freezing. opinions please.

[Alberich4]

Freezing makes the trees more brittle and more likely to snap. True or false?

[Woodworks]

When hedge laying I have found this to be most definitely true. 

[Will C]

True.
We did a small 25m section today to fill a gap, one half in sun and half not, the half in the shade I lost 3 pleachers but none in the sun.

[woody paul]

Did a small sycamore yesterday, just cut and chuck had to make increase distance between set cuts. 

Was around - 2 while doing it and had been - 8 over night. 

[Sviatoslav Tulin]

Did  eucalyptus today, everything less than 150 mm ,very snappy, few broke during notching, below 0 last few days.So it’s true.

[organic guy]

I have had to abandon laying in frost sometimes, especially older stuff.

I was told to lay old stuff in the spring when it has "mouse ears" on it, less brittle.

[doobin]

10 hours ago, Sviatoslav Tulin said:

Did  eucalyptus today, everything less than 150 mm ,very snappy, few broke during notching, below 0 last few days.So it’s true.

Laying eucalyptus sounds interesting, any pics?

[Sviatoslav Tulin]

I was cutting it😅,it’s about meter in diameter.

[Guest Gimlet]

Very low temperatures make most species less pliable. It's been between -2 and -6 all week where I'm working but I've not had any problems. Takes the edge off your blades quicker though.

I'm dubious about laying holly in low temperatures. It's very prone to frost burn when laid, and that vulnerability lasts all winter. Best to lay holly at the end of the season.

I've laid holly early on and it was fine until a heavy frost came, then it went brown and died.

 

In the so-called beast from the east year (2018?) I was laying on the Wiltshire downs and on one day just before the snow arrived, it never went above -9 all day. 

 

PITA when the plastic tree spirals I've got to take off are frozen solid. 

Edited December 16, 2022 by Gimlet