Coppicing Birch

[dermot page]

Hello
Does any one have experience in coppicing young birch? I have planted 20000 whips at 80cm by 80 cm which are now coming into growing season three. The basal diameter by this September should be on average 1.5". I have experimented cutting back with some patches of birch elsewhere on the farm but with moderate success (30-50% coppice). From what I have read online in Scandanavia, timing of coppicing , height above ground level to coppice at and basal diameter are all important with birch. Any suggestions much appreciated.

 

[Broch]

In my experience young birch (Betulus pendula) coppices reasonably successfully but not older tress (and nowhere near as reliably as hazel, ash, alder etc.). I would advise not trying till late autumn and I cut quite low down to the ground. Anything over 3" I wouldn't try with but if you're thinning anyway there's no harm.

Once you've started coppicing the older stools will successfully coppice again later but. again, don't let them get too big.

 

[dermot page]

Many thanks for your reply. Is weed competition an issue with sunlight and rubbing off of new buds? If so have you any experience of herbicide control with glyphosphate during dormant season after cut back? I know having grown biomass willow that it can be very susceptible to Roundup at any time of the year and I just wondered if birch is similar?

 

[Robson Valley]

Glyphosate is really nasty ****. The residue can persist in veg for a decade, despite the BS from Monsanto(?) My neighbors used it. The overspray killed a part of my vineyard. So I dug up all the dead vines and threw them into their property.. No use to me any more. Not a whisper of herbicide ever since!

Why coppice birch? Some compulsion? 3"-6" stems are the best sap producers.

 

[Broch]

I don't use any herbicides. I tend to consider that 'weed' growth around the base protects the buds from browsing. The fresh green growth of a coppiced stool is very attractive to all browsing animals But then again, I am not producing wood for commercial reasons and everything is done on ecological grounds.

 

[Erbswurst]

Doesn't it cause cancer?

Good luck!

 

[deadtomorrow]

This is very interesting. I know if you pollard a tall mature tree, cutting back branches, it will regrow with extreme vigour. It's interesting to hear this isn't the case if cut off at the base.

I'm about to start coppicing some lovely birches about 12 years old and I am nervous about messing this up and simply killing them! But I would like to give it a go to start the coppicing process.