Effects of Prescribed Burning on Hazel in Minnesota

Single or repeated spring prescribed fires and single summer fires easily kill aerial stems of hazel (Corylus spp.). Although vigorous and abundant resprouting follows spring fires, resprouting is less vigorous after summer fire. Repeated summer fires destroy the ability of hazel to resprout by (1) exposing and destroying underground stem systems and (2) probably exhausting stored food reserves. A single fire may eliminate hazel if humus is sufficiently dry to be completely consumed. This drying may occur in the summer or fall, but rarely if ever in the spring.