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Advice on Weeping Willow, please

PipstrellePipstrelle Posts: 80
in Plants

I just picked up a broken twiggy section of the large weeping willow in the village as I walked past. I am toying with the idea of growing/rooting it in a container (on concrete patio to prevent vigorous roots) as a pruned specimen, as I know that willows respond so well to this. I know that they need a lot of moisture, too. So, should I attempt this or is that too foolhardy?!image

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  • Alan4711Alan4711 Posts: 1,657
    hi Pip iv just planted about 100 Willow cuttings to form a hedge ,kept the cuttings in plastic milk bottles and 10 days all had roots one week after that with 4 inch roots i planted them ,also iv tried sticking the cuttings about 12 inches long straight into the soil and it works almost as well ,not quite so quick on the uptake but ok, i would take some cuttings about 12 inches long and go for it its dead easy ,if you go on the net with Willow you will be amazed what can be done with them, Good luck,Alan4711
  • Woodgreen wonderboyWoodgreen wonderboy Posts: 2,322

    Please, please, please don't plant any of these anywhere near your house or drains, and by near about 100m. might be OK but I wouldn't bet on it.image

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,160

    Bonsai. Wouldn't let it go any further though



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • PipstrellePipstrelle Posts: 80

    Yes, I have no intention of letting it near drains etc and would only plant in a container! I don't know if it would be suitable. We have a small garden so could never plant it out, but I would like it as a container plant. I agree that willow is extremely useful. I do like it very much in the right place image 

    Thanks. So is the verdict that containerised should be ok?!

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,160

    Can't cause a lot of trouble there. But don't stand it over a gap in the paving.image



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • Woodgreen wonderboyWoodgreen wonderboy Posts: 2,322

    It's great to experiment, especially when your idea hasn't cost an arm and a leg. Those who never try anything new tell me they never fail.image

  • PipstrellePipstrelle Posts: 80

    Aw, thanks for the encouragement guys! Very good point, Nutcutlet image. Luckily the slabs are very close together, and each large enough to hold a large pot. Got to love plants for free on a budget. God knows how I'll get through Malvern tomorrow without spending too much!image

  • WelshonionWelshonion Posts: 3,114

    Am I the only person who thinks plants should be allowed to reach their full potential? I can admire bonsai, but I would not subject a potentially enormous tree to it.

    Plant cruelty; if indeed, you can be cruel to a plant.

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,160

    You can be cruel to a plant Welshonion. I'm always apologising to something.

    Anything large grown in a pot is cruelty to the plant whether we label it bonsai or container gardening.



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • PipstrellePipstrelle Posts: 80

    Is it still cruel if you give the plant everything it needs? Cruel to eat vegetables? Cruel to allow any plant to be affected by any kind of pest or disease ever?! In short, cruel to garden at all? To prune ever? To grow anything other than species plants (I.e. those not bred to perform against their natures, e.g. Double flowering)..

     

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