Abstract
Coppicing is a form of management for certain woody plants that has been used for centuries. The process involves cutting stems near the ground and allowing new stems to grow from the part of the plant that is left behind, which is referred to as the stool. Coppicing living snow fences is a maintenance practice that increases the number of stems on each plant. A larger number of stems on each plant increases “density†of the living snow fence, lowering the optical porosity and allowing fences to become functional more quickly. Coppicing improves the vigor of many species, and has been shown to accelerate the overall aboveground growth of shrub-willow. The information and techniques described in this fact sheet are primarily intended for coppicing shrub-willow plants, but may be applicable to other species with coppice potential as well.