Willow trees...distance?

[almac7]

I have received and planted willow cuttings around my house but since doing so, I have been advised by some people that I may regret it in the future. What is a safe distance for planting, my boundary is only about 50 feet from the house? I have planted some up to within 10 feet.

[treeman]

25 mts (tree roots and buildings by richardson) off the top of my head

[almac7]

In other words, I'd better take most of them out then?

[treeman]

yup, or coppice/pollard the closer 1's

[almac7]

Ok, many thanks for that...new to planting.

[AA Teccie (Paul)]

The circumstances surroundng trees and building damage is far more complex than species and proximity BUT willows so close would be ill-advised generally speaking.

 

Paul

[tree monkey]

yup, or coppice/pollard the closer 1's

 

Does coppicing and pollarding stop the root growth ?

[Jake Andrews]

I don't think it stops root growth but rapidly slows it,tree needs to concentrate on producing growth tissue to photosynthesis again.hopefully someone will be along to correct me.

 

Jake

[likeitorlumpit]

Think about your foundations and the soil and the eventual height of the willows would be a good start.

What the hell- plant away and there'll be a tree surgeons job in 30 years:biggrin:

[HCR]

There are a lot of factors to consider: the type of soil, how wet the area is, what sort of foundations you have, what species of willow they are, how you manage them.

 

Roots need food to grow, and that food comes from the leaves. Restrict leaf growth (by pruning) and the roots won't grow as quickly or to such a great extent.

 

Sallows tend to be slightly less expeditionary with their roots - these include goat willow, grey willow etc (i.e. the ones with broader leaves).

 

Willows are fantastic trees, and amongst the most productive in terms of the biodiversity they support. Don't rush into digging them up, let them grow and manage them by pollarding or coppicing. If you can do it on a rotation so that you maintain the all the stages of growth then so much the better.