Willow Pruning

qwerty? · Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2010 7:58 am Post subject: Willow Pruning

Hi all,

I planted 100 bare root Willows (Salix Alba) this time last year. Some were up on 4' tall, single stemmed.

On most of them they only sent out side shoots in the top 12". So I'm wondering should I cut them all down to 12" above ground now to get side shoots near ground level? (I want them to make dense hedge)

If so I take it I can use the offcuts for cuttings?

Thanks

Sive · Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2010 10:21 am Post subject:

By coincidence, this week's BBC's Gardener's world programme said this was the perfect time to cut back dogwood, willow, etc....and then to use the prunings as hardwood cuttings. Just passing on what I saw !

walltoall · Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2010 10:32 am Post subject: RULY OR UNRULY WILLOW HEDGE

I'd suggest cutting every second one down to twelve inches. On the tall intermediates, cut out every shoot which is either
a. growing upwards
b. growing out from the line of the hedge.
The idea is to try to establish the young hedge to stay under five foot initially. Else it will head for the sky and leave little or nothing below.

It's also better to cut out shoots one by one with a secateurs and as far back as possible. Such cuttings will readily root but try leaving them in a bucket of water in a shady place for a week or two until you see sign of roots forming.

It's well nigh impossible to kill willows, but they don't take well to being clipped like a conventional hedge. I've done a post on "willow hedging in one year" and if I find it before you, I'll let you know.

I'm back to edit. Here's the link to the post

http://www.gardenplansireland.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2598&highlight=

qwerty? · Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2010 11:27 am Post subject: Re: RULY OR UNRULY WILLOW HEDGE

Thanks Sive, Forgot to watch it Crying or Very sad

Waltoall - I had read that post, its very informative thanks.

corco2000 · Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2010 8:48 pm Post subject:

Quick Q regarding cuttings of Willow/dog wood, as suggested to leave cuttings in a bucket of water for roots to form- with it not be very hard to plant then- as Id imagine roots would be very tender? I got some cuttings of both, Ive just pushed them in the soil, hoping this will work?

Sive · Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2010 11:15 pm Post subject:

Advice on Gardeners' World programme was to cut a slit trench, put sand in the base, and put the cuttings into the slit, burying about three-quarters of each cutting.

qwerty? · Posted: Mon Mar 15, 2010 7:23 am Post subject:

Sive · Posted: Mon Mar 15, 2010 1:37 pm Post subject:

Not much thicker than a pencil as far as I remember....cuttings about 9 or 10 inches long. Cut a slanted cut at the top to remind you which way is up, and to cast the water off.