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Willow grows best in a field where they are planted quite close together (about 20cm or so.) If you plant them too
wide apart or in one long row they tend to become branched.
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Willow grows best in a field
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The first years crop (maiden crop) is not usually very good as the rods are often branched and twisted. The second
and subsequent years are much better as each set or cutting produces more and more shoots.
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Before planting the cuttings the willow bed should be prepared and manured. The cuttings the willow bed should be well
preapered and manured. The cuttings are planted in March or April and must be kept as weed free as possible as the weeds
can easily choke the young willows.
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| You can mulch to try to control the weeds. I manure the bed every 4 or 5 years and once established the bed
will continue to produce good rods for 20 years. Before planting the willow bed you must also think carefully about the
species and varieties that you want to grow depending on your needs.
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| The willows are cut with a rotating saw
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I now have 5 testrows where the rods are cut by rotating saw. The first cutting was by bill hook.
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Pictures Jan-Jun '02
Pictures Jul-Dec '02
Diashow 2000
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