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Weeping Willow Cuttings for Fedge?

Posts: 54

Location: Michigan, zone 5

posted 10 years ago

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I haven't been able to find an answer to this question yet, so here it is.
I want to put in an inexpensive privacy fence, and love the look of the willow fences. But, I don't want to buy willow cuttings if I can find and cut them myself. Can I use weeping willow cuttings for this project? Or do I need a different variety? If so, what is it and can I easily find it to get cuttings?
Does any know anything about this? Thanks!

“The best things in life are nearest: Breath in your nostrils, light in your eyes, flowers at your feet, duties at your hand, the path of right just before you. Then do not grasp at the stars, but do life’s plain, common work as it comes, certain that daily duties and daily bread are the sweetest things in life.” Robert Louis Stevenson

Miles Flansburg

pollinator

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Location: Zones 2-4 Wyoming and 4-5 Colorado

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posted 10 years ago

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Hi Jenna,
maybe this thread will help?

https://permies.com/t/34130/gardening-beginners/rooting-cuttings

how permies.com works
real sounding name policy

John Polk

steward

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Location: Currently in Lake Stevens, WA. Home in Spokane

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posted 10 years ago

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Weeping willows are beautiful trees, BUT very thirsty trees.
About the only place I have ever seen them is next to a creek.

Without a constant source of water, they will not prosper.

Rebecca Norman

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Location: Ladakh, Indian Himalayas at 10,500 feet, zone 5

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posted 10 years ago

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Jenna,
Here in Ladakh we plant willows from cuttings all the time, but there are almost no weeping willows in the area. Weeping or not, willows will root fine from cuttings. But I'm afraid you might be a week or two too late, now, in late April. Once the leaf buds start swelling out and showing green, in my experience those cuttings don't root well. If you do it in earlier spring before any signs of green, stamp your cuttings into the ground well, and water frequently during the first season, there is a very high rate of success.

The climate is very dry here, but if willows get watered every 5 or 7 days they seem to do fine. Well, that's the willow varieties here. We pollard them every three years once they are established, and use the poles for tool handles, planting new willows, roofing sticks, and firewood.

Works at a residential alternative high school in the Himalayas SECMOL.org . "Back home" is Cape Cod, E Coast USA.

Cj Sloane

pollinator

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Location: Vermont, off grid for 24 years!

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posted 10 years ago

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John Polk wrote:
Without a constant source of water, they will not prosper.

I bet planting them in the bottom of a swale would work. I've seen lots of willows in fields here in Vermont but our precip is pretty high.

Jenna Sanders

Posts: 54

Location: Michigan, zone 5

posted 10 years ago

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I was thinking the same thing, CJ. We don't really have a problem growing willows here- they grow everywhere, the the added moisture from the swale can only help. My main concern is, can I use a weeping willow in a fedge? Because those are what I have around to take cuttings from.

Cj Sloane

pollinator

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Location: Vermont, off grid for 24 years!

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posted 10 years ago

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Jenna Sanders wrote:My main concern is, can I use a weeping willow in a fedge?

You can totally use willows for a fence or a hedge but technically it wouldn't be a fedge (a food hedge).

My project thread
Agriculture collects solar energy two-dimensionally; but silviculture collects it three dimensionally.

Lance Kleckner

Posts: 123

Location: West Iowa

posted 10 years ago

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You can use it for a fedge, but weeping growth may get in the way compared to upright willows.

http://www.fastgrowingtrees.us/KlecknerOasis
- http://www.bigfootwillow.com

John Polk

steward

Posts: 7926

Location: Currently in Lake Stevens, WA. Home in Spokane

350

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Hey. At least you'll have a nice shady spot to take a break.
A friend has a BBQ, & whole 'patio' set up under an aged one. Like a spare den/family room in summer.

Cj Sloane

pollinator

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Location: Vermont, off grid for 24 years!

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posted 10 years ago

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Lance Kleckner wrote:You can use it for a fedge,

Where's the food part?

My project thread
Agriculture collects solar energy two-dimensionally; but silviculture collects it three dimensionally.

Lance Kleckner

Posts: 123

Location: West Iowa

posted 10 years ago

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Cj Verde wrote:

Lance Kleckner wrote:You can use it for a fedge,

Where's the food part?

Fence + Hedge= Fedge, there is no food part unless you are a rabbit.

http://www.fastgrowingtrees.us/KlecknerOasis
- http://www.bigfootwillow.com

Cj Sloane

pollinator

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Location: Vermont, off grid for 24 years!

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posted 10 years ago

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In permaculture, fedge = food + hedge.

edit: there are clearly multiple definitions including some unsavory ones at urban dictionary. However, in Permaculture I think fedge is a food bearing hedge generally, because you're at least stacking functions.

My project thread
Agriculture collects solar energy two-dimensionally; but silviculture collects it three dimensionally.

But why do you wear your googles indoors? While holding this tiny ad?

Heat your home with the twigs that naturally fall of the trees in your yard

http://woodheat.net