By Gillser
United Kingdom 
Hi,
I have a shared garden and I am very upset to find that a hornbeam sapling (about 4 -6 yrs old) of deep sentimental value has been chopped off by someone about 3/4's of the way down from the top!!! I have found the bit that was chopped off - is there anything that can be done to save it? ie can it be put in water or rooting powder & somehow persuaded to grow roots? I have put it in a vase of water in a window in the meantime.
Gillser
7 Oct, 2014
Answers
the top growth probably wont survive. you can try taking the 6" tips from the side stems and put them into soil and see if they sprout.
as said the tree will send up other stems from the remaining trunk. its been 'coppiced' that's all.
8 Oct, 2014
Just joining in to add my sympathy - it must have been a very unpleasant surprise.
8 Oct, 2014
Agree with Steragram--sorry to hear about your precious tree, however, it will be thicker when it regrows. I'd take Ladyessex' advice and mark it clearly.
10 Oct, 2014
Thank you very much to you all for advice and sympathy :-) I'm going to try seaburngirl's suggestion as well as hope the stump sprouts something that can become a tree again (?). Am still reeling that 6 years of growth has been wiped out by one thoughtless clip of some loppers :-O Trying not to curse self for not protecting it somehow. Hindsight is a painful thing!
11 Oct, 2014
Don't worry :o)) it will be ok, it will carry on growing from the main stem, it will bush out more, put a little wire mesh round it & put a ticket on it with its name on so however chopped it down, knows it is a Treasured Hedging Plant.
7 Oct, 2014