Living willow fence

[muddled]

I'm fencing off the bottom third of my garden to make it just for me.
No dogs, no BBQing husband, no childrens ball games.

A peaceful, productive, English cottage garden at the end of my noisy, battered, child safe playground come dog park, urban, council house garden.

So I'm considering a living willow fence...or Fedge as they're calling them now.
The pros of this being;
1. It's way, way cheaper than buying fence panels (even the nasty cheap orange coloured ones!)
2. I am rather good at basketry so no new skills required.
3. Willow will be in keeping the garden I plan to have.
4. I can bend it round trees and in sweeping curves (I have an aversion to straight lines)
5. It will look stunning in winter...all coloured stems and gothic arches and then leaf up in summer blocking out some of the noise and providing privacy from the many ovrlooing neighbours.

Now, because I get carried away with all things green, please tell me the flaws in this plan



Like this but fancier on the top, maybe gothic arches?

[Guest]

Lots of hacking in summer to keep it it check once established (doesn't take long). Don't know if that really bothers you. Give it a bash, least you will know for sure.

[roitelet]

I have one and a dome. They take a lot of maintainance and i find after a few years of hacking tend to loose their carefully woven form.

Beware the ordinary Goat Willow grows at about 2metres a year, takes ages to dry, won't burn and will probably become compost by next century. It is the only thing I take to the tip!!!!!

[Scarlet]

....and when you've finished hacking it back it will throw out hundreds of new shoots, and you'll never get rid of the stuff - they grow the minute your back is turned.
My willow has suckers everywhere.

[roitelet]

Perhaps the answer is DON'T do it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[muddled]

Perhaps the answer is DON'T do it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh dear, if you have one and say don't do it....that can't be good!

But, but, but...(and I'm aware I sound like my children here) willow costs loads and I've a list of people who want baskets off me....

[rustylady]

If you really want to, then do it. But do be aware it takes an awful lot of maintenance. You also need to make sure you get the right variety

[Scarlet]

willow costs loads and I've a list of people who want baskets off me....

That's a very different reason to your original post...and I would have thought you need to to let each 'stick' grow to a certain size/ thickness I'm not sure you could make a fence and harvest the growth at the correct size for weaving

Perhaps you should look at growing a willow bed instead?

[muddled]

That's a very different reason to your original post

I know.
It's really only me, behaving like a child and trying to justify what is probably a very bad decision
I gave up basketry as I have joint hypermobility syndrome which makes lots of activies very painful.

What it comes down to really is this, I don't have much money to spend on a fence and this seemed cheap and easy to construct, represented my previous hobby and my personal taste.

But I think I knew all along it was too good to be true

[21up]

I know.
It's really only me, behaving like a child and trying to justify what is probably a very bad decision
I gave up basketry as I have joint hypermobility syndrome which makes lots of activies very painful.

What it comes down to really is this, I don't have much money to spend on a fence and this seemed cheap and easy to construct, represented my previous hobby and my personal taste.

But I think I knew all along it was too good to be true

I Muddled. the idea sounds great,its something i would love to do.
As you say (compared to a cheap fence) but if you are happy to have a go for a couple of years why not,you can always take it to tip and in the meantime use it for baskets.

At least you will have had a go,all the best with it.
We all try things and sometimes they work and sometimes not.
Its like starting off on allotment you dont get it right with veg all the time so you come on here and learn to do it different.
No harm in trying
cheers Peter

[mothhawk]

I suppose it depends how much time you want to spend pruning/clipping it and whether you are fussed about keeping it in a defined shape, or happy for it to be a proper hedge.

As a weaver, you'll know that willow grows long and straight, and that's what your fence will want to do, so lots of growth straight up, especially from near the top.

Have a look at this site - some good pics of willow fences including what a newly planted one looks like one year on, plus it has advice on how to keep them looking good.

You need to bear in mind that willow roots will seek water with determination, and will become very large, so don't grow near underground drains or cesspits. They're going to suck water away from other plantings too.

[Bill HH]

Just as a matter of interest I was told that willow twigs will grow even if planted upside down!

[Glutton4...]

Willow is one of the few 'trees' that will grow even if partly buried! I knew someone who levelled a steep slope, engulfing two thirds of a willow's stem with the new soil. It still grew, as they will grow roots up the stem to compensate.

Willow is regularly grown from branches removed from older plants. 'Donk' (my word) out a long narrow hole with a metal bar, drop the cut end in and water it. Simple. (I know this, as I had to plant some that were being grown for a Willow Merchant.)

Having said that, I have always wanted to plant/build one too. Those pictures are inspiring, Mothhawk!

[Scarlet]

Just as a matter of interest I was told that willow twigs will grow even if planted upside down!

I read that when I was looking how to get rid of my huge willow tree. Definitely true.
The roots are a pain to get out...and they keep sending up more growth.

But as G4 has said - the fences look fabulous when done well and cared for.

[muddled]

I am so, so tempted.

The only thing holding me back is the fear that if it all goes wrong or if my gardening plans radically change....I won't be able to get rid of it.