We used cardboard and woodchip for our basketry willow. It breaks down pretty quickly in west Wales but it does help knock back the grass. After a few years it's not really required but it does help the strike rate for new cuttings. We also started a living willow fence (or "fedge", as some call it - not sure how I feel about that!). Ours is a bit more of a diagonal lattice, less arching. They are stunning structures and I can't wait to see it grow and eventually fuse together. Your screen is a work of art.
Thanks you, You’re cardboard experience has given me more confidence. Fedge, I’ve heard that maybe you could coin a new phrase? ‘Hence’? But then that’s a word already. Ours are putting on leaf so I’m hopeful. Regards Darren
Nice one Darren I've cut our golden willow 3 weeks ago and they are in large tubs of water ready to do something similar buddy thanks for sharing all the best Budo 👍🏻
Good work! I just wrote a piece about the careless use of plastics for little tasks like that. I use cotton twine for most everything outdoors, and will even tar it with pine tar if I need it to last a bit. The best part is knowing that when I walk away, I know it'll rot to dust in no time flat rather than adding yet more plastic to the environment! I'll look forward to seeing how the willow grows!
Looks great! cardboard should work the treat. You just need something to keep the competition at bay until the willow can lay down its roots and reach for the sky. I ordered some dappled willow to do a living fence in the front of my house to deaden the highway noise...they sent me some real pathetic cuttings, so I will try to get them going in nursery bed then use cuttings to accomplish this in a year or so depending if I can save them. It will be fun to watch yours grow from afar here. Keep up the creativity!
Looks brilliant Darren. Mrs H and myself used to 'look after' a Willow hedge and a Willow Archway. It was flippin hard work. You can't leave them alone for too long. They can go crazy.
Brilliant, loved the new hedge row and the design being very traditional, time an energy on an experiment I think well worth it and once it starts to grow a new line for your clients to purchase for their gardens as you have not got a living example.
@@AbellToI don't do any living willow. All my willow work is made with dried willow resoaked, but i've seen others plant double rods so if any die there's still one to maintain the structure. Bit overkill in my humble opinion, as willow roots upwards of 90% from winter cuttings.
Very nice- thinking of doing something similar at mine (less decorative though)! Great bit of work, but do they really need the cardboard? Would mulch alone not give them the head start they need or is this for long term weed suppression?
Thanks, I imagine a good thick layer of mulch should do it, I used the card because of the thick grass layer I was putting it into, maybe screefing off the turf might have been better🤷🏻♂️
We used cardboard and woodchip for our basketry willow. It breaks down pretty quickly in west Wales but it does help knock back the grass. After a few years it's not really required but it does help the strike rate for new cuttings.
We also started a living willow fence (or "fedge", as some call it - not sure how I feel about that!). Ours is a bit more of a diagonal lattice, less arching. They are stunning structures and I can't wait to see it grow and eventually fuse together.
Your screen is a work of art.
Thanks you, You’re cardboard experience has given me more confidence.
Fedge, I’ve heard that maybe you could coin a new phrase? ‘Hence’? But then that’s a word already.
Ours are putting on leaf so I’m hopeful.
Regards Darren
Nice one Darren I've cut our golden willow 3 weeks ago and they are in large tubs of water ready to do something similar buddy thanks for sharing all the best Budo 👍🏻
Excellent Budo, I look forward to what you do with them.
I’ll catch up with you video after tea
Good work! I just wrote a piece about the careless use of plastics for little tasks like that. I use cotton twine for most everything outdoors, and will even tar it with pine tar if I need it to last a bit. The best part is knowing that when I walk away, I know it'll rot to dust in no time flat rather than adding yet more plastic to the environment! I'll look forward to seeing how the willow grows!
That’s great advice, thanks.
I’ll update you as it progresses
Looks great! cardboard should work the treat. You just need something to keep the competition at bay until the willow can lay down its roots and reach for the sky. I ordered some dappled willow to do a living fence in the front of my house to deaden the highway noise...they sent me some real pathetic cuttings, so I will try to get them going in nursery bed then use cuttings to accomplish this in a year or so depending if I can save them. It will be fun to watch yours grow from afar here. Keep up the creativity!
Thanks, I hope you get yours in too, it’s such a soft screen and I’m on the lookout for more places now😉
Looks brilliant Darren. Mrs H and myself used to 'look after' a Willow hedge and a Willow Archway. It was flippin hard work. You can't leave them alone for too long. They can go crazy.
Thanks Jamie, wow you’re quite the expert then, who knew!
It’s what makes me think twice about a seating area in the woodland, the maintenance
Brilliant, loved the new hedge row and the design being very traditional, time an energy on an experiment I think well worth it and once it starts to grow a new line for your clients to purchase for their gardens as you have not got a living example.
Thanks so much, I hope to do some more, I’ve been growing some cuttings to creat a small willow bed
should have been now got a living example🙂
Looks good, and I'm pretty sure card and woodchip will work as a mulch. :)
Thanks, I’m hoping it’ll be enough to get them going, the ground is so wet I’m sure they will strike
@@AbellToI don't do any living willow. All my willow work is made with dried willow resoaked, but i've seen others plant double rods so if any die there's still one to maintain the structure. Bit overkill in my humble opinion, as willow roots upwards of 90% from winter cuttings.
@@tavascarow that’s really interesting, Do you video and upload your willow work on TH-cam?
Very nice- thinking of doing something similar at mine (less decorative though)! Great bit of work, but do they really need the cardboard? Would mulch alone not give them the head start they need or is this for long term weed suppression?
Thanks, I imagine a good thick layer of mulch should do it, I used the card because of the thick grass layer I was putting it into, maybe screefing off the turf might have been better🤷🏻♂️
It is lovely. Can’t wait to see it grow. Does willow grow in dappled sun light?
Thanks so much, willow is better is full sun but it’s worth a try if that’s your plan. They love a damp area.