we bought some 8 ft canes from the shed yesterday and whilst we were putting the in the ground we kept hearing loud cracking sounds. My hubbie thought it was someone taking a pot shot at us with an air gun. It wasn't until we actually saw one splitting that we realized what it was. We are late putting the canes in for the runners cos we only got the plot last week. They are looking good though. Has anyone else experienced this phenomina
:o
Not heard of this before, but I think you win the prize for best thread title!! Will be watching my canes carefully from now on...
;D
Some canes do this if they're brittle and the ground is hard. Try starting off the cane holes with a bradawl for soil - dibber or crowbar? and they should go in without cracking :)
2 of my canes last year were Bs to pull up - they'd rooted :o
:o bamboo, willow or hazel lish?
bamboo I think? dunno...bought them at Wyvales. Pretty sure they were bamboo.
some of the canes were splitting before we even tried to put them in the ground. We thought that perhaps it was the hot weather. Thanks for youradvice though
Not heard of this before, but I suppose it's not hugely surprising. I beleive this is very much the reason why kiln dried timber is a bit rubbish - doesn't have time to consolidate properly leaving more open, brittle structure which splits and warps very readily with any change in humidity or temperature.
As a matter of curiousity, had the canes been outside overnight and in the shade prior to use? If so then my suggestion is that they were very slightly damp, and when subjected to scorching sunshine under slight stress, the expanding moisture-filled parts bust them open.
Just a hypothesis, sorry to bore anyone ;)
I think you may be right. The canes had been in the allotmnet hut and they don't have any windows in it just a door. very dark and dingy in there. internal combustion maybe. Thank for all the advice