Hazel saplings planted!!!

[flower43]

Just to let any local Merseyside people know that these charming little hazel trees were successfully planted on a hitherto neglected site on Friday 19th February along with some bird cherry, ash and birch saplings, roughly 100 plants in all!! One idea was to call the wood Hazel Half-Acre.

The trees have been given nice little protective plastic jackets against the 'wabbits' (!) and hopefully will be bursting their buds as soon as this Arctic weather gives life a chance.

If there's  anybody out there who would like help planting trees at this time of year I would be happy to get involved... we had a great time!  

Thanks to Rosemary (and her measuring stick!) and John and family, Ben and Rebecca (especially the tea and soup makers), Thomas (the lumberjack), Mary T (super- skilled at winding on the plastic rabbit guards!) and Rick (the camera man). What could be more satisfying than ensuring the continuation of wildlife as we know it for future generations?

Thanks to Buddliabill for all his encouragement and to Richard Reynolds for his initial advice.

[tampopo]

I've got a couple of hazel saplings. Is there any particular advice you'd give for Hazels, as apart from other trees?

should they be in an open aspect? Can they tolerate some shade?  should I mulch the ground before planting? After?

t..

[flower43]

Hello there!

No particular conditions needed for hazel , although I do read they do better in fertile, non acid soils. They will benefit from mulch so that the young saplings have no competition. They can tolerate shade as they are often understorey plants in a forest.

I chose them because they are beautiful in every way... wonderful catkins, charming fat buds, large leaves, strong sturdy branches and sticks for coppicing, also a good harvest of food! They are native to Britain but are sadly under represented. The squirrels are my true Guerrilla Gardeners!!

They were also planted in memory of a little girl called Hazel.

Best wishes and let me know of your progress.

[tampopo]

Many thanks for your swift reply.

I will certainly record their progress on here, once they get going.

Can they be pruned or is it best to let them grow unhindered/clipped?

t.

[flower43]

Hi there!

I'm flattered that you should be asking me but I'm not an expert!! 

Hazels are not classed as trees, they are more shrub-like as they naturally form more than one main stem. I would suggest getting them established first before you cut them down, but of course pruning does stimulate growth. Also you may have to protect them against squirrel/deer munching!

I suppose it depends very much what you want your hazel for. Do you want to coppice it for nice straight sticks for fencing, do you want it for sustainable wood harvesting for a wood burning stove, or do you want to just appreciate it for it's beauty and the hazelnuts.

I've found a good web site that you may be interested in. Good luck! 

http://swepstonecoppice.co.uk/hazel.aspx#ctl00_IWS_WH_CPH_Content_LMTControl5

[tampopo]

thanks for the link,

no, not for coppicing, just for aesthetic and practical reasons, I suppose.

It'll be in the city centre, so no deer, probably no squirrels either!  I heard they are best grown in pairs. I'd wanted to keep one and gg the other... we'll see.


regards,

[flower43]

Hi Tampopo,

Sorry can't be of any more help than that... planting in pairs... that must be for cross pollination purposes, will have to look that one up!  If they are self fertile you'll be fine to plant them separately.

Happy planting! 

[tampopo]

No worries,

I might keep them another 12 months and plant them out then.
many thanks.

t.

[flower43]

OK! 

[flower43]

Here is a picture of Hazel Half Acre before planting.

[flower43]

...and after planting!!

[flower43]

Here is a hazel sapling bursting out of it's plastic tube!

[tampopo]

very good, a success, no doubt about it. I nealy lost one of mine, they were in small containers and one nearly dried out. The leaves went brown and everything.

I rescued them both and potted them up into much bigger pots. The stressed one seems to  have recovered...so I'm optimisitic about its long term survival....

[flower43]

Here's a nice little message!   


http://www.youtube.com/user/RaFo0o0o0#p/a/f/0/MAY1UoQYMHk