So what should I plant this year...

[Marko]

Over the last 8 years we have slowly been planting up a few blocks of trees; primarily blocks of hazel and traditional ash coppice with oak standards. Primarily for firewood after selected pieces (like ash poles, hazel sticks etc) have been harvested.

 

Without being alarmist it does seem daft to spend another season getting a bad back if the crop is even at a small risk of failure.

 

Should I switch species or just carry on? If the former what would be the best alternative to ash? Sycamore or even eucalyptus (heresy?) have crossed my mind but I would welcome any other input.

[face cord]

I was thinking if you have an area that is nearly 100 percent ash would it be an idea to gradually fell & replace some of them from now on & replant with different species. Then by the time the disease does come it won't be totally bare you would have some new trees established?

 

Its hard to think of a substitute tree species to plant though beech maybe?

[Ty Unnos]

Hornbeam, Lime or Wild Cherry are all good coppice trees and might be useful down the line.

 

Also if you have any wet areas Alder is good coppice and firewood.

[Daniël Bos]

Sycamore seems to be happy in most the same circumstances and will coppice with much the same or faster re growth.

 

Birch will grow very fast and makes good firewood. Does not always coppice well, but will probably self seed to such an extend as to not needing to plant replacements.

 

Robinia coppices well, and is quite multi-usefull (animal fodder, timber, firewood, exceptional honey) and produces the hottest burning timber you can grow in the uk.

 

My advice would be to plant a mix of species, monocultures are just plain stupid IMO.