Willow hedge: do-it-yourself fence, photo, video

Content

1 Pros and cons of a fence made of willow branches
2 What kind of willow is used to make hedges?
3 Harvesting willow for hedges
4 Weaving a willow fence for beginners step by step
5 Caring for willow fencing
6 Conclusion

A willow hedge is a decorative decoration for a site, which also protects neighboring plantings from the wind. The fence will gradually grow and develop, so you need to know how to care for it.

Pros and cons of a fence made of willow branches

Willow is not the only plant whose branches can be used to form a hedge. But its shoots are much stronger than other shrubs. They are undemanding and easy to weave.

Other benefits of willow hedges include:

durability;
excellent growth both in the shade and in the sun;
possibility of propagation by cuttings;
protection from drafts;
winter hardiness;
fast rooting;
active branching.

Finally, a wicker fence made from live willow looks attractive and goes well with any garden/garden. Two years after planting, the branches of the plant will get stronger and turn into a full-fledged hedge.

Designers recommend using living fencing to zone space

Willow also has a drawback - many varieties grow too quickly. While this is partly a plus, sometimes owners simply get tired of trimming branches. As a result, the garden becomes overgrown, turning into a full-fledged jungle.

What kind of willow is used to make hedges?

Not all Willows (and there are almost 500 species and varieties) are suitable for weaving weaving.In this regard, the question arises, which variety is better to choose.

Advice! Willow grows in all countries. But to create a hedge in Russia, crops with good winter hardiness should be considered.

Among the most popular:

Willow Purpurea Nana. It is a shrub variety. Willow grows up to 5 m in height. It has blue leaves with a fluffy coating, which makes the plant pleasant to the hand and eye. Willow begins to bloom in June. At this point, the earrings take on a light purple hue (hence the name). Willow attracts pollinators, which can cause problems in small areas. But hedge shrubs purify the air, and if properly cared for, they will grow for 30 years.
Babylonian willow (Sálix babylónica) is a species of weeping willow. The tree reaches 10 m or more. Willow grows next to rivers, lakes, and swamps. The branches hanging down have a red-yellow tint, which is perfect for creating a background in the garden, for a hedge. Willow of Babylon takes root in any soil. Without exaggeration, the variety can be called unpretentious.
Holly-leaved willow (Salix acutifolia). This variety is most often used for the construction of hedges. This is a tall shrub, stretching up to 10 m. The sharp-leaved willow has no requirements for the soil; it is very picky and pliable. The only condition necessary for the growth of a hedge is frequent watering. It is good if willow grows in sandy or loamy soils, where it reaches its peak decorative value. In addition to hedges, baskets and garden furniture are woven from holly willow. The shoots of the bush grow quickly.
Rod-shaped (Salix viminalis). As the name suggests, the plant is perfect for weaving.It can reach up to 5.5 m. The shrub has erect shoots that are colored gray. Small products are made from twig willow, although it is also good for creating a hedge.
Ural twisting willow (Sverdlovskaja Isvilistaja). This is an ornamental variety. It is a standard crop with a spherical crown, the top of which rises from the ground no more than 4 m. Willow tolerates pruning well and quickly grows foliage. The Ural twisting willow is not afraid of the cold and develops well in frozen soil. On the other hand, the bush is very capricious - it does not like drought. The owner will have to water the plantings frequently, and in the summer - irrigate regularly.
Wolfweed (Salix daphnoides). A distinctive feature of the willow is its bluish leaves, evenly spaced on the branches. The crown of the bush is neat and takes well to pruning. During the flowering period (begins in mid-late spring), butterflies, bees, and bumblebees can flock to the hedge. Willow is planted in sandy, loamy or limestone soil. The variety easily survives frosts, and the willow will become a full-fledged fence made of wicker by two years.

Attention! When choosing, you need to pay attention to the requirements for agricultural technology, since each variety has its own.

Harvesting willow for hedges

You don’t have to buy the material for planting a hedge at the store, but prepare it yourself. Since seedlings are placed in the ground in March, when the plant has not yet woken up and begun to form buds, the cuttings are prepared at approximately the same period.

