Advice on Alder please

[Stereo]

I've just taken back one of our fields and it has a very wet strip down the fence line to the next field. I also have a large amount of alder, both coppiced and also some damaged trees that have sprouted new shoots.

 

I know it's getting late in the year but I'm considering harvesting as many sun shoots as possible from my existing alder wood and sticking them in the ground in said field with the view to starting a long term coppice operation with some screening too.

 

Question is, what's the best way to go about this? Cut the shoots with a hatchet and just jam them in the ground? Or cut them down a bit? Am I too lat in the year?

[Will Heal]

I dont think you can grow alder this way. I thought it can only be done with poplar and willow. I may be wrong though.

[Bogoak]

I dont think you can grow alder this way. I thought it can only be done with poplar and willow. I may be wrong though.

 

No, I don't think you're wrong.

[diervek]

Alder can be propagated with hardwood cuttings.

A little late as you ideally want to take the cuttings before bud burst, but worth a go(?)

 

https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/details?plantid=104

https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=387

[csservices]

Does work, been a while since I've planted any like that so can't remember if you need to do anything specific to them first, pretty sure they will grow from a log left on wet ground same as willow will too.

[Stereo]

Thanks, I've grown them before like this. Wasn't hugely successful but many did take and are now trees. I guess I'll just give it a go and see what happens.

[csservices]

There's something rattling round the back of my head that says if you debark the first couple of inches before pushing them in it helps with rooting

[Stereo]

There's something rattling round the back of my head that says if you debark the first couple of inches before pushing them in it helps with rooting

 

Sounds sensible. Was wonderng about the top. Do I cut everything to say a foot. Debark a few inches at the bottom and jam them in? Will give it a go.

[Bogoak]

Alder can be propagated with hardwood cuttings.

A little late as you ideally want to take the cuttings before bud burst, but worth a go(?)

 

https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/details?plantid=104

https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=387

 

Well, you live and learn. Thanks.

[Mick Dempsey]

I didn't know that either.