Coppice-so that is the name for this practice. Have been amazed seeing every year the shoots springing from the base of trees we cut the year before. Usually I cut all but one or possibly two shoots from the base of each stump but didn’t realize there was a name for this activity. We also planted fast growing poplars last year and will plant more this year. We are still harvesting dead black cherry from the swamp, so probably our children will get the most benefit from the poplar.
Received my seeds today-finally!! Every year I get a news letter along with my seeds from this small local co-op. This year, the letter was almost entirely about the heavy demand for seeds and all the varieties that were sold out already. They hired an additional six workers this year just to handle the extra demand.
Also harvested the first of the many trailer loads of seaweed I will add to my compost which presently is mostly horse manure. Sure will help my clay-filled soil. Needless to say, my back is aching tonight and I will be retiring soon.
Well, almost...
You Pollard when you cut it back to one main stem.
Yes, that is what’s know as coppice. Your production of wood per acre increases greatly when you don’t cut those extra shoots.
Standard practice is to cut the first year growth (I use them for additional plantings - either poles or cuttings. I have done both, and since about 95% of the 8” cuttings root and grow great.) that way you get multiple shoots put up for the second and subsequent years growth.
Right now I am growing two different hybrids DN34 and OP367 Both do great around here - actually those two do well in most of the U.S.. I also have a New Zealand Willow Hybrid that does pretty well... I even sell some of the cuttings for windbreaks around chicken houses (they grow about 2.6 million chickens around here per week)- I do it more for hobby than profit... at 20¢ an 8” cutting, it adds up.
Black Cherry makes a good fire... The poplars burn a bit faster and are only about 75-80% as high a heat producers.
I envy you all up there with all the seaweed. We don’t have that much around here. I used to collect dead horseshoe crabs and run them through a hammermill, but they limit that now and you have to have special permits... they say the birds might not get enough to eat.
On the seeds, I just got the three that were backordered. They must really be busy about now...
Get a good nights sleep... Those muscles will be all rested and ready to go in a day or two...