Supports for climbing beans etc..

[Garden_girlie21]

Hello all!

Last year we had a hack at our curly branched willow tree, and all of the branches are still in our garden. I'd love to make them into a bit of a screen around the back of our Red Robin Tree, and into several arches for our runner beans etc.

The problem is, I know that the branches will start growing in the flower beds the minute they touch soil.

So, would they not grow any roots if I soaked them in some ***** fluid and then bound them up with duct tape?

Any other suggestions?

I'd love to use them because they are really ornamental and would look much more exciting in our flower beds than the bamboo canes.

Many thanks,

Jen x

[Bigmallly]

How about putting some kind of metal / plastic tubing into the ground, par fill them with cement or something that willow won't root in, then sit the canes in the tubes.

[Two_Sheds]

I think they need to be dried out for a while, so they don't re-sprout. Or use bamboo canes for your uprights. BBC - Gardening - Gardening Guides - Techniques - Make a willow obelisk

then when you use them, soak in a bucket to make them bendy again (for the bits you need to weave).

[Garden_girlie21]

thank you very much for your suggestions - it will be interesting to see how it all turns out!

Jen x

[Flummery]

If you cut them back last year I don't think they'll root.

[northmaid]

I read somewhere recently that if you put the branches in upside down they won't root. Don't know whether it works.

[Flummery]

Yes but then you're putting all the strain on the thin end, not the thick end.