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Hazelnut Tree

Alfie_Alfie_ Posts: 456
in Garden design
Hi,

I have a well established Hazelnut tree which is in much need of pollarding as it has gotten too big. The tree surgeon said it wouldn’t cost too much more to remove it.

I don’t have a huge garden so I wanted people’s opinions on whether to remove it for a different tree or to keep it since it is very established. I like it as it gives some structure to the garden but if I don’t have much space for trees are there better trees to have?

Also as it is so large and the fact it’s located in a border there is only enough room for small plants in front of it. 

Here it is and any advice is much appreciated:



I can’t seem to rotate this on my phone sorry. 
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Posts

  • Slow-wormSlow-worm Posts: 1,630
    "I like it" you said. Keep it. 
    There doesn't seem to be a shortage of space around it, and there are lots of plants which would grow under and around it. 
    What would you like to see around the tree? 
  • bertrand-mabelbertrand-mabel Posts: 2,697
    I am not sure why you need a tree surgeon to coppice the hazel. We have many which we coppice in alter years for the wood in later years. We leave some so that we have the flowers and then the nuts to harvest. The undergrowth is with blubells, daffs, snowdrops and primroses.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    I love hazel trees … the sight of catkins on a sunny day in late winter makes my heart leap with joy. I’d love a hazel tree as big as that in my garden ❤️ 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Alfie_Alfie_ Posts: 456
    Thanks for all the comments. I think I will keep it for sure 😂. It needs pollarding as it is growing well into next door’s garden 😬 

    It will create a lot of wood as surgeon said to pollard it just below the fence. Is it worth keeping any of the wood? When I asked the surgeon he said some might be useful for garden projects. Is it any good once seasoned as fire wood? I get mixed views online and surgeon said it spits a lot and isn’t really ideal. 
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    My tree surgeon says pollarding should always be done in the late autumn/early winter. Certainly not now when the sap is rising. 

    I’d use sticks for pea sticks and beanpoles etc. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • StephenSouthwestStephenSouthwest Posts: 635
    It is a little late to be doing major work to a tree, but hazel are robust. I'd suggest just remove the minimum to keep your neighbour reasonably happy for now, and pollard or coppice next winter.

    Hazel makes good firewood, once seasoned, and especially produces lots of twiggy wood for kindling.
    It will take longer to season if cut now when the sap is starting to rise, than if it were cut in the winter when the wood is drier.

     It's also good for pea sticks, walking sticks, bean supports, and other structures.

     I'm not completely convinced that the tree surgeon knows what they're talking about...
  • nick615nick615 Posts: 1,487
    I'd agree with the last comment.  Your 'tree surgeon' is a bit suspect?  Later this year, the leaves will fall and then, about the first week in November, cut it down to ground level.  You'll then have new growth about this time next year to feed off the existing root stock that's currently supporting what you have at the moment.  Hazel is one of those woods that improve with regular cutting on a rotational basis.  If you can locate a local woodman who's competent with an axe, in 15 minutes he'd have the current tree down with a nice smooth stump to protect it against winter rains (as he'd have done many times before)
  • thevictorianthevictorian Posts: 1,279
    The best thing about hazel is that you can coppice it when you need to without spoiling the tree. It's a good quality to have in a garden tree as it won't outgrow the space like most trees do and it allows you some freedom over its size.

    I have a couple in our back garden and a few down the allotment which create all the plant supports we need.
  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    I have a big one, but I have a big garden in SW France. The EDF came and cut off half the top as they said it was too near their cable. It looked awful but in under 2 years it had all grown back. If yours grows back as fast as mine they I would think it's a waste of money.
    Here is yours the right way up.


    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • nick615nick615 Posts: 1,487
    In answer to one of your questions, it burns nicely green.
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