oh boy! another thing to make with my willow twigs! thanks sjoerd! looks like a wonderful project. we too have lots of garden 'stuff' that could use a screen in front of it!
Thank you KK-- Oops, sorry that I reminded you of some unpleasant work to be done. hahaha. UH oh, BUNKIE-- your posting must have come in as I was typing a response to KK. I'll bet that you have tons of willows where you live. If you go so far as to make a screen, let me know, I'd like to see your handiwork.
i'll post a pics when i do it sjoerd! hubs has to cut a bunch of the willow trees down in the duck pen. they got way too big and were breaaking off in the winds this summer.
Oké Bunkie--I shall keep a look-out for them. Willows can quickly get away from you if you don't watch out, can't they. They are strong and have a better than average survival "instinct".
hey sjoerd, check out these two links on building living fences...pretty cool for permanent ones... http://www.frenchgardening.com/postcard ... 6231121223 http://inspirationgreen.com/living-willow-hedges.html
Thanks for those links, Bunkie. I'll bet that the other members will like those as well. I wish that I could have a living willow fence or screen. They do look attractive. The criss-cross pattern is something that I was planning to make on my next structure. I am planning to make a sort of tunnel-like structure over by the water point....not living though, just the pattern. Willow is fun stuff to work with.
Great screen Sjoerd, and cool links. I just happen to hate willow, as we had a few trees on the side of my small flower garden, grew very tall and very quick so in short, they had to go. We kept the stems though, and built a fence on them. The willows were the "curly" ones, so no branches. twigs could be used for anything. But who knows, maybe once, I will attempt to create something as nice. And the neighbor to our left got some huge willow trees in front of their house (the weeping willows).
Hi Calin, Glad that you liked this posting. I know the "curly" kind of willow that you are speaking of. If you ever do try making one of these screens, I would suggest some of the other willow types (other than a weeping willow), although their branches might work. I just do not know of anyone that uses the weeping willow for this job. Anyhow...do post pics if you make one.
i think so sjoerd! everything is still in a frozen state here, but soon. i'll try some small ones first. will post pics.
You know Bunkie---I would let the willows bloom first before pruning them because the pussy willow "flowers" are some of the most important First sources of pollen for bees. Ach...but I reckon that you knew that already.
good thought sjoerd! but, i could prune soon and then put the limbs in water/duck pond to bloom for the bees...
What a brilliant thought. If you do that, let me know how it goes. The willow switches that I wove the screens with have bloomed also.....without water. hahaha.
you know sjoerd, i've seen them bloom without water too! those trees in the pics were from small twigs i stuck in the ground a little over 15 years ago! a gardener friend was pruning his trees and gave them to us. they grow pretty fast!
