willow structures

red · Post: # 46284Post **red** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 11:02 am

my neighbour has kindly given us some cuttings from their willow structure thingy - a bundle of long (5ft?) whips - they are just lying on the ground at the mo -

any advice what to do with them? should I leave them long or cut them short? are they going to die cos I have not planted them straight away?

Thought we would make a tunnel or something on the lawn

any tips gratefully received

PurpleDragon · Mon Jan 15, 2007 5:51 pm

We have planted a willow tipi in the front garden. The withes are between 4 - 6 foot long, not including the root system. We have planted each withe about 3"apart. Our structure is 12' across though.

As it grows we are going to weave it into a dome.

Sassinak · Post: # 46304Post **Sassinak** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 6:31 pm

Can you post pics of it as it grows PD. I have a yearning to do this and it would be interesting to see how someone else has done it

hedgewitch · Wed Jan 17, 2007 2:13 pm

Sassinak wrote:Can you post pics of it as it grows PD. I have a yearning to do this and it would be interesting to see how someone else has done it

me too!

red · Post: # 46425Post **red** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 2:24 pm

well, not knowing if I should do anything else.. i have pushed my spade into the turf - and stuck the willows in, then tied and weaved into a tunnel shape. It even survived the strong wind the came in yesterday evening, and now shall wait and see if they take or not.

the.fee.fairy · Wed Jan 17, 2007 8:19 pm

Please post pics - both of you!!

supersprout · Thu Jan 18, 2007 7:02 am

Anyone wanting to use native wood in the veg patch, a useful website linking to the Allotment Forestry Initiative, a community project working with gardeners to increase the use of local woodland products in the garden and allotment.
http://www.allotmentforestry.com/

Sources for willow, hazel, charcoal and so on (including cut-your-own), and ideas for making garden structures :)

pskipper · Post: # 46489Post **pskipper** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 9:23 am

For anyone who could get there, the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust is running a 1 day course on willow structures on the 17th Feb.

red · Post: # 49734Post **red** » Sat Feb 24, 2007 11:32 pm

the.fee.fairy wrote:Please post pics - both of you!!

sorry its been a while - finally did a bit on my website about this and uploaded some pictures. here it is in progress

and then the finished item.

it is starting to sprout.. so hopefully it wont always resemble a load of twigs wound together.

Millymollymandy · Sun Feb 25, 2007 7:28 am

That's great Red! I love your garden seat too.

the.fee.fairy · Mon Feb 26, 2007 12:40 am

it looks pretty.

Another thing to add to the list...

Are you going to grow things against it? or just leave it to grow?

red · Post: # 49834Post **red** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 3:05 pm

just plan to leave it grow - with a bit of winding/ pruning
i also see it as a source of willow for hedging/ more structures/ weaving projects.

9ball · Post: # 50195Post **9ball** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 10:01 am

Have a look at these!. Not sure what trees these are as they're in Oz, but presumably something similar could be done with willow. I now want a bigger garden with living chairs.

the.fee.fairy · Fri Mar 02, 2007 3:06 pm

that site is ace!!
I want a bigger garden so i can have dancing trees at the back.

They're plum trees, he says in the artists' bios.

Millymollymandy · Sat Mar 03, 2007 6:19 am

They are really great! What patience they must have.