[Madame Cholet]

going to trim the hazel suckers from my contorta can i push them straight in the ground to root in the hedge gaps and when is the best time of year?

[diospyros]

If they are proper suckers, with roots attached, I would do them now.  In fact I just did.  I watered them in as it is very dry under the hedge even where the gaps are.  I did make sure to keep them covered in a bag of compost (should have been damper than it was though) in between digging them up and planting again.

[mumofstig]

Unless they already have some roots on, I wouldn't bother - Hazel doesn't root easily like willow does.

[Madame Cholet]

thanks if they have no roots i'll keep them for sticks or weaving

[Goosegirl]

They might be worth using the layering technique.