planted about 3yrs ago..doing very well..8ft from the house and i wanna transplant it another 7ft out in March or April. We have found a place but it is near water reader and I guess cable/phone box (green colored) . I am looking for seeds of Fagus sylvatica ‘ Purpurea Tricolor . I live in the Salt Lake City area. Take extra care if planting in the fall, as tri-color beech is more sensitive to being transplanted at that time. You are my “go to” with questions about my tri color beech. Oops I should have been clued in earlier. About 25 roses around this. Also, how quickly does this tree grow? So it does brown up in late Summer. Now after watching it we realize the birds are biting off the leaves and buds! About beech tree: I’ve read somewhere its’ root will suspend anything to grow around. My tricolor beech has developed mottling of the leaves. Exposure:  Light shade.  Afternoon shade best. I am sure my question will be like many others but thought I would ask and see your thoughts as i have had conflicting info on this. Thanks Jim, a great help. I read your previous comments where you suggested it shouldn’t be closer to the house. great post! We live in Oregon. We have what I believe to be a tricolor beech on our property in CT but it seems to be struggling. Of course we plan on making this an annual event if necessary. It is only a couple inches above ground now, any chance this tree will begin growing again from the root? The tree is partially shaded but now gets a bit of afternoon sun because a tree fell that used to shade it. Yep. It’s just a matter of how you will like how it looks. See what the companies suggest. Probably not. I previously posted this article in 2013 but have rewritten it to include information on Beech Leaf Disease. Given all the comments on the amount of surface roots; should I dig down a couple of inches and build the mulch from there, or just pile the mulch around the trunk over the grass to avoid damaging the root system. I noticed today what I think are aphids under some of the leaves. Its location is in the boulevard portion of my house between the sidewalk and street (12 feet) Something ate them in a day (or night) like a swarm of locusts had come through. It was a dry year this year, but the tree is on a drip system that has been set the same each year. Someone from the Forestry Department said it may be birds spreading it. Cut it off at the trunk? They also recommended that I try feeding the tree in hopes it will push through this tough ‘phase’. Hello! Is it normal for the leaves to change now that we are approaching fall? They most definitely can be pruned to stay smaller. I planted a 4 foot, Tri-colour Beech 3 years ago. We followed your advice and checked with a nearby source. I bought on sale at HomeDepot in Canada tri-color beech without hesitation, for $45, 8′ high!!! The leaves have returned and it is doing great. Seasonally, Nature Hills offers hand selected, high quality bare root trees, shrubs and perennials. (little green bugs with white pillowy stuff on them) I planted a 6 ft tall tri-color beech tree at the end of September last year. Something small to medium, around 25 to 30 feet tall. What is the best time of year to plant a Tri-color Beech and what kind of care do we need to give it in its first year in our yard? I enjoy reading up on everyone’s questions. We have a fairly young tri colored beech tree that we planted 2 years ago. I have such new Summer-growth 2″-3″ now, few of them. Do you know if this is a common problem in upstate NY, and do you have any suggestions on how to take care of the issue? I usually recommend no fertilizing or only lightly fertilizing with a slow release fertilizer. I t is a rather dull green. The beech does have shallow roots and casts a dense shade, so consider that depending upon on how close the perennials will be to it. It’s for my home country South Korea. Changes in soil depth around beeches also cause injury to root systems. Luckily, the nursery is willing to replace the tree at their cost. This spring in central Ohio we has several nights after the leaves budded of temperatures in the low forty range. Have a sheltered in back yard with a morning sun afternoon shade area I was thinking of planting one. Or will it always look somewhat crooked. So relax, enjoy your mostly purple tree and see what you get next year. This could be anywhere from a couple of times a week to every couple of weeks as we had into winter. So many people out walking have stopped to ask what type of tree it was. No nuts for the last 3 years. Leaf edges are slightly wavy and usually smooth but sometimes lightly toothed. How hot and dry are your summers? Thanks! If you are willing to be dedicated to pruning it you can definitely keep it smaller, that is a big part of what we do at Japanese gardens as pruners. I am concerned now that it’s too close after reading how large it gets! Thanks for your help. The following week I put in fertilizer spikes. The tree I selected is fairly mature (approx 12 ft) so it’s pricey and planting is 50% of the price. I’ve now had two other arborists