To do this, you will need a healthy shoot between 1 and 2 years old. It is cut off from the main branch - the length must be at least 20 cm. Six viable buds are left on the cutting.An oblique cut is made from the bottom of the cutting, and an even cut from the top.

Attention! The workpieces need to be cut shortly before planting in a permanent place.

If the weather prevents work, the material can be stored in the cellar, placed in a box with wet sand or wrapped in plastic. With this kind of conservation, the willow retains its adaptability and can be quickly rooted.

Sometimes cuttings are cut in the fall. In this case, it is better to plant the material in a container with fertile soil, and transfer it to the garden by the time spring arrives.

It is impossible to weave a decorative willow fence without properly prepared material. To increase the chances of rooting, it is soaked in warm water for three days. The fluid is changed three times a day. After processing, the cuttings are dried and placed in a growth stimulator.

If you need a specific variety for your hedge, you can buy it in the store. Usually it has already been treated against fungus and mold, and the owner will not need to take additional measures. Unlike cuttings, seedlings already have a root system. But during delivery it may be damaged, so the plant must be inspected for integrity.

Attention! Nurseries sell seedlings in pots or in burlap. The more roots the willow has, the better - it will take root faster. It is important to look at their moisture content here. Dry shoots are not suitable for planting, and the willow is unlikely to grow without complications.

Weaving a willow fence for beginners step by step

Willow hedges are interesting for their ability to take root in any soil. But the composition is not so important as the weather during landing. It is better to choose a cloudy day when the sun is not shining and it is not raining.

Weaving a willow hedge for beginners step by step:

First you need to choose a place where the willow will grow.An important point is lighting. It is enough for a hedge to receive up to five hours of light per day. If the area is in the shade, you can root the plantings in such conditions, but they will form leaves more slowly, and the bushes themselves will grow thin.
To make it easier to bring the idea to life, gardeners recommend marking the boundaries of the living fence on the ground. To do this, stakes are driven around the perimeter and a wire or cord is pulled between them. If it is necessary to grow a dense hedge, the material is placed in two rows.
Dig holes, trying not to go beyond the fence. The width and depth of the hedge trench are 50 x 60 cm, respectively. If the gardener moves the willow from the pot (that is, along with a lump of earth), the hole is made 15 cm deeper.
Seedlings are fixed at the bottom and covered with fertile soil, including a mixture of peat, garden soil and cow manure. A distance of 20 cm is kept between neighboring willows. There is no need to use additional fertilizing.
Hedge shoots are tied to stakes. If they need to be placed at an angle, a slatted frame is provided, which is placed along the planting pit. The free space around the seedlings is loosened and moistened.

Advice! To get a lush fence, you need to water the plants regularly. 6-12 months after planting, you can begin to weave the willow. By that time, the branches will become stronger and will not break when directed.

Caring for willow fencing

A willow hedge is much less demanding than a fence made from other plants. That's why novice gardeners choose it. In order for a wicker willow fence to look like in the photo, the owner must adhere to the following rules:

Moisturize in a timely manner. Watering is carried out twice a month, in the summer - twice as often.
Before the willow and its hedges grow, remove weeds around the plantings. It is also useful to include other activities here - loosening, removal of fallen vegetation.
Add fertilizer to the soil. During the growing season, mineral (nitrogen) additives are used, and towards the end of the growing season, superphosphates are used.
Trim unhealthy shoots, as well as branches that could not survive the cold. Sanitary pruning is an important condition for creating a lush hedge.

The shape of the green fence depends on the characteristics of the frame. Designers recommend using metal arches. If the structure is large, it is advisable to provide a foundation for it.

Attention! Romantics believe that pruning is the same as depriving a willow of its virgin cover. However, by neglecting trimming, the owner turns the garden into dense thickets that disrupt the aesthetic appearance of the hedge and shade other plants.

Conclusion

A willow hedge will fill the garden with a forest atmosphere, attract beneficial insects and protect neighboring vegetation from the winds. Planting a crop does not cause problems - even beginners can cope with it. After planting a hedge, the owner should not forget about the plant: it needs moisture, nutrients and sanitary cutting.