Planting
and growing your own
Willow can give a much wider
variety of colour, flexibility and
choice. Willows root easily from
cuttings, but require to be
protected from weeds.
Willow can give a much wider
variety of colour, flexibility and
choice. Willows root easily from
cuttings, but require to be
protected from weeds.
To
ensure the best results when
planting, the ground should be
dug and enriched with organic
matter or fertiliser, although
Willow is very adaptable to
most soil conditions.
planting, the ground should be
dug and enriched with organic
matter or fertiliser, although
Willow is very adaptable to
most soil conditions.
Weed
control is very important
and to assist with this, the
ground should either be dug
and rotovated, or covered with
a mulch. On a small area, this is easily managed with black
polythene sheet which can be secured with stones, wire staples
or the edges dug into the ground.
and to assist with this, the
ground should either be dug
and rotovated, or covered with
a mulch. On a small area, this is easily managed with black
polythene sheet which can be secured with stones, wire staples
or the edges dug into the ground.
Holes
are made at the correct spacings and the cuttings are
pushed into the ground for at
least two thirds of their length. There are various suggested
spacings for planting, depending
on the size of 'rod' required.
Closer spacing will produce
smaller, regular rods, whilst a
wider spacing will produce a
mixture of sizes. Suggested
spacing is 60cm between rows
and 30cm between cuttings.
pushed into the ground for at
least two thirds of their length. There are various suggested
spacings for planting, depending
on the size of 'rod' required.
Closer spacing will produce
smaller, regular rods, whilst a
wider spacing will produce a
mixture of sizes. Suggested
spacing is 60cm between rows
and 30cm between cuttings.
The
planting season for cuttings
is between November and March,
the dormant months. Ample
watering during dry spells is
required for the new cuttings.
The growth in the first year will
typically be between one and
three metres. This should be
cut back at the end of the
first growing season, and an
increase in growth will be evident
in the second season.
is between November and March,
the dormant months. Ample
watering during dry spells is
required for the new cuttings.
The growth in the first year will
typically be between one and
three metres. This should be
cut back at the end of the
first growing season, and an
increase in growth will be evident
in the second season.
This
begins the annual coppicing
cycle, and the life of a Willow
bed should be between thirty and
fifty years. During this time a
significant crown will develop on
the stool, from which a haze of
beautiful Willow rods will grow.
cycle, and the life of a Willow
bed should be between thirty and
fifty years. During this time a
significant crown will develop on
the stool, from which a haze of
beautiful Willow rods will grow.
Certain
varieties, mainly
salix purperea (Brittany Blue)
salix viminalis (Common Osier)
salix daphnoides (Oxford Violet)
salix chermesina (Coral Bark Willow) and some other varieties
are available from me from
December to March ~
please contact me for more
information and availability.
salix purperea (Brittany Blue)
salix viminalis (Common Osier)
salix daphnoides (Oxford Violet)
salix chermesina (Coral Bark Willow) and some other varieties
are available from me from
December to March ~
please contact me for more
information and availability.