Re: Willows for Bank Erosion Prevention

From:          tim@eddy.u-net.com (Tim Longville)
To:            medit-plants@ucdavis.edu
Subject:       Re: Willows for Bank Erosion Prevention
Date:          Tue, 23 Feb 1999 20:53:37 GMT
Organization:  Brown House
Reply-to:      tim@eddy.u-net.com

Richard  -
>
>I take it your suggestion is to plant the willows at the stream edge,
>which in this case is about 12 feet below the bank top (it really is
>vertical).  If planted along the top of the bank, I wonder if the willow
>roots would reach as far down as the stream level (or within a year or
>two).  I suppose another solution would be to plant willows at the
>stream edge (which in summer would be above the water line), and some of
>the other suggested native trees or shrubs on the top of the bank.

Yes, I was thinking of planting willows at the bottom, just in front
of the present line of the bank, then back-filling so that they're in
contact with the soil to their full (beginning) height - then taking
it from there. From Barry and Hank's postings the use of willows for
functional hedging (even if not for erosion prevention) is obviously
something that's already done in Calif. so I'd think (bearing in mind
Sean's usual desire to use natives where possible!) that a local sp or
spp (Sean: do you have hte names of suitable native spp? I only know
the European ones) would be the best bet for the job. 

I agree 12' is a long way up but even if it proved not possible to
knit their branches together all they way up it should be possible to
make such a system work at least up to 7-8' (ie arms' length above
your head) - and then, as you say, if you simultaneously or a little
later, planted something else at the top of the bank, the roots of the
top-downwards bunch would soon join up with the tops of the bottom-up
gang! I'd like to see the bank that could get out of THAT full
nelson...
>
If you give it a try, do let me know how you get on - and do take
pictures as you go: if you're successful, a couple of years later the
whole retaining woven hedge will be so dense you won't be able to
believe what it was like before.

Hank: re photos - see above. I think Sean's right, that what works
locally already is probably what it's best to use, at least to begin
with. If that succeeds, then branch out (ouch! sorry; unintended pun)
into fancy coloured-bark aliens later if you like. Re detail: there
really isn't any more to it than that - you just weave the new growth
together as you go - and keep on weavin'! The closer together you
plant your initial saplings, the sooner you'll have a really dense
mesh.

Tim Longville

Here in Australia thousands of Weeping Willows (Salix babylonica I 
think it still is) are being ripped out of river and stream banks as 
'weeds'. It is claimed that their leaves pollute the water and are an 
environmental disaster. I am skeptical myself and suspect a strong 
input from the politically correct - again. It suits the pollies. 
(Politicians) It takes public focus away from their complete failure 
to deleiver effective employment strategies, to address the issues of 
homelessness, drug abuse and addiction, to deal with tax cheats 
(individual and corporate) and all those other things we pay them 
extremely handsomely to attend to on our behalf. Cutting down willows 
is so much easier: they don't move, don't vote and don't argue back 
or write letters to the Editor!

trevor n

-----------------
Trevor Nottle
Garden Writer, Historian,     
Lecturer and Comsultant 
       
    'Walnut Hill'                          
     5 Walker St       
     Crafers SA 5152 
     AUSTRALIA

Phone: +618 83394210
Fax:   +618 83394210
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