Anyone know anything about willow!?

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Anyone know anything about willow!?
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Tristan

Joined: 29 Dec 2004
Posts: 392
Location: North Gloucestershire

Posted: Tue Jan 11, 05 12:02 pm Post subject:

Willow will even root if it is stuck in upside down. If there are any buds below the surface then the plants may regrow from these.

The only type of rabbit guards to use are 3ft lengths of chicken wire, bent into a tube with the top and bottom flared out and secured with a hazel rod. Remove them once the stem is 4 inches thick and the tree should be safe.

Plastic rabbit guards=handbrake on canoe!

Guest

Posted: Tue Jan 11, 05 1:31 pm Post subject:
Re: Rabbits don't eat willow I can't comment on the native bunnies, but a New Zealand White I used to have certainly did (but then there wasn't much that animal didn't eat)

mrutty

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 1578

Posted: Tue Jan 11, 05 10:20 pm Post subject:
My father's response was 'why grow that weed'. Which suggests that it grows very easily. His advice was 'hack off a branch and shove it in the ground'.

percypony

Joined: 06 Jan 2005
Posts: 146
Location: Hants

Posted: Wed Jan 12, 05 1:31 pm Post subject:
Well, I guess we just had some very bad luck then!!! We didn't think after the plants being in the ground for a few months that they would need watering. Stupid maybe... I really hope they come back as we can't afford to buy them again! As for taking cuttings (IF they grow enough this year to cut some from!) do I just take a side branch off and shove it in the ground then?

Guest

Posted: Wed Jan 12, 05 6:10 pm Post subject:
yes

Guest

Posted: Wed Jan 12, 05 6:15 pm Post subject:
that was me btw dont know what happened tho

DarrenG

Joined: 26 Dec 2004
Posts: 110
Location: Lincolnshire Fens

Posted: Wed Jan 12, 05 6:19 pm Post subject:
everytime I post it comes up as guest (yes I'm logged in)

DarrenG

Joined: 26 Dec 2004
Posts: 110
Location: Lincolnshire Fens

Posted: Wed Jan 12, 05 6:20 pm Post subject:
yes at last

percypony

Joined: 06 Jan 2005
Posts: 146
Location: Hants

Posted: Mon Jan 17, 05 3:42 pm Post subject:

Well, I cut each stem of new growth back to about 6-8 inches yesterday so I not have 50 or so baby willows!
Do you think it would give them a better chance if I started them off in pots? To be honest as the grass has grown up around the willow I think these little ones light get lost of I just shoved them in the ground!
I did a test on a few of the older plants to and scraped a little of the bark off and they are nice and green underneath so there is hope for growth this year I think!

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45694
Location: Essex

Posted: Mon Jan 17, 05 3:51 pm Post subject:
If you're worried about competition from grass clear a space around what you've planted and mulch.

Tristan

Joined: 29 Dec 2004
Posts: 392
Location: North Gloucestershire

Posted: Mon Jan 17, 05 9:52 pm Post subject:

You could always push them in to an unused corner of damp ground as they root quicker in soil than pots, need plenty of water, and pots aren't always the bes things for holding water. It's worth mulching, use the oldest part of the heap you have (v. envious), cut a 4" piece of plastic bottle to fit round the stem to keep the manure off, and put down at least three inches of muck before the soil dries out.

percypony

Joined: 06 Jan 2005
Posts: 146
Location: Hants

Posted: Tue Jan 18, 05 8:44 am Post subject:
Thanks Tristan. I will get muck shovelling at the weekend and keep it away from the stems. I have been advertising the muck heap and have had quite a good response so far but it is a never ending supply so anyone is welcome to come and get some if they live near enough! (just outside of Portsmouth)

percypony

Joined: 06 Jan 2005
Posts: 146
Location: Hants

Posted: Mon Feb 07, 05 1:04 pm Post subject:

Just an update if anyone is interested.
I did cut some of the existing willow back as a lot more had grown than I thought. I then stuck these cuttings in the ground a bit randomly last weekend as I thought it worth a try. Well, I noticed this weekend they are shooting already!
I have given the 'adult' willows a treat of the scrapings out from the duck run (lovely sloppy rotted, woodchip, mud and duck poo!!!) so am hoping for a bumper crop of willow this year!
Thanks for your advice everyone!

Lloyd

Joined: 24 Jan 2005
Posts: 2699

Posted: Sat Mar 12, 05 11:34 pm Post subject:
One last thing, Percypony, My course instructor last week said that Willow hate competition either with other willow, or even with grass. This may have already been said. Keep the soil bare around the stems for at least the first six months to avoid this problem.

percypony

Joined: 06 Jan 2005
Posts: 146
Location: Hants

Posted: Mon Mar 14, 05 8:44 am Post subject:
Ops, might have been part of the problem then! They are planted within short grass! Too late now I think as they are over and year old and just starting to sprout again but worth bearing in mind for any cuttings I take! Thanks!

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