Sol asked how my hybrid willow that I planted back in the spring last year was doing. I hope I'm not one of the bloggers who only posts how wonderful everything I do is, and to prove it here's some willow that hasn't really grown!
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| Not quite ready for the fire! |
These pictures were taken in July, but believe me when I say that they haven't put on any growth since I took these photos.
Most have seemed to survive but I guess I should have done a bit more when I read that willow didn't like competition. The majority are at about 8 inches high, not the 8ft that I've read about, it really doesn't like competition from grass and I did nothing to stop it so it's my own fault. Also I think I was a little late in planting them so I doubt that's helped as well.
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| There's two hundred trees in this picture - see them? No? Don't worry I don't either until I trip on one! |
With coppicing in this way you're meant to cut them down at the end of the first year, but as they're barely established I'm going to leave it an extra year before I cut them back. That does mean that it will be six years until I get any firewood from these little plots, but I'm not planning on going anywhere so I can wait!
I'm going to plant up another plot this year, although I might plant through plastic or mulch, and I'm planning on putting in a row of a variety of willow for basket making as well, I've no plans to make any baskets yet but if I ever do then the willow will be there waiting for me!
Anyone have much luck with willow last year? Or any other sort of coppicing?
I planted a short row of willows in my last smallholding to act as a windbreak as it was very open and exposed. To my disappointment, there was no growth for nearly two years ! then they went crazy and I swear I could see them growing !
ReplyDeleteSadly just after that I had to leave, I hope the new tenants left them in situ.
It must be weird to leave things for a new tenant to take care of. I often wonder what someone will think when I have to give this place up (hopefully when I'm long gone and buired!) and if they'll understand all the different edibles I've got planted and things like the willow and other trees for coppicing.
DeleteI have been thinking about planting up willow in the side field as a windbreak and future wood, were did you get them from Kev if you dont mind me asking,
ReplyDeleteA family friend gave me the cuttings. There's a few places you can get them from on the internet. In a few years you can have some cuttings off mine!
DeleteI plant through plastic. When I can get on the field again I shall be planting some more willow, but these will be plants this time as I poked lots of willow whips in a box of spent compost and they have all taken. So if anybody wants any I have more than I have room for!
ReplyDeleteI think plastic might be the way to go in future. Might be a good idea getting them started first, although I think they should grow nwo they've had a year to get some roots in.
DeleteI have had good luck with either wild fruit trees like Plum or Oriental Elm for fast growing hedge-like trees. I use em on the West boundary but they routinely get cut down by the powerline guys. Never thought about Willow though.
ReplyDeleteWillows good because ti comes back so strong when you cut it down. that said it's a rubbish firewood really and needs to be burnt on a high efficiency stove to be any good.
DeleteWillow loves damp areas Kev. So you could plant some of them in a few of your damp areas. I think they would also respond a lot better with a granulated fertiliser like Urea. I found my willow cuttings did very little the first year then they flew it putting on great growth. Your cardboard mulching and lots of fym will also help.
ReplyDeleteMy whole place is pretty damp! When I planted them was next to a ditch that runs all winter. Hopefully my cuttings will be like yours and grow better in their second year then! I'll let you know.
DeleteNope, sadly the cuttings you sent me died off but I think that was my fault, I'll wait until the fence is in around the pond and then I will try again.
ReplyDeleteThat's a shame. I've found a weaping willow near me now so I should be able to send you some of those cuttings next time. Let me know!
DeleteYou're on!
DeleteCant remember if i have already commented but , Heads up, There is a problem with my blog yesterday it was gone and today it says it is invite only... hell if I know what has happened. so you cant view it at the moment dont worry. I will get it back, I hope
ReplyDeleteback to the post I have read lots of peoples experience of this and it would seem many people have problems the first 2 years. and then give up. As Dave said it seems to love areas that are wetter, like Scotland and Devon. When reading American blogs they seem to think that willow is inferior burning wood.
I have spoken to people in Scotland who have said that they chop it into pellets and have bio mass heating. But they have acres and acres of the stuff. for a normal wood burner that can heat the ground floor of a house they were estimating an acre of mature willows. and have 3 acres in a rotation of cutting.
Have you read things like this?
Am also wondering like Gill (frugal in Derbyshire) if planting in say deep trugs and bringing them on for 6 months like that would help or would that make a problem with the tap roots.
Well I'm an American, and I can tell you that there are lots of willow trees here. We have some and they rot easily. The wood peckers love them, and so do ants. This results in large branches braking off sometimes even on a completely still day. We do use the wood for firewood. It is always very light, but of coarse its rotten. So it burns hot and fast. Don't have any complaints about that, as its good when we are trying to get the fire going.
DeleteI've never heard any complaints about them as far as firewood goes. Most people just complain about the mess they make.
Kimberly
Sol - That's a bugger about your blog. It said invite only to me as well when I went to get on yours.
DeleteWillow is an inferior burning wood but it's the fastest growing. The idea is you can only use it in a high efficiency stove as it burns so fast and hot, but with a good stove you can control it and slow it down a bit. As for the amount this is only an experiment but should provide a bit of our wood each year. Our house is only small(ish) and doesn't take much heating. There's a few other waste areas I could plant up if it does well and if it's useless I can dig it all up with the digger!
Kimberly - The dry rotten stuff is great for starting a fire that's for sure. Hopefully I should be able to season this right (when it grows) and then it will burn a bit slower. The plan is to mix it in with good wood and it'll hopefully make firewood a bit cheaper. They are messy and spreading trees though, I guess I could always get some goats if they get out of hand!