Laying a Hazel hedge - sap flow

[Pandion]

The old boy who taught me used to lay hedges year round when he started and was a bit bemused by all the modern sensibilities re seasons etc. Apparently the hedges grew well regardless of the time of year when they were cut. Second hand info but interesting!?

[stewmo]

The old boy who taught me used to lay hedges year round when he started and was a bit bemused by all the modern sensibilities re seasons etc. Apparently the hedges grew well regardless of the time of year when they were cut. Second hand info but interesting!?

 

 

Well plenty of tree surgeons prune all year round so why not lay I guess

[openspaceman]

Well plenty of tree surgeons prune all year round so why not lay I guess

 

 

Not the same thing. When laying you want the stem you have laid to stay alive, so it's branches can grow vertically and strengthen the matrix against stock.

 

To do this when you make the plash cut you leave sufficient wood to support the stem (and reinforce this with the ethering, plus maintain the bark and cambium to allow sap to flow.

 

In the spring the cambium produces fresh cells and during this stage tit is very fragile. So the bending of the woody part in tension and the bark in compression can buckle and rupture the cambium. Just bend a twig to fracture and see this effect.

 

I never did enough to see how far one could push the limits, too much like hard work!

 

You can coppice all year round but for different reasons the produce doesn't last as long.

[stewmo]

Not the same thing. When laying you want the stem you have laid to stay alive, so it's branches can grow vertically and strengthen the matrix against stock.

 

 

 

To do this when you make the plash cut you leave sufficient wood to support the stem (and reinforce this with the ethering, plus maintain the bark and cambium to allow sap to flow.

 

 

 

In the spring the cambium produces fresh cells and during this stage tit is very fragile. So the bending of the woody part in tension and the bark in compression can buckle and rupture the cambium. Just bend a twig to fracture and see this effect.

 

 

 

I never did enough to see how far one could push the limits, too much like hard work!

 

 

 

You can coppice all year round but for different reasons the produce doesn't last as long.

 

 

Good points thanks.

Halfway through now so another couple of days it'll be done and trees can get on with growing quietly by themselves!