Why Plant a Willow Hedge ?
- Living willow whips (or rods) or willow slips are relatively cheap.
- Willow is easy to grow - care is more essential than skill.
- Willow grows fast and will outgrow most other forms of hedging.
- Living willow can be coppiced easily to thicken the hedge.
- It can also be laid to form an even thicker more traditional looking hedge.
- Better still, plant the living willow rods at an angle and weave the whips in and out of each other. This can work well in a garden producing an unusual but effective willow screen. This is known as a fedge - a cross between a (FE)nce and a he(DGE).
- There are no nasty thorns to contend with, making it:
- Easier to trim.
- Easier to clear away.
- Safer - no infected puncture wounds.
- Lawn tractor friendly - no punctures.
- The living willow hedge can be trimmed to form a low hedge or left to grow into a high hedge.
- You can use what you trim off the willow hedge for weaving, wood chips, planting stock or if left to grow a few seasons, wood fuel.
Reasons Not to Plant Willow
Please do not plant living willow near building foundations or drains as the roots are invasive and will seek out water sources. Plant at least one and a half times the eventual height of the hedge away from drains and foundations. We accept no responsibility for any damage through the planting of living willow in unsuitable places.
It’s not really suitable for a formal hedge.
As living willow grows quickly it will need frequent trimming if you want to maintain a constant hedge height.
Willow is not evergreen and on the whole you can still see through it. However it’s screening effectiveness can be improved if the hedge is laid, coppiced, or planted as a wide hedge.
|
