Harvesting Hazel: A Guide to Creating Delightful Shrubs and Sturdy Plant Supports
Let's Talk About Coppicing Hazel Trees
Embrace the old school charm of coppicing hazel trees, a technique that yields versatile garden materials and promotes sustainability. Today, with the trend leaning towards local and homemade products, coppiced hazels serve as an eco-friendly alternative to imported bamboo for plant supports and fencing hurdles.
Got a Green Thumb? You'll Dig Coppicing
Hazel trees, known for their broad, open growth habit, boast branches adorned with airy, horizontal layers of leaves. After a good pruning, they equally charm with long, golden catkins gracing the bare stems in spring.
Wanna Get Your Hands Dirty? Planting
Clump multiple coppiced hazels together for a group effort (ideally three or five) to make rotation both practical and appealing to the eye. If you're a veggie lover, rotating the coppicing of individual plants means you'll be self-sufficient in pea sticks and poles! Hazel is an excellent addition to Natural, woodland-inspired planting schemes, partnering nicely with lower-growing bulbs and ferns.
When to Cut? Wait for It
Patience is key when coppicing. Hold off on the cutting until late spring, once the catkins have dropped. For optimal results and sturdy stems, it's recommended to go for a rotation of at least five to ten years, so the roots can properly establish.
Ready to Get Chopping? Here's the How-to
Start by removing the outer stems, then gradually make your way towards the center of the stool. Make sure the stems are cut down to approximately 30cm, culminating in no more than 5cm above the ground for a clean finish.
But Why Coppice? The Perks of Cutting
Reasons to Get snap-happy with Coppicing Hazel Trees
- Sustainable Timber: Coppicing enables the production of timber without killing the tree, making it an eco-friendly method to source garden materials like stakes, hurdles, and plant supports.
- Supporting Biodiversity: Coppiced hazel hedges become havens for a variety of wildlife, including birds, insects, and small mammals. This rotational cutting style maintains a diverse ecosystem throughout the year.
- Year-round Appeal: Native hazel hedges offer visual interests throughout the year, from spring foliage to summer flowers, autumn nuts, and winter twigs - perfect for seasonal garden transitions.
- Tradition & Culture: Embracing coppicing is entering a rich, long-standing practice dating back to ancient times. Participate in workshops or community projects to experience the history and learn new skills.
In essence, coppicing hazel trees provides sustainable wood, encourages biodiversity, and enhances garden design - making it an essential technique for any green enthusiast!
Here are two sentences that follow from the text and contain the given words:
- "With coppicing, hazel trees become an eco-friendly addition to home-and-garden lifestyle, providing versatile garden materials like plants supports and fencing hurdles."
- "For a sustainable, woodland-inspired home-and-garden, consider incorporating coppiced hazel trees into your planting scheme, as they partners nicely with lower-growing bulbs, ferns, and other plants."
