Living willow sculptures and fedges

This idea is so intriguing! Living willow sculpture: http://www.simplywillow.co.uk/willow4/page3.html

I wonder how much it would cost in willow rods to do a living fence in our yard. At the least, a willow tunnel or gazebo would sure be neat for a couple of chairs...We just took down our sad old crabapple tree and have space for something like this. The bare spot centered in the view through the arch is where the crabapple stood. I've drawn in a rough shape where the "gazebo" could go. Our property line is just beyond the forsythia you see blooming in back there.

Great idea, but can you get willow here in the US? Or am I thinking too hard and you just go out and cut your own? I wouldn't want to pay shipping from the UK.

Oh you can get willow practically anywhere. I have a lower pasture full of willow. Now, there are different types of willow, and I'm sure most of it is available in the US. You might try talking to the folks at Willowglen in Decorah, Iowa. I know that they have several different type of willow for baskets, willow towers, etc. They could probably give suggestions on what type would work best for what you are trying to do. Here's a link to their web-site.

http://www.willowglennursery.com/index.html

I took their willow tower class five or six years ago, it was a blast. I try to make an annual pilgrimage up to Decorah at least once a year.... ;)

Diann

No, I sure can't fathom paying shipping for rods from the UK, you're right! The sites say certain types of willow work better than others for this application...I'll have to figure out how much we'd need and see. That would be so neat, if it would not spread, that is. Sure wouldn't want to try it with bamboo, LOL!

Oh my gosh, that is TOO COOL!!! I'd love to make the "hedge", but I'd want evergreen :) I the gazebo would be great!! :) Are you going to do it?? Also, shipping from the UK might not be as much as you might think. I ordered a stencil from there before and it wasn't a crazy amount, but then again it was small :) But nevermind if you can find it here!

Susan

Kimberley, do you have any idea what a trouble maker you are?? I am sitting her now, looking at my willows trying to figure out what I could do with them. Then I started thinking about pvc. Then back to the willow. I hope you intend a babysitting day so I can go play with my willow!

How about (just to stir the pot a bit) "sculpting" with forsythia? I know, most people keep their forsythia trimmed and tamed, but I have this whole big wild creature of several forsythias not doing anything but growing more and more scraggly. What say, Kim, after you get done babysitting, want to come up and mess about with my forsythia???

A fedge of forsythia might just work at that. We have several blooming right now and they have nice long canes. We love their wild-haired look.

Chele, how long are the rods on your various willows? Do you have any of the varieties listed on the fedge and sculpture pages? Wicked grin....

I'd like to do a gazebo, yes. What I envision is a chapel of sorts with room enough for a bench or a couple of chairs. We'd probably better wait until fall to start it, don't you think?

This message was edited Apr 13, 2005 5:17 PM

These are some of the best images at that site: http://www.simplywillow.co.uk/willow1/page3.html

I envision something like this http://www.simplywillow.co.uk/willow1/img9.jpg with several rods woven together for each section of the gazebo. The tops I would let grow wild, and I would just keep the "trunks" pruned back. Does that sound do-able?

Kimberley, that is really neat. I really like the fedge.

I recently saw a similar idea in the April issue of Better Homes & Gardens using European Hornbeam. I see no reason you couldn't adapt this idea to your plan. In the piece, the owner planted 6-foot whips in a semi-circle 4 feet apart to create a "frame". The effect was/is a lovely "wall" of beautifully tight leaves with scalloped tops and another "scalloping" near the bottom.

The article says, "He gently pulled apart the top leaders of each tree, tying them with twine to the tree beside it. Then he removed the lateral branches, giving the tree a sleek, narrow shape. A year later he repeated the arches lower down by allowing two lateral branches to grow out and up from the bottom. To keep their shape they are pruned three times a year."

In your case, you'd just keep going to create a full circle and would tie the leaders to the center point of the circle. And with the hornbeam, you'd get plenty of height for a gazebo since it's actually a tree and not a shrub.

The article begins on page 211 of the publication.

The look was so impressive I pulled the piece out of the magazine and placed it in my, "definitely do this!" file. I wish I had a scanner to show you the images, but I don't have one at home. Perhaps someone you know gets BH&G? If not, let me know and I'll scan the article at the office and post the pics for you.

Best of Luck and what a wonderful idea!
Annie

(edited for typos)

This message was edited Apr 15, 2005 8:05 AM

Thanks, Annie (and Welcome to DG, this is the first post of your's I've seen... love the name)

GW, love the entire concept : )

Hey, Annie - thank you for posting all the details about that. I'll have to look up more about those trees. I kind of like the idea of a tree better than willow, too. Howie's on board with this whole idea, too! I'm not sure when we'll actually DO it, but it's a plan now. :)

Check these out! http://www.arborsmith.com/index.html and http://www.arborsmith.com/others.html

One more: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Oaks/4769/ent.htm


This message was edited Apr 15, 2005 5:32 PM

What a fun idea! I can't wait to see you and Howie's results!!

I think some of that is a little too much. Poor trees.

Here's a link on rooting willow cuttings that might be useful...I'd like to make a teepee or arbor in our backyard... http://www.msu.edu/user/shermanh/galeb/awgnnews.htm#cuttings

and thanks for showing us the site british site GW...

I am going to google some more on willows---apparently there is/was a big willow 'farming' business in the midwest and I wonder if there are some artisans still around---

It looks like Joy Larkom from England has written a book on creative vegetable gardening and includes instructions on how to make living willow arbors and fences. Here's a link for the book and a review--- whoever wrote the review really thinks the book is worth it! http://www.travel-sage.com/Creative_Vegetable_Gardening_Accenting_Your_Vegetables_With_Flowers_0896601129.html

also a link that provides some good info on types of willows to grow---

http://willowdreamsfarm.com/

The National Arbor Day Foundation offers Willow, Weeping (Salix babylonica) at $6.95 for members. Can you use this for a willow fedge?