Fruit and Vegetables: Grow Your Own

Re: Willow raised beds

Rod R — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 20:48:33 GMT

I have a willow tree growing on my allotment. It has been pollarded in the past and it grows lots of long slightly curved shoots. Every year or two I chop a load of these off and use them for various projects, including making woven sides for raised beds - quite easy really! I don't expect these side panels to last very long, but they are easy to replace. On our heavy clay soil raised beds are definitely a good idea.

Best wishes

Re: Willow raised beds

lilyjune — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 09:11:27 GMT

I was just coming to a similar conclusion, thank you The Hedge Folk! Think I will make the beds from sleepers/bricks and then perhaps face them with willow.

Re: Willow raised beds

The Hedge Folk — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 20:43:30 GMT

Most raised beds I see about the place are made with bricks or railway sleeper-type wooden sides. You could use those and stick the willow panels onto the outside for the best of both.

Re: Willow raised beds

lilyjune — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 20:17:02 GMT

Thank you all for your replies, lots to consider! I did mean willow panels as sides as opposed to planting willow. I had considered preservative of some kind to help it last longer but also wondered if lining it with something quite strong would help its longevity. I read somewhere that willow panels could reasonably be expected to last 10 years but perhaps this was just as a fence.. There is some beautiful willow work out there, I got lots of inspiration online and saw some beautiful photos of willow beds which were created in Clarence House but perhaps they were only temporary. I have to say the willow is aesthetically very very pleasing, I would love to have it but obviously don't want to invest if it really really won't work.

Re: Willow raised beds

The Hedge Folk — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 19:56:10 GMT

Hi Scott, thanks for the enquiry: I've PM'd you.

Re: Willow raised beds

Snark — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 19:55:20 GMT

I have reservations about willow.As the hedge Folk say it is a thug when alive. Unless they are soaked in preservative of some type a lot of the woven willow panels will rot very quickly in contact with soil and soon turn into a sort of splintery fungus (and of course slug)infested mess. They look lovely when new but...

Re: Willow raised beds

Scott — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 19:27:16 GMT

Sorry to stray of subject Hedge Folk... Just an enquiry.. I'm after two David Austin climbing roses... Falstaff and Constance Spry.... Any in stock...

Re: Willow raised beds

The Hedge Folk — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 15:29:07 GMT

Right you are! Apologies for my hasty reading.

Re: Willow raised beds

Scott — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 15:12:31 GMT

No, I think they mean they have fitted some raised beds which are made from woven willow... I think the company 'Haxnicks' sell them......

Re: Willow raised beds

The Hedge Folk — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 14:57:44 GMT

Hi lilyjune, welcome to the forum,

Slugs are here to stay. We do what we can and if they get too out of hand we can call down the wrath of nematode to give them a good smiting. I believe that if I let them affect my gardening plans, then the slugs win. Never negotiate. The only good slug is in the belly of a hedgehog.

I would be inclined to keep willow out a raised bed. It has voracious, thickly matted roots that will quickly bully everything else. What is the goal of planting willow at the edge? Is it meant to be a screen or is it just aesthetic?

Have fun,

Willow raised beds

lilyjune — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 14:40:32 GMT

hello I'm just starting out with my first raised bed after having grown a few bits in pots over the last few years. We moved into this house last summer so have spent the time thinking about the 'look' and what we want to grow. We've come up with a lovely design which has raised beds with willow sides. However, being relatively new to the whole thing I have some questions. I've read that one of the disadvantages of raised beds is that slugs and snails have more places to hide so I imagine the willow would provide a million places for them to hide! I thought about lining them but read that that provides a home to slugs, etc.. any advice on whether I should line or not? Does anyone have any experience using willow in beds? Suggestions and advice gratefully received!