At the very end of our garden we grow a couple of Hazel trees. The Jays love the nuts as do the occasional squirrels and it is a favourite perch for birds coming into the garden from the adjoining countryside. But as organic gardeners we delight in coppicing it every few years to give us bean poles and pea sticks. this reduces the need to buy bamboo canes with their sea miles attached.
So, a few days ago, with a small pair of loppers, a larger ratchet pair, secateurs and a pruning saw tucked under one arm I attacked its limbs. I was careful to leave neat cuts so that I was not inviting disease into the wounds. In a short while we had, instead of a tall shrubby tree, a pile of poles and sticks and a revitalised view of the countryside.
It was a good activity for a cold May morning as it warmed me up nicely.
Before …..
…… and after.
The results of a good half hour’s work.
By cutting the Hazel down we can once again appreciate our view of the old Oak tree, a very special part of our “borrowed landscape”.
The bronzed foliage of our old Oak shines out against a somewhat stormy sky.
I planted a hazel hedge at the bottom of the garden last year – at they moment they are just twigs – I didn’t realise they would get that big!
You can keep them to the size you want just by coppicing them when they reach your selected max height.
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I must get some hazel. I would love to use some to make baskets as they did years ago here in Ireland. Some people make them for the tourists. Very useful tree.
The squirrels and jays enjoy ours too.
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They do make beautiful pea sticks. How long does it take for the tree to regrow the branches?
We cut ours every three years, but it does depend on where they are growing. Three years gives us enough pea sticks and bean poles for our needs.
That surely was a work out! That last shot is pretty with the moody sky! Margie
It wasn’t so pretty when the storm arrived. Within minutes the ground was covered in hail stones.
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