Coppicing 3 very mature hazel trees - rotate or all in one go?

[YamanM]

Hi all. 

As above, I have 3 very mature hazel trees in my garden. They are all about 25ft high, some branches are about 8-10" across. I am thinking of cutting 1 or 2 down to encourage sunlight into my garden, as well has selling 2,3,4,6 ft long sections this year and in a few years time. 

First question - should I leave them after I have cut a tree for the next 7 years, or can I cut back what I need? How long would it take such a mature tree to grow back some nice big sections? 

Second question - would you advise I only cut one back every couple of years to have them at about 6 years old before I harvest if I should completely leave them alone? 

Third question - almost completely ground level to allow more light, or cut them higher, say 6ft off the ground? 

Thanks in advance! 

[Mick Dempsey]

Do them all in one go. 
Cut them as low as you comfortably can (you’ll understand when you do it)

Buy a Caribbean island with the money you make. 

[sime42]

As above.

 

Excuse the hijack here, but I have a related question. Can anyone explain why you normally see Hazels as multi, small diameter, stemmed trees, but sometimes also more like conventional trees with just a single or a few much larger diameter trunks? Or indeed sometimes a mixture of the two arrangements. I've never gotten my head round it. I don't think it's anything to do with coppicing, but I could be wrong.

 

Tried to find a picture of what I mean but Sod's Law dictates that I can't quite.

 

[Mick Dempsey]

I’ve never seen one with a proper trunk like that. 

[sime42]

You haven't lived!

[Mick Dempsey]

I think that a sweet chestnut or lime with some hazel growing in some cracks. 

[sime42]

Nah

[sime42]

Here's another

 

 

 

[Stere]

All at once.

 

Thne cut again all  after 7yrs if you want some bean poles etc.

[Tree monkey 1682]

3 hours ago, YamanM said:

Hi all. 

As above, I have 3 very mature hazel trees in my garden. They are all about 25ft high, some branches are about 8-10" across. I am thinking of cutting 1 or 2 down to encourage sunlight into my garden, as well has selling 2,3,4,6 ft long sections this year and in a few years time. 

First question - should I leave them after I have cut a tree for the next 7 years, or can I cut back what I need? How long would it take such a mature tree to grow back some nice big sections? 

Second question - would you advise I only cut one back every couple of years to have them at about 6 years old before I harvest if I should completely leave them alone? 

Third question - almost completely ground level to allow more light, or cut them higher, say 6ft off the ground? 

Thanks in advance! 

Cut them down 5"from.the ground and get on with it! 

[Mick Dempsey]

2 hours ago, sime42 said:

Here's another

 

 

 

That’s a monkey puzzle.