The Garden Community for Garden Lovers

out of control willow structure 'TAMED'....

sandra

By sandra

28 comments


i planted my willow structure about six yeaars ago…i killed the first attempt…..so when the second one grew i let ot do pretty much what it wanted for a while. then we were having an open day so it had to be tidied up. wrong time of year for the willow but it had to look tidy for the open day. this happened again and again so it now needs doing properly….

you can see just how out of control it is…its supposed to be growing into an arch with little seats in.

the entry and exit have shrunk…i have to duck when i walk trough…Blodwyn was offering advice….

two hours later i can now pass through without ducking……all the side shoots have been weaved or chopped. lots of dead wood removed. and the whole thing thined out…..

there was a few dead branches on the north side, i think the cause was light blocked out by other branches and the big black compost bin that has moved in there..i used a few fresh willows to fill the gap and gently weaved them in.

the south side had lots of healthy young branches that i used to give it a bit more stability.

i think there are more branches on the floor than left growing…..its taken me years to understand how the willow grows and how much abuse it will take in the weaving process. it was my birthday this week and i like to spend the day gardening. the sun was shinning the wind stopped and it was so nice to be outside again. in a few weeks this structure will be covered in new vigerous growth spring is deffinately on its way…Happy Gardening..;-))

More blog posts by sandra

Previous post: on frozen pond...Pembroke castle mill pond ..

Next post: january in my garden here in Pembrokeshire



Comments

 

Happy belated birthday, Sandra - and well done! How long did it take you? It's looking great after all that work. :-)))

17 Jan, 2010

 

i can see that it has taken a lot of time and energy,you are doing a great job, can't wait till the buds of spring show, it should look much thicker and stronger :-))

17 Jan, 2010

 

Happy Birthday for last week...
Your willow structure looks neat :o)
Adding to GoYpedia Feature Ideas.

17 Jan, 2010

 

thanks ;-))
it took about four hours over two days....it was such a pleasure. one of those things that u put off and then when u finaly get round to doing it. been meaning to cut it back for two years....lol

17 Jan, 2010

 

Happy birthday for last week, like your willow structure looks good..

17 Jan, 2010

 

as a kid we had a basket factory near by that had closed and the local swamp had willows all around it so we used to play there and weave the live branches
into huts and nests it was great fun.
as the willows grew the woven bits took on really weird sculptures.

17 Jan, 2010

 

Piersdad i would love to spend the day doing that..sounds lovely..

17 Jan, 2010

Sid
Sid
 

Well done Sandra - it's good to be able to get outdoors again isn't it! It was sunny here too today and I managed to spend a couple of hours trimming things back and generally tidying and assessing the damage done by the hard weather. Happy birthday to you - it was mine too last week :-)

17 Jan, 2010

 

thanks Sid and a happy birthday to u too....

17 Jan, 2010

Sid
Sid
 

:-)

17 Jan, 2010

 

Happy belated birthday and a great job done with the willow

17 Jan, 2010

 

Happy Birthday Sandra :o)

17 Jan, 2010

 

Happy Birthday Sandra and you too Sarah..how nice that you share the same birth week. Must mean something as to super gardeners as well since you are both so good at it. :)
I am mad about your willow arch Sandra, I hope we will get to see photo's of it when it is in bud and leaf! Exactly what I would love to have one day!

17 Jan, 2010

 

thanks...;-))
im so looking forward to it brsting into leaf....

17 Jan, 2010

 

a belated Happy Birthday to both of you..Sandra and Sid ! xx

17 Jan, 2010

 

looks very tricky sandra but they do look great when astablished and in leaf, good luck with it, happy birthday to, hope you had a good one, mine thursday and a grand age of 50 lol

17 Jan, 2010

 

I can't wait to see it in bloom, will look gorgeous, birthday wishes belated to you both can see you had what you wanted which is nice, out in the garden.

17 Jan, 2010

 

Lovely arch Sandra, please post a photo when it is in leaf! Belated Happy Birthday too!

17 Jan, 2010

 

The arch looks brilliant Sandra, and Happy Birthday........

17 Jan, 2010

 

Happy Birthday I love to do the same thing on my Birthday you did a great job it will look so happy once it gets the leave on and blooming boy what a job. I love willows. Thanks for sharing with all of us.

18 Jan, 2010

 

A work of art Sandra, it look great. That reminds me,I will take some more pics of the willow sculptures that you requested.A belated Happy Birthday to you.

18 Jan, 2010

 

thanks for all the birthday wishes and comments...and happy burthday for thursday Sanbaz...xx.

18 Jan, 2010

Sid
Sid
 

Thanks Cat and Bb! lol

And Happy Birthday to you San! The three of us should get together to celebrate?! ha ha... I know 3 or 4 other people who have birthdays this month too....must be something to do with the moon..... ;-)

18 Jan, 2010

uma
Uma
 

Happy Birthday, Sandra! :)

18 Jan, 2010

 

a job very well done

23 Jan, 2010

 

thank you...i did enjoy doing it. cant wait for it to bud...

23 Jan, 2010

 

This is really interesting, I put a question on GoY about willow arches as I was thinking of planting one in my garden - had lots of help and this has given me something think about - thanks Sandra.

25 Jan, 2010

 

Noseypotter has given u good advice. it will be interesting to see his pics...;-))

25 Jan, 2010

Add a comment

Featured on

Recent posts by sandra

Members who like this blog

  • Gardening with friends since
    8 Jul, 2009

  • Gardening with friends since
    17 Jun, 2007

  • Gardening with friends since
    14 Aug, 2008

  • Gardening with friends since
    29 Mar, 2008

  • Gardening with friends since
    4 Apr, 2008

  • Gardening with friends since
    9 Aug, 2009

  • Gardening with friends since
    2 Nov, 2009

  • Gardening with friends since
    20 Sep, 2008

  • Gardening with friends since
    1 Apr, 2009

  • Gardening with friends since
    3 Nov, 2008

  • Gardening with friends since
    1 Mar, 2009

  • Gardening with friends since
    4 Feb, 2008

  • uma
    Uma

    Gardening with friends since
    28 Oct, 2009

  • Gardening with friends since
    16 Feb, 2008

  • Gardening with friends since
    16 Nov, 2009

  • Gardening with friends since
    22 Oct, 2008