say that the leaf issue is not due to aphids, but is a problem with the tree, which they think may not have been planted properly. I would say plant one (maybe don’t spend TOO much money on it) and see how it does. I bought it and had it planted by a reputable nursery. Late season defoliation is not as huge of a deal as early season. I live in northern Illinois and have read that they should not be planted in the fall. 1) The trunk is somewhat twisted. This is a concern with trying to grow plants under established trees but can cause sidewalk issues as the trees get larger. If you really want it, you can always give it a try. Tri-color dappled willow trees add visual interest to your yard year-round. Anything I can do for it. I think it was due to drought. Patty, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but from your description is does sound like it could be the scale that starts the disease. It seems to be trailing some other local tricolor beeches by about 10 days in terms of its leaf blooms and coloring, but it is looking pretty good so far — except for one branch on the lower trunk that did not produce any leafs. Should I hold off and plant in the spring or is it ok to plant now? In looking at the tree, it has developed new buds throughout. The temperatures should not have bothered it either. I planted a sapling trcolored beech last summer and based on your advice, probably watered too often initially and probably not long enough. Bloom Color Name. We’re zone 5-6. Your cooperation will be highly appreciated. Heck maybe almost all day. We greatly appreciate your help! The thin bark is a magnet for vandalism from bored teens walking by and the branches do have a tendency to grow close to the ground. The heat spell passed, and I backed off on the watering, though we have had many cool rainy days. Heartbroken in Michigan. You could also just move it further away. I have thought about installing white round split corrugated drain tubing to the trunk to reduce direct sunlight to it, but then I would not be able to inspect the trunk for bugs and such. 2) The leader on top (at around 6 feet) forks sharply to the sides. My guess would be to expect periodic crops of nuts every few years. My husband just gathered a large wheelbarrow full of them to dump because we couldn’t taste anything in the tiny shiny seed. $40.00. We have a tri color beech we planted last September in Indianapolis. My tricolored was purchased as a small specimen, but now is around eight years old and probably eight feet tall. Call them, describe what you have and see if they can give you an idea of what they would charge. Thank you for all your answers the the questions, they are all interesting. If leaves do not produce chlorophyll at all, then of course you can still germinate such plant from seed, but it will eventually die (because leaves do not have chlorophyll responsible for converting light energy into sugars etc.). I notice green fungus looking stuff on the trunk and branches of my tri color beech. You may be seeing symptoms of this if it was similar in your area last summer. Purdue University points out what most people fail to realize: that most trees grow many of their roots in the top 4 to 8 inches of soil, where warmth, moisture and nutrients abound. But it will take many years for this to happen; I have 6′ beech trees and I have roses close to it. I did not prune the dead leader off and am wondering if I should prune it this fall/winter in the hopes that a second leader will develop. Nashville and the area around it is a zone 7. We have a tri birch tree and when we bought it we were told that there was something we could buy that when placed in the soil around it that it would enhance the colour of it. thrive in Eastern woodlands and along rivers. and a spread of 20ft.. Thanks you very much for this info! Half of the tree’s leaves have now turned brown. Hi Jim, I was wondering if a tri-colour Beech would do in Ontario, Canada just north of Toronto Zone 4b? It is planted in virtually the same location as the maple. If it is, there are measures you can take to save your tree. There are some other reasons that make it questionable as a street tree. The deer ate mine, so we trimmed it up, it looks like a tree and the deer leave it alone now. Is there a website that will tell me how to prune it so that it doesn’t end up a shrub? Is a tri-colored beech affected by a black walnut tree and jug lone? I have a tri colored beech that we planted in the front of our house about 4 years ago. The leaves are just beautiful purple and black. Also why are these trees grafted to a rootstock?Thank you, Mike (zone5b). The vigor of the trees improved after scheduled applications of organic mulch and limited soil tillage. retaining wall at the corner of the patio. Water deeply, regularly during first few growing seasons to establish an extensive root system; reduce frequency once established. If I dug under one of the sides and either lifted and filled under to straighten or dug other side and dropped that side a bit; would that shock the tree too much. It kind of