spandit

You are quite correct, salix viminalis it is or common osier

Mick, I didn't realise you were in Sussex - might be able to help you with willow this Winter - too late now as they're not dormant any more. Bear in mind that once it's in and growing, getting rid of it is not an easy undertaking. I used to trim one that belonged to next door (in my previous house), because it hung over my drive. One year I got a bit fed up of cutting each branch so I chainsawed it down to a stump. A year later, it was back up at 14' (that's feet!) and is still going strong. She works with the scouts so likes cutting the material for them but I'm sure she'd let me take a bit. I've also got some that I've propagated here in my current house. You'll probably find a local supplier anyway that would save you the drive

1. Are these beyond the ability of an average gardener No, pretty easy to do. Osier viminalis (common sallow) would be best. It's pretty foolproof to grow, especially with rabbit protection and weed mulching 2. Would I be able to get willow that is big enough to create this straight off or is it a long term project If you plant rods about 25cm long, like I did, in 8 months they went up about 12 feet... I cut the rods off to build an arch and already they've got up quite a bit, plus should get multiple shoots from each one this year and more as each year progresses 3. What sort of money if I can buy them big enough is it going to be. The arch in the picture had 24 trees by my count. I'd probably be looking at 12-16 I think. Unless you can find someone who will let you have some for free, if you were near me then I'm sure I could sort something out, a rod is going to cost about 30p, that's a short bit you plant. The problem with planting long bits straight off is that without careful watering the tops may die back anyway and you'd be back to square one.

+1 - must be a local society that would want it for their bonfire

Have a c. 3000l sump that collects off the barn roof. It's normally overflowing but I've just installed a hand pump so we can use it for watering. I've bought another pump for the well which is right next to the house & has a few thousand gallons in it. We have a spring that puts out 3,000 gallons a day and that's way above the house so will be piping that down soon. We've also got a few waterbutts but frankly the hand pump is quicker I reckon

My oaks have only just started & ash is slightly behind. Beech still dormant but some of the robinia doing well. Almond has pretty pink blossom & osier has grown about a foot so far

It makes great evergreen screening, has useful canes and makes a lovely noise in the wind - I wish there were more bamboo than leylandii!

It's river cane - in the right place it's great but does spread. I could do with a load here to hide a security fence

Can you tie the brash into faggots & leave it - makes smaller piles than just having it loose?

Not surprised, he's got an amazing forest garden

On the face of it, in the long run, by adding a load of mulch, I'm adding nutrients to the area, whereas spraying will only reduce the nutrients available - not the best environmental solution! As long as I can get my trees enough light by keeping them clear of weeds, then the slower initial growth by not spraying doesn't really matter.

Not sure if it is officially biodegradable unfortunately but it's not very thick & the stuff I put down last year has disappeared in many places. As far as I am concerned once the leaves grow they tend to shade out anything lower in the tubes & in autumn they self mulch. Considering how well the self seeded trees have done without any help, having any protection must be an advantage Did 35 today - that was 2 full Mule loads

I didn't want to spray glyphosate for my trees so just planted them in the sward - I've laid a permeable weed membrane down and covered with woodchip - not out to a metre but should give them a reasonable chance:

Is not a free chip tip enough? Mutually beneficial I would have thought

I can't wait to hire in a logsplitter to process my rather large backlog... Getting them all cut, split and stacked will mean I can take it easy for two years! I won't though, I'll keep scrounging... Just need to keep the free logs going until I can coppice my own trees, although they'll take a year to season anyway

They came back just now with a load of leylandii, willow and ash. I'd say that's a pretty good mix!

Been said many times before, I'd rather burn free leylandii than pay for anything else!

It's not that big a diameter so I can just cut to length. Hope to be burning it Winter 17/18

Was just driving home after picking my daughter up from a friend's house when I passed some tree surgeons who were in the process of packing up. I asked whether they were after a tip site and they said that was what they were discussing! I was only 1/2 a mile from my house and now have a nice stack of logs to add to the collection - it was leylandii and eucalyptus, so not premium stuff perhaps but I'm not a log snob Anyone in else in East Sussex looking for a free tip site, just let me know!

Certainly easier, I would think... probably more chance of success just seems a shame to waste the existing trees

Wild pear likes wet soil & so does cherry. Willow is easiest to plant, though as you can just push sticks into the ground. Cheap too (or free if you find someone willing to let you take cuttings). Bit late for this year, mind

It was more a case of not wasting them as they're in the wrong place. The woodland isn't well established & I think leylandii standards are quite attractive but moving them might be too much of a pain

I noticed that. Perhaps he was talking about top handled saws?

Anyone in East Sussex have a log splitter they can hire out for a couple of days? I can get one in Buxted from George Rose but thought I'd see what other options are out there.

We're not a million miles away near Heathfield. I'd like the logs!