Q: What are cuttings, stakes and rods used for and how many are in a bundle?

A: Cuttings: For propagation. A bundle of cuttings consist of five cuttings. Each cutting is nine to ten inches in length.

Stakes: These are thicker than standard cuttings, meant for environmental restoration projects. One bundle of stakes consist of twenty-five stakes. Stakes are two to three feet in length.

Rods: Often used for fencing or other landscaping projects. One bundle of rods consist of ten rods. Rods are five to six feet in length.

Q: What species is used to fill the Living Structure Kits?

A: Kits are typically filled with varieties of S. purpurea or S. miyabeana. S. purpurea tends to be unpalatable to deer. S. miyabeana is a vigorous grower. Rods used in structure kits are 8 feet in length.

Q: How should I prepare my willow beds?

A: Willows don’t require a whole lot of preparation. The biggest concerns are water, competition, and herbivores.

Water – We recommend drip irrigation for moisture. Keeping your newly planted willow hydrated is ALWAYS at the top of the list.

Competition – You can lay 6 mil black polyethylene plastic mulch or landscape fabric over your desired planting area. This is THE best way to prevent competition as the willow is rooting. It also does an excellent job of retaining moisture. See the alternative to this below. Be sure to remove the plastic or fabric after the willow has established (after 2 growing seasons). If left, it will choke the willow. Wood chips or mulch is a great option after this to maintain weed growth.

Herbivores – Herbivores LOVE new, tender willow growth. They’re a great source of food in places that are covered in snow. We’ve even seen deer use a tunnel to scratch his antlers – destroying the tunnel in the process. You should consider some kind of physical barrier to keep these critters away while your willow establishes itself.

Check out our planting instructions for more information.

Q: Are there any alternatives to plastic sheeting?

A: There are indeed! While nothing else quite compares to it, we have had success using other means. We planted a ton of cuttings in New Jersey with a few different configurations. We’ve found that burlap with a layer of mulch does an admirable job, yet still would require weeding. Perhaps cardboard? Just be sure to remove the tape!

We are VERY interested in any creative alternatives to plastic so let us know what you come up with!

Q: Can I use a layer of straw or mulch?

A: Sure! Be aware that hay can carry seeds…which creates competition! So use straw. Mulch is also a viable alternative but you have to make sure you aren’t using anything dyed as it can damage the plant. Also, leave the immediate area around the plantings clear; trapped heat can build up and cook them! After the willow is established, mulch or fresh woods chips are great options.

Q: Oops! I left my cuttings in the fridge for a month and it’s gotten pretty hot out. What should I do?

A: Soak them in water overnight and plant as you would normally. We’ve had abandoned cuttings survive for much longer than that! The most important aspect, at least initially, is keeping them hydrated. Sunlight is secondary. Simply use something to shield the plantings from the sun during the most intense time of the day. They might need a little extra attention but willows want to live.

Q: When should I expect my order to arrive?

A: Shipping details can be found by following the link below.

Click here for our shipping details

Q: How do I figure out what my hardiness zone is?

A: Thanks to the USDA we can answer that question easily. You can see a map of all the zones below. And thanks to plantmaps.com, you can simply type your ZIP code in to the search function below the map.