Shade tolerance of hazel to coppicing

[corylus]

Intrigued to see you said "hazel stools". What do you mean?

[woodyguy]

Sorry, you are right. I planted 350 hazel maidens to establish stools in a coppice and standard arrangement. My mistake.

[Marko]

At the risk that I am missing something obvious... could someone explain %age canopy cover and how it is measured.

 

Thanks in advance.

[Marko]

I found this which explains the measurement process. http://ecoplexity.org/files/Measuring_Canopy_Cover_lesson_plan.pdf

[woodyguy]

As you have found, there are lots of more scientific ways of measuring coverage. In reality, I suspect most people eye ball it and have a vague idea.

 

I could have said "Open well-thinned birch wood to well spaced but not full canopy closure sessile oak wood", another way to put 20 - 60% but the numbers are easier although with a spurious accuracy.

[Marko]

I guess it is less about the numerical measure but more about real life experience on the impact of the canopy density (and height of canopy?). Must take more notice!

[corylus]

Sorry, you are right. I planted 350 hazel maidens to establish stools in a coppice and standard arrangement. My mistake.

 

Ahh I see. Thought I'd missed something!

[corylus]

I found this which explains the measurement process. http://ecoplexity.org/files/Measuring_Canopy_Cover_lesson_plan.pdf

 

Good one!

[coppiceer]

Personally I would coppice each stool completely, as the stems that remain will compete with any new regrowth for nutrients and will probably win. Also, removing all of the stems will, in itself, help to reduce the canopy cover.

 

Would it be possible to prune the standard trees so as to remove as many low/medium height overhanging branches as possible? I have found that even Ash provides enough canopy cover to impede hazel regrowth. Overhanging branches are going to be your main problem as well-pruned standards will provide the side-shade and shelter required for good hazel growth.

 

I agree with Hedgesparrow about the need to cover the newly coppiced stools. I cut up the smallest branches and loosely pile them up to a height of 4'-5', with a generous spread around the stool. This provides a good micro-climate for the new shoots. I haven't had any problems with rabbits but you could try a dead-hedge around the coppice area using the thicker waste if necessary.

[Rob Stringer]

A 6 ft tenax-type plastic net fence around the area is more effective than laying brash on stools for protecting regrowth from deer browsing. The FC can often grant-aid this.