HERE IS SOME INTERESTING WILLOW INFORMATION

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Uses And Management Of Willow Species
Use only named male willow erosion control cultivars which have been selected to avoid unwanted invasions.

About Willows
scientific family name Salix
deciduous, riparian species
ideal for controlling erosion on river and streams banks due to:

  • high root mass
  • fast growth
  • good tolerance of wet soils

traditionally used for:

  • fencing
  • basket work
  • charcoal production

nowadays used for:

  • shelterbelts
  • livestock fodder
  • cricket bats
  • pulp and fibre board production
  • boxing

two sub-genera:

(i) Tree willows
(ii) Shrub willows

 

 

Tree Willows
Used where a deep extensive root mass is required for soil stabilisation
grow up to 20m high
single trunk 60-90cm diameter
lance shaped leaves with long tapering tips
catkins (flowers) appear at the same time as new growth in the spring

Tree Willow Cultivars

Species

Cultivar (Clone No)

Characteristics

Uses

Salix matsudana

PN 227

Tolerates drier soils than most other willows; develops early rough bark. Large spreading tree becoming prone to wind damage with age. Moderate susceptibility to leaf rust. Female

Soil conservation, shelterbelts (requires side trimming)

S.matsudana

Shanghai (PN 695)

Faster growing than PN 227 but similar drought tolerance and early rough bark formation. Broad crown, best planted in gullies and form pruned to reduce wind breakage. Moderate susceptibility to leaf rust. Female.

Soil conservation.

S.matsudana

Tsinan (PN 694)

Similar to PN 695 but faster growing and more susceptible to wind damage. Has less palatability to possums in the second year after planting. Moderate susceptibility to leaf rust. Female.

Soil conservation.

S.matsudana x alba

Adair (NZ 1143)

Reasonably narrow crown; leafs out early in August. Male.

Soil conservation, shelterbelts, river control.

S.matsudana x alba

Aokautere (NZ1002)

Susceptible to Marsonnina leaf spot disease and not recommended for humid areas. Fairly narrow crown, less susceptible to wind damage than PN 227 parent. Male.

Soil conservation.

S.matsudana x alba

Hathaway (NZ 1317)

Growth rate and form intermediate between NZ 1130 and NZ 1149. Has a degree of possum resistance. Male.

Soil conservation, river control, amenity.

S.matsudana x alba

Hiwinui (NZ 1130)

Rather spreading crown and pendulous lower branches. Male.

Soil conservation, river control, bee forage, amenity.

S.matsudana x alba

Moutere (NZ 1184)

Fast growing, reasonably narrow crown. Good for erosion control on streambanks, in gullies and on foot slopes. Male.

Soil conservation, shelterbelts, river control.

S.matsudana x alba

Tangoio (NZ 1040)

Better form for shelter and not as vigorous as other hybrids. More drought tolerant than Moutere and more suitable for planting on hillsides. Female

Soil conservation, shelterbelts.

S.matsudana x alba

Wairakei (NZ 1149)

Fast growing, moderately spreading crown. Male

Soil conservation

Shrub Willows
Used to control erosion by running water because their dense root mats resist scouring
smaller aerial root mass
two sub-genera:
(i) osiers
(ii) sallows

Osiers
medium sized shrubs up to 8m high
multiple stems arising from the base of the plant 12-15cm in diameter depending on the species
leaves are 5-10 times longer than they are wide
catkins appear 2-3 weeks before leaves

Sallows
multiple stems arising from the base of the plant with stout branches
form varies from low shrubs to small trees
leaf length is 2-3 times the width
catkins appear 2-3 weeks before leaves

Shrub Willow Cultivars

Species

Cultivar (Clone No.)

Characteristics

Uses

Salix purpurea

Booth (PN 249)

Shrub or small tree (7-8m), flexible branches resistant to breakage. Best in gullies or along stream banks, can be used as an initial stabiliser on sites being revegetated with native plants. Triploid female, Sterile.

Soil conservation, revegetation, river control.

S.purpurea

Holland (PN 605)

Shrub (to 7m) with spreading habit and flexible branches, similar to Booth. Best in gullies and along stream banks. Male.

Soil conservation, river control.

S.purpurea

Irette (PN 608)

Shrub to small tree (7-8m), upright habit. Performs well at higher altitudes but not drought tolerant. Good dense root system for stream bank stabilisation. Male

Soil conservation, river control, lower stratum in windbreaks.

S.purpurea

Pohangina (NZ1087)

Shrub (7-8m) moderately spreading. Vigorous, slender, flexible stems. Male.

Soil conservation, river control.

S.elaeagnos x daphnoides

Tiritea (NZ 1012)

Shrub (to 8m), very vigorous. Multi-stemmed with an open upright habit and flexible branches, slightly susceptible to leaf rust, not tolerant of dry conditions. . Male

Soil conservation, river control.

S.glaucophylloides

Glenmark (CM4)

Clonal mix shrub (6-8m), multi-stemmed and spreading. Vigorous on most sites and grows well on high country sites. Tolerates acid soils. Foliage moderately palatable to possums. Male.

Soil conservation, river control.

S.repens x purpurea

Kumeti (NZ1057)

Semi prostate shrub (2-3m) with many almost horizontal branches. Medium growth rate, suitable for low ground cover. Male.

Soil conservation, river control.

S. x reichardtii
(= S.discolor)

PN 215

Shrubby tree (to 10m), erect, multi-stemmed habit. Tolerates drier conditions than most willows, moderately tolerant of salt winds and tolerates acid soils. Slightly susceptible to leaf rust. Male.

Soil conservation, windbreaks.

S. viminalis

Kinuyanagi (PN 386)

Large shrub to small spreading tree (6 x 6 m) very vigorous on moist fertile sites once established. Leaves are silvery underneath. Performs well as a coppice fuel wood and forage species. High tannin levels in foliage reduce palatability to livestock after mid summer. Male.

Forage.

Planting
will readily take from woody cuttings with no specialised propagation techniques required
may be planted out as 20cm cuttings, 60-100cm stakes or 2.5-3.0m poles
if livestock will not be exclude from planted areas for two seasons poles need to be 3m tall planted to at least 800mm deep and have a diameter of at least 80mm at the large end
plant during dormancy ie June to August

Management
if livestock will be excluded from planted areas for two seasons use a Treegard (plastic netting) sleeve which will breakdown naturally 6-7 years after planting when the tree has developed a hard bark
if livestock will not be exclude from planted areas for two seasons use a Dynex (smooth plastic) sleeve which will need to be removed when the tree shows signs of out growing the cover and livestock excluded for at least three weeks to allow bark under sleeve to harden
control weeds to avoid moisture competition during first year

prune poles back to a single strong leader when trees are two years old

Pests And Diseases
most willows are prone to possum attack although the 'Hathway' cultivar has some resistance
Dynex sleeves and aluminium tubes can provide protection
certain willows are susceptible to leaf spot and rust diseases which may result in partial defoliation and reduce plant vigour but rarely death

willows are also prone to the systematic fungus known as silver leaf (Chamdrostereum purpurea) which enters through pruning wounds
silver leaf can be prevented with a spray containing 3% solutions of the fungicides Captan and Eupean

two types of sawfly attack willows
Pontania proxima - forms reddish galls on the foliage in mmid summer but has a limited affect on tree health
Nematus oligospilus - eats foliage and with rapid population expansions in mid summer rapid but temporary defoliation can occur.

Contact us at livingwillow@hotmail.com 

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