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Hi there

If anyone could help me with this I'd be grateful, I'm having trouble finding what I need to know on the internet.
I'd like to plant some hazel along one side of our field, and as we have quite a bit already around the other edges, would like to use some whips cut from the existing trees. I'm a complete newbie when it comes to taking cuttings etc and I'm not sure what I need to do. Can I just cut off some lengths of hazel and stick them into the ground (after I've dug and composted some holes)? Or do I have to get some roots going first?

Any advice would be appreciated!
Thank you
Sarah

I'd try just cutting some whips at an angle - and sticking them in, my next door neighbour popped one in the ground when he was making hurdles and forgot about it - he now has a hazel growing nicely

I concur, cut 'em off and bung 'em in. so long as they remain moist enough they will sprout happily. Hazel is EASY to grow - one of the many reasons it was used in hurdle making, and fencing, and basketry, and furniture making, and. . .

Thank you both for the replies, I will get out there and have a go, I have nothing to lose anyway... I'd love to be able to make something useful with it as well, we just use it for pea sticks so far. I have seen instructions for a wicker type chair, I wonder if hazel would work for that...
... just needed a positive word to get me inspired, thank you!

I would agree just bung them in but try to keep ground around them clear of all plant life to avoid competion for the nutriants, this done for first couple of years can see as much as double the growth rate





try hard, mean well, never give up

zaza wrote:.............I have seen instructions for a wicker type chair, I wonder if hazel would work for that...!

Oh Yes I have one in my front porch, but give it a good dose of linseed or other wood-saving stuff as the one that lived in the back yard fell apart because it dried out too much and the joints gave way

zaza wrote:Thank you both for the replies, I will get out there and have a go, I have nothing to lose anyway... I'd love to be able to make something useful with it as well, we just use it for pea sticks so far. I have seen instructions for a wicker type chair, I wonder if hazel would work for that...
... just needed a positive word to get me inspired, thank you!

Yep it will do Seymour's forgotten arts and crafts book ahs some basic info on working hazel for a variety of purposes and im sure there are other good books out there that are more specific