using tree trimmings for stakes and sticks

[weekendwellies]

On my site there are several semi neglected plots that have a variety of shrubs and small trees which I was thinking I might give a trim to. One in particular is sprawling onto the path and I have to squeeze past every time I come and go to my plot quite often getting lashed in the face on my way past. I know that it will be ok to prune, as in the past when I have raised the issue of the access path being overgrown I have been told to go ahead and do what needs doing as the council wont do anything about it!
Now, what I would like to do is use these trimmings as peasticks and markers to show where I have planted stuff, similar to the way I use bamboo canes at the moment. But obviously I dont want them taking root and becoming a problem.
So what I would like to know is, does anyone have advice about how to treat these sticks. Should I keep them in the shed for a while and how long for (bear in mind it is a comunal shed and my personal area is limited and full with wheelbarrow, spade, hoe, hosepipe, and sundry other equipment), could I just hang them up off the ground somewhere outside on my plot until they are definitely deaded. What is the best approach to take with this?
Thanks in advance.

[veggiechicken]

I use prunings all the time for stakes and markers. A lot depends on the parent plant as to whether it thinks its a cutting or not - and the time of year too! Provided you pull them up at regular intervals you should be able to stop them taking permanent root. Also, put them in upside down, just to confuse them!!

[RedThorn]

ooh VC's growing Aussie plants again

As VC says, pull up a bit and push down, or spin/twist them every so often

[kathyd]

And don't use willow . Upside down's a good idea, hadn't thought of that one!

[veggiechicken]

Forgive my rambling here but when the Minoans built their palace at Knossos, Crete, they used upside down tree trunks, because they had found that using them the right way up, caused them to root.
In the reconstruction you can see that the columns taper from the base to the top, getting larger at the top, just as an upside down tree trunk would have done.

Here endeth today's lesson

[weekendwellies]

I will try a few upside down and a few being twisted and pulled & pushed and see how they go. I thought I may need to dry them first. ok thanks for the answers

[mothhawk]

Just use a penknife to shave the bark off the bit of stick that will be in the ground. No bark, no roots. Simples!

[mothhawk]

Forgive my rambling here but when the Minoans built their palace at Knossos, Crete, they used upside down tree trunks, because they had found that using them the right way up, caused them to root.
In the reconstruction you can see that the columns taper from the base to the top, getting larger at the top, just as an upside down tree trunk would have done.

Can you imagine cutting down a tree that size, and finding that the blasted thing ROOTS again?! I wonder how many Minoan buildings had their roofs lifted off by growing branches before they worked out the trick to it.

[muddyfeet]

I tried this last year with potentilla prunings and with the awful weather, they took root and my peas died! I potted the potentilla twigs up and sold them in the allotment shop. Waste not, want not.