depends on your climate and the specifics of the site. Here is a good article on tree transplanting that gives some guidance: http://www.clemson.edu/extension/hgic/plants/landscape/shrubs/hgic1055.html. I’d like to plant one in our front landscaping but I read it has fiborous roots so other plants can’t grow “under” it…I’m a gardening newbie…is this true? We get quite a bit of rain in the spring, so don’t think I should be watering now, but want to know if I should replace with some other saplings I have had in a bucket of water in the garage since November that are starting to get leaves now. Would it even be feasible to think we could move this tree? Any idea on what is happening to it? The striking foliage of the European Tri-Colored Beech Tree is purple with irregular creamy pink and rose margins. Is there a way to prune it to keep it manageable and shorter than 30 feet? It could but it does not sound like a situation I would expect it to thrive in. Wright holds a graduate diploma in environmental horticulture from the University of Melbourne, Australia, and a Master of Science in public horticulture from the University of Delaware. I have put grey/silver plants with my purple beeches and it is stunning: lambs ears, dusty miller and artemisia. In the 1990s, the impressive beech tree allees at Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park, the former Gold Coast-era estate of William Robertson Coe, began losing vigor. Do you think i could move it successfully. And will they recover next year if we get sufficient rain ? Making them look natural while keeping them small does take some skill and practice. Would the beach nut harm dogs? My question is, “is it ok to plant tree over there? How long should it take to get rid of the insects? ? We have rarely seen a nut from it. Don’t forget the tree itself will widen out with branches growing low to the ground. Or, since it is a young tree should I just replace it. Popular sizes of select trees are 1 foot, 2 feet, 3 feet, etc. Either it settled a bit crooked or I failed to plant it straight. If you have another spot with some shade in afternoon that would be a better spot, but in Michigan you should be OK in your spot. But in general if you keep it well watered (not too much though, once or twice a week if it is very hot should be enough) during the summer hopefully it can recover. I uncovered root crown last year, at the surface now, and roots became very thick, very visible. We have had a lot of rain this summer, about 26″. The Tri-color beech grows shaped more like a regular beech than the Purple Fountain beech, only smaller. Feed with a general purpose fertilizer before new growth begins … Here in Toronto, I was able to see at least 5 different kinds of Beech tree at Eglinton PlantWorld store, and although I like big purely purple leaves more, this “Tri-Color” tree looks amazing as a whole. I watered the tree. Thank you for this info, I have about 7′-high tricolor beech (two of them). Is it the pink part that is turning brown and are they dry? I planted a Tri-Color Beech tree 4 years ago. We’ve had plenty of rain july through mid august. So the tree would be planted about 3 feet from the inside of the retaining wall and about 3 feet from the corner of the patio. I am thinking of planting a Tri-color Beech amid a large rock garden in our front yard . They are considered moderately susceptible to deer damage. I am going to guess it is not the fertilizer spikes as they usually take time to breakdown. Some of which are normal size and color tricolor beech leaves. What will happen if I pruned off the only branches left with variation? It is approximently 10 feet now. Please come back and tell me what it does for you next year, as I am curious (although climate can definitely impact this).” So, this is a follow-up post. I’m not going to get another one. I have had mine have purple leaves on a branch one year and the next year it is back to a variegated leaf. The intended site gets a maximum of 5 1/2 hours of direct sunlight per day in the middle of the summer. I live on a moderatly busy small city street in Grand Haven Michigan. The bed is between the front walk and the driveway which form a 90 degree angle. It should survive, but will need frequent watering in Summer heat to keep it looking good. Thanks. There is another mystery tree disease that is rapidly spreading across the native range of the beech and may prove a problem for beech trees across the country. If they do, when do they reach sexual maturity to do so? European beeches are often used as hedges so they certainly can tolerate pruning. The first symptoms are a dark staining pattern on the leaves, then the leaves become shriveled and leathery textured. (I’m waiting for a nearby Greenspire Linden to hurry up and grow so it gets some shade). Don’t worry till June. With all this rain that Michigan is haveing, your doomed:(. The winters should not be a problem for it. I am pretty sure they were eaten as there were no leaves around the tree as you would expect from leaf drop. 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