Have a couple low spots at the farm and an old pond ( not much of a pond anymore) dries up normally every summer. I thought about planting some willow cuttings on the backside of the pond and low spots. Anyone regret putting willows at their place? Just wondering how bad they'll spread?
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Willows
- Thread starter Fryguy
- Start date
I have had great luck with planting cuttings. They do really well in those low wet spots you described. I have not noticed them spread. The bucks love to rub on them and they get worked over pretty good. They might get bigger than you want and maybe at some point you will have to cut them down.
Brian662
5 year old buck +
My neighbor cautioned me against putting any cuttings out at my place in MN. He said at his parents farm they planted them near a stream bed many years ago and they took over everything.
Take that for what it's worth, I'm still considering trying to get some bebbs willow established.
Take that for what it's worth, I'm still considering trying to get some bebbs willow established.
Hoytvectrix
5 year old buck +
I have been plugging sandbar willow cuttings in several places on two of our properties. They are exceptional for low maintenance and low cost cover creation. They don't tend to get above 15-20 feet tall and it is almost impossible to find a clump without a buck rub in them. I also think they have pretty winter color. The leaves get browsed and some of the previous year's growth is browsed, but otherwise it seems like they can outgrow the deer just fine.
I would also look at ROD, but that will need to be protected.
I would also look at ROD, but that will need to be protected.
Thanks for the replies fellas. I have a good size patch behind my house I was gonna take cuttings from. Im not sure of the variety. There 15 feet high or so. But if I don't mow for a couple weeks there will be starts coming up in the yard 3 to 4 inches high. Im just a little nervous about em going nuts and have a mess on my hands
Telemark
5 year old buck +
You might want to buy hybrids if you are worried about spreading. Try searching it here in the forum. There has been talk about them here before, but I don't know much about them, and I don't have any personal experience.
Derek Reese 29
5 year old buck +
I have a couple hybrids growing along the bottom edge of my front field in a wet spot..i have not noticed any spreading, but man do they grow fast....i planted them in the spring of 2021 and the tree that is in the lowest (see: wettest) spot is probably close to 30' tall and about as big around as my thigh...the next lowest is probably 15' tall about as big around as my arm....all have been attacked by bucks (I dont cage them for some reason)...the one that got hit the hardest had 2 scrapes by it also and they are right along my driveway near a rural road
jsasker007
5 year old buck +
I have grabbed some existing willows on the property with my excavator and put some clumps on the edge of the swamps hoping that they do spread into the swamp areas. They do spread pretty good on their own without having to plant any more it just takes a little time for them to get going after being moved.
Hoytvectrix
5 year old buck +
I would definitely ID the willows first. Depending on your state, there might be a page or two from your DNR about the aggressiveness of the particular species of willow you are seeing and/or the one you would want to propagate. At least in MO, there are instructions on how to propagate sandbar willows.
Jerry-B-WI
5 year old buck +
Would any of these willows be a good replacement for all the dead ash I have? Lots of it is in swampy areas.
