I have hazelnut trees about ten years old that I want to cut to the ground in February or March in order to propagate by mound layering or stooling. I am unclear as to whether this is then a one or two year process. Most general articles on stooling suggest one year; one source on stooling hazel specifically, however, suggests it takes two years: letting the new shoots grow for one year, and then, the following spring, girdling and beginning the mounding process. Does anyone know which it is, or if both produce adequate results? Also, are there any special problems doing this with bushes of this age?
Peter--I think my two hazelnuts (Ennis and Butler) are grafted/budded plants originally. Are you sure the stooling will create the desired variety, as hazelnuts have such a tendency to push up suckers from the roots...what variety are you growing? It's been a while since I researched the stooling method, tho it used to be the standard method of propagating many plants...before intermittent mist revolutionized softwood cutting propagation.
