[suziequeue]

I have about 300 pollarded willow ranging from between one and three years of age.


The three year old Viminalis is really coming into its own and there is quite a lot that I can use to make hurdles this year but there is SO MUCH dross from the younger ones (can't remember what they are but I bought them for their different coloured stems and I have 50 deep purple, 50 yellow, 50 green and 50 olive with red tips).


At the moment we are cutting and grading the stems. What is the best way to dry them? I don't really have enough space to dry them flat and my workshop joists are already full of offcuts.


Will tying them into bundles and putting them somewhere dry cause the middle stems to rot?


I'll probably use the smaller stuff for kindling for this year and make a living willow pergola for the chickens.

[Bodger]

Your best bet is to come with me to Acton Scott when I go on my hurdle making course.

[YoungRasher]

Is there any chance you could show us a photo. i'm trying to decide what to plant and i've heard so much about different growth rates,  so it would be nice to get any idea of what to expect.

[spandit]

I don't think the middle ones in a bundle will rot, although depends on how tight/large the bundle is.

You could post me some bits if you want to get rid of it (I'll pay you!)

[suziequeue]

 


Thanks Bodger. I have been on a variety of hurdle making courses - hence the desire to grow my own willow so that I could carry on the motion.

I have not had much luck with the hazel although I have alot of 1 to 2 inch poles of various different types of wood which I have been accumulating over the last couple of years from the hedge laying in order to make frames and gates and suchlike. I am the world's worst hazel splitter so I thought that if I grew Viminalis willow i could use the thickest ones in the round to weave the body of the frame hurdle/gate.

I prefer to make the hurdles with a solid mortice and tenon frame (rather than willow woven over zales which aren't so robust) but I have yet to take the plunge and buy a tenon cutter….. they are such lovely pieces of kit and I have been secretly coveting one for a couple of years now.

I was going to post up a photo once I had all the willow cut, graded, bundled and stacked in a row so that you could see the difference. We are planning to build a little lean-to on the side of the sheep shed where I can store the willow in the dry. As well as the Viminalis, I know I have some Flanders Red, some Vitellina and some Purpurea. I can't remember what the fifth type is.

Young Rasher - you're in Derbyshire so probably a bit far North for Black Maul (Salix triandra - the most popular basket weaving willow type) which does best on the Somerset levels apparently but I see now there is a Viminalis/Triandra hybrid which might do. I got started with this company who were very helpful but now I propagate my own (although I'm not doing any more as 300 trees is quite enough for one person!!!) Don't buy more than the minimum and then just propagate that. it's very easy.

Thanks for the reassurance about the willow not rotting Spandit. I think Mid-Wales to East Sussex is probably a bit of a long way for my crap willow!!! A lot of it is quite curved at the end although I haven't pimped it yet!!!

I'll keep you posted. Sorry to go no and on. I do love willow

[spandit]

I only need small rods (30cm) to plant, the thought of different species/colours is appealing. I'd love some black maul if you can spare it!  Hoping to grow some for basketry as well as lowering the water table

[Bodger]

We've planted quite a few hazels over the years but are yet to do anything with them, hence me going on a course.

[suziequeue]

I planted a little plantation of about 50 hazel sticks two years ago.

The first winter after planting they were decimated by the rabbits who chewed the bark off a lot of them so we cut them right back put guards around them.

Last year they were overgrown with reeds and weeds (although they were planted with a patch of mypex around the base) so I am thinking of starting out afresh but they were such a pain to plant in the first place 

Spandit - I'll make up some rods for you. It might take a week or two. I'll try and find out what types they are from the website in the meantime. Is this the start of your road to becoming a "willionaire"?

[spandit]

Spandit - I'll make up some rods for you. It might take a week or two. I'll try and find out what types they are from the website in the meantime. Is this the start of your road to becoming a "willionaire"?

Very kind! Having seen the amount of work it takes to cut one small willow, I don't think it's a goer but the more trees the better and if we can sell some whips then all the better

[suziequeue]

Yes - it is quite time consuming if doing it by hand although OH and I are finding ways a making it a bit faster.


I have my willow trunks pollarded at about three feet so that I don't have to bend down to cut the stems.

[spandit]

In the process of trying to rescue some neglected willow that has been coppiced/topped in the past. Hoping to make charcoal from the bits I cut off

[Dogwalker]

You could bring some bags of twiggy bits this way, my goats would love you forever.

Or I could lend you a goat, you'd never have to worry about cutting willow again.

[spandit]

Made some charcoal this morning. Only a biscuit tin full but it turned out really well. Good for artists, I'm told

[suziequeue]

i can certainly bring some bags of twiggy bits for you next weekend Debbie. Do you think it's worth trying them on my sheep??

I enclose a photo of this years "haul".

From left to right there is: Vittelina, Purpurea, Viminalis and Flanders Red on the right. I haven't topped and tailed them yet but the longest poles (this year's growth) are ten feet long!!!

[spandit]

Fantastic! Would love some of that to grow... Just had a load of weed membrane and spirals arrive so can protect the good stuff!