[Keeks]

Ok i have a boundary ditch with a small stream running beside it. Not really sure of the composition of the ditch but suspect its a combination of stone and mud jdging by another ditch i recently removed.

On this ditch is growing some sally trees and i want to remove these and replace with something else that will act as a screen but something that will also be able to use as bean/pea poles.

What would be a good option? Hazel or Willow possibly?
What are peploes experience of growing these trees?

[tagwex]

This came up before and Blowin was the expert. I had a similar query myself about 2 years back. I think Hazel was adjudged to be the best. Willow are good too but they may sprout in the ground again. You have to leave them for a while before sticking them in the ground. It might, without checking, be in a thread called price of a pea.

[Keeks]

Cheers.....will look for that.

The thought has occurred to me that i may have askd this question before😀

[tagwex]

Had a root around and not in price of a pea. The subject was touched on in 'I have a Plague' and in more depth in 'Runner Beans'.

[Keeks]

Thanks for that....from the gist of the comments it woul seem hazel is probably the best option

[Sue Deacon]

Tagwex is right, hazel is much better for several reasons. Willow grows quite a bit faster but it hasn't the strength of hazel and you would have to leave it out of the ground for some time if it wasn't to grow.

Many years ago an aunt of mine had a line-prop made of willow. Over the winter when she wasn't using it she left it propped up in a corner of the garden. The following spring it had rooted and was sending out shoots. She ended up with a very strange shaped willow tree.

[Blowin]

The one I did some time back is http://www.gardenplansireland.com/forum/about7205.html but, in direct answer to your question, Sweet Chestnut is by far the best in terms of durability but not often seen in this part of Ireland, if anywhere. Hazel is the normal type used and desirably should be left to grow tall enough so that you can save a bean stick from the main stem and still be left with a pea bough on the top. This does mean, though, that your row would need to be long enough to provide, say, three years' material so that each cutting has enough time to properly mature.

Just one question. Round here, 'sally' (saile) and willow are one and the same.

[Keeks]

Thanks for the help. Very interesting bean pole there blowin

[Sue Deacon]

Sally = Salix, the family name.