The bottom of my 90’ garden is bordered by a ditch fed from an upstream
spring. One of the effects of this is that it is quite damp with the water
table barely 2’ below ground level. There is no fence – it borders
directly with the edge of the long garden of a property around the corner.

So, I was thinking about planting a row of willow at the bottom to provide
a screen and some interest when looking down the garden from the house.
What I was planning was two parallel rows which could be coppiced
alternate winters so that there would always be a screen. The garden faces
south-east so the willow will be shaded from the morning sun by shrubs in
the other garden. But will get some late afternoon and evening sun before
it disappears behind the house.

I appreciate that we are now at the very end of the planting season for
this so am going to need to get a move on and maybe accept whatever
varieties are still available.

Any suggestions for the best variety for this purpose would be much
appreciated. Some winter colour would be nice but not essential. I would
prefer something with traditional long slender leaves but could be
persuaded otherwise.

Andrew

In article ,
says...

The bottom of my 90? garden is bordered by a ditch fed from an upstream
spring. One of the effects of this is that it is quite damp with the water
table barely 2? below ground level. There is no fence ? it borders
directly with the edge of the long garden of a property around the corner..

So, I was thinking about planting a row of willow at the bottom to provide
a screen and some interest when looking down the garden from the house.
What I was planning was two parallel rows which could be coppiced
alternate winters so that there would always be a screen. The garden faces
south-east so the willow will be shaded from the morning sun by shrubs in
the other garden. But will get some late afternoon and evening sun before
it disappears behind the house.

Hm, willows can be iffy. Years back I used willows as a temporary,
coppice "nurse crop" in an exposed tree plantation, expecting to take them
out after 4 or 5 years when they had done the job ( sheltering the
permanent planting while it established). However, they proved so
suscesptible to disease that when their job was done most of them were
dead or dying.(I used a selected pussy willow, and a purple stemmed one,
for looks) .Since then, I've seen the same die-back problem all over the
place in adult willows.. native willows here (Scotland) have been
suffering some very disfiguring blight or infestation for several years.

I would seriously consider using groups of (different) coloured-stem
cornus for your screen; IME they are much more robust, stand coppicing
very well, and look particularly good when the leaves are off in winter.

pics at

http://www.thegardener.btinternet.co.uk/diaryjan04.html

(scroll down)

Janet

On Mon, 04 Apr 2011 16:27:08 +0100, Janet wrote:


I would seriously consider using groups of (different) coloured-stem
cornus for your screen; IME they are much more robust, stand coppicing
very well, and look particularly good when the leaves are off in winter.

pics at

http://www.thegardener.btinternet.co.uk/diaryjan04.html


Interesting. Cornus was my first choice but I rejected it because it is
slower growing and does not grow as high. I was hoping for something that
would go up to about 8' so as to go some way towards screening the
neighbours old cars and boats from our upstairs windows. It seems that
Cornus would take some time to get that high and it would be much more
bush shaped by the time it got there. Are there any varieties that are up
there with willow in the growth/height stakes?

Andrew

On Apr 4, 4:08*pm, Andrew May wrote:
The bottom of my 90’ garden is bordered by a ditch fed from an upstream
spring. One of the effects of this is that it is quite damp with the water
table barely 2’ below ground level. There is no fence – it borders
directly with the edge of the long garden of a property around the corner..

So, I was thinking about planting a row of willow at the bottom to provide
a screen and some interest when looking down the garden from the house.
What I was planning was two parallel rows which could be coppiced
alternate winters so that there would always be a screen. The garden faces
south-east so the willow will be shaded from the morning sun by shrubs in
the other garden. But will get some late afternoon and evening sun before
it disappears behind the house.

I appreciate that we are now at the very end of the planting season for
this so am going to need to get a move on and maybe accept whatever
varieties are still available.

Any suggestions for the best variety for this purpose would be much
appreciated. Some winter colour would be nice but not essential. I would
prefer something with traditional long slender leaves but could be
persuaded otherwise.

Andrew

Willow can grow really strongly, you will need to be prepared for
some serious wood cutting in only a short time. The roots may block
your stream/ditch too.
I have willow in my garden with trunks 8-9" diameter and twenty feet
high. They are about six years old.

On Mon, 04 Apr 2011 11:24:51 -0700, harry wrote:

Willow can grow really strongly, you will need to be prepared for some
serious wood cutting in only a short time. The roots may block your
stream/ditch too.
I have willow in my garden with trunks 8-9" diameter and twenty feet
high. They are about six years old.

Oh, I realise that. That is why I was planning on planting two rows and
coppicing them alternate years. That way they shouldn't have too much
chance of getting out of hand.

I was hoping I might get some recommendations as to the best varieties
for this, or a viable alternative that will satisfy the same requirements
in the same location. Janet's Cornuses (Cornii?) might be an alternative
if I can find one that grows fast enough to achieve the height.

Andrew

On Apr 4, 9:45*pm, Andrew May wrote:
On Mon, 04 Apr 2011 11:24:51 -0700, harry wrote:
Willow can grow really *strongly, you will need to be prepared for some
serious wood cutting in only a short time. *The roots may block your
stream/ditch too.
I have willow in my garden with trunks 8-9" diameter and twenty feet
high. *They are about six years old.

Oh, I realise that. That is why I was planning on planting two rows and
coppicing them alternate years. That way they shouldn't have too much
chance of getting out of hand.

I was hoping I might get some recommendations as to the best varieties
for this, or a viable alternative that will satisfy the same requirements
in the same location. Janet's Cornuses (Cornii?) might be an alternative
if I can find one that grows fast enough to achieve the height.

Andrew

If you want something that grows well, have a look aboout & see what's
doing good in your vicinity. One of the willows, one of the poplars,
ash, hazel etc.
These all are good fast growing coppicers.
Nurseries have very fast growing ones for coppicing. I have black
poplar and "pussy willow".
Take up basket weaving as a hobby. :-)