Planting living willow

Hi all...

Can anyone give me their opinion?

I got a huge amount of long willow whips on Friday from the sustainability centre near us. I intended to buy it for obelisks and supports, but the woodsman who got it ready for me insisted that it would grow.

He said it was not long cut and that as the season this year is so late, it should have plenty of rooting power.

We've made an arbour, and although it is not the end of the world if it doesn't grow as we intend to grow clematis through it, it would be great if it did. We took off the ends incase they were dry to lovely green bark and planted nice and deep.

What do you reckon??

 

Bound to grow, show Willow a picture of a bag of compost and it'll start rooting

 

Someone gave me two thick branches off a curly willow once. (They had to chop it down because it was undermining the house) I stuck them in the garden to make a temporary feature thingy. That was 13 years ago, I've still got them.

 

Ziggy... I hope you're right!!!

 

There's hope!!

 

Me too, I've got a lovely Willow.



She's taken pretty well

I've fixed your new link to your website, any donations to the site appreciated if you get business off it

 

They'll grow for sure!

 

Its success rate drops off as you get into the main growing season, but its still early yet and I concur with the man who sold you it.

At this time of year, if you keep the ground well watered, I'd expect at least 80% success rate. At the ideal time of year (over winter really) its closer to 100%.

 

Yay - so putting that sprinkler on it today was a good move then!!!

Thank you for the advice and info

 

I will keep a very keen eye on it - how long do you reckon til I may see some signs of activity?

Thank you all so much for your opinions.

 

It should be greening up now, but as you've only just done yours, maybe another month perhaps.

You can't really put a timescale on it. I planted some at technically the wrong time of year once and nothing happened that year, and I nearly wrote it off, but the following year it just rocketed.