Planting willow cuttings at their summer cottage
Willow can be a great decoration for your site. In landscape design, this tree is used in composing compositions, arranging living gazebos and hedges. In order for the cuttings of the cultivar willow to take root and form a powerful root system, it is necessary to observe the planting technology.
Landing on black film
The most effective way to root willow cuttings is to plant them on black foil. With this technology, the planting material quickly builds up the root system. Already two months after planting, the willow will form the aboveground part.
It is important not to confuse black film with agrofibre. When planting, it is necessary to use black cellophane film. Agrofibre is not suitable for willow growth, as it retains moisture worse.
The technology of planting willow cuttings on a black film can be used not only when growing willow seedlings. This method is widely used when growing willow twigs for weaving furniture and hedge.
Selection and preparation of cutting
Unlike fruit tree cuttings, willow cuttings are harvested during the summer during formative pruning. For grafting, branches with a thickness of 5 mm or more are suitable. The length of the cutting is 40-45 cm. Such a rod will need to be buried in the soil more than half. A powerful root system is formed in such a cutting.
In order for the roots to form faster, it is necessary to make an oblique cut on the willow handle. If you harvest cuttings in the summer and plan to plant them in the spring, carry out a "revitalization of the cutting" before planting.
To do this, it must be placed in water at a temperature of 30 ° C for a day. In order to check the condition of the cutting, remove some bark from it. If the stalk is green, then it can be planted on film.
Landing technology
Cuttings are planted on a film at an angle of 45 °. This allows two cuttings to be placed in one hole. This technology has several advantages compared to planting in open ground:
- The black film acts as mulch. Therefore, an excellent microclimate is created under the film, which increases the rate of formation of the root system.
- The second advantage of this technology is the impossibility of the development of weeds, which often "clog" the willow when planting cuttings in open ground.
- The third plus of such a planting is the synergy of two cuttings. Over time, plants grow together into one single organism. The root system of the plant with this technology is very powerful.
If you want a more powerful willow trunk, plant the plants at a distance of 30 cm.In order to grow willow twigs for weaving, the distance between the cuttings is reduced to 15 cm.