Monday 13 January 2014

Sally Tree

I seem to be on a fencing rampage at the moment and every spare moment (in day light) is spent trying to get the fields fenced.
Over grown willow
In between the bottom field and the orchard there's a large, over grown willow growing in a boggy bit of land.
Where I grew up, they'd call a willow tree like this is a "Sally Tree" which I guess comes from it's Latin name salix although I doubt too many could tell you if it had or not. I've also heard it called a crack willow due to how the branches break with a crack. Willow trees are notorious for growing fast in wet boggy ground and they're ridiculously easy to root.
In fact in the old orchard where I grew up they staked every tree with willow posts (the people who had the land before dad) and most rooted so there's a lot of half apple - half willow trees about the place, although I think the willow is taking over slowly.
Dad came to help yesterday - managed to get him to pose for a photo!
 To get the fence across this bit of field I had to - to use a technical term - "hack it back a bit". Any other tree I possibly wouldn't have been so chainsaw happy with, but I know this willow will come back in leaps and bounds with lots of whippy new growth at the ends of the branches I've cut.
Pile of brash to sort out
I need to tackle the other side of this tree at some point, as it keeps spreading further and further into the orchard, but at the moment this bit of a hair cut lets us get the posts in and gave me a bit of (not very good) firewood for the fire and a pile of brash to sort out.
Anyone else have any local names for willow trees?

11 comments:

  1. The Irish call them "Sallys" Kev. I suppose you could make hurdles or weave with the willow? Farmers are growing fields of it for Bio fuels here in Ireland. They harvest it with combine harvesters. Willow is also good for drying out boggy ground.

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    1. Good to know its not just a local thing then. The growth I've took off will be no good for weaving as it needs to be young whippy growth. I can't weave anyhow something I'll need to learn.

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  2. Sounds like you might also have a basket making industry there!

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  3. I would be using a lot of the brash as infill in our gappy hedges, it works a treat to fill them out!!

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    1. I'm fencing all the gaps so that should make it stock proof but i might put a few bits in where its bare good idea

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  4. A dead hedge would be a good use for the brash

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    1. I'm just a bit careful with willow as it roots so easy then takes over

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  5. Don't see many willows here at all.We put piles of brash in the woods,it makes great shelter for wildlife.
    Jane x

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    1. Do the trees have a much shorter growing season over there due to how long your winters are?

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  6. I wouldn't mind a few willow cuttings to plant around my pond. I'll have to see if there is anyone going to UK who could hand carry some back for me.

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