tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1658610046997945487.post3925703172002210880..comments2023-09-08T04:53:09.986-07:00Comments on WEAVING WILLOW: A Sally GardenWEAVING WILLOWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03068394484634611186noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1658610046997945487.post-19079554377067179202009-02-22T17:37:00.000-08:002009-02-22T17:37:00.000-08:00Thanks for your comment, Steve. Yes, it seemed be...Thanks for your comment, Steve. Yes, it seemed better to do more preparation in our heavy clay soil with our super hot and dry summers. Everything has flourished. The 9" grid is working quite well. It seems to leave enough space for the stool to develop although I have some single plants that after 10 years of coppicing have stools almost 2' in diameter which makes me wonder whether these plants will go for the 40 years we hear about. Will I be here to find out? No. The grid sure wouldn't work well for a grower who cultivates between rows or harvests mechanically. Mulching provides good weed control in my small beds and harvesting is a small job compared to yours.<BR/><BR/>You are right about a certain grower in BC, I believe that's where my Purple Dicks originated. But I have both Purple Dicks and Dark Dicks and they are quite unlike. Dark Dicks is still small but there seems to be a basic difference in colour. We'll see as time passes. The star of my beds is Nichols, a fine, clean growing purpurea, no taller than 4 1/2'. It is vigorous and very healthy and seems to resist insects. Take good care.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1658610046997945487.post-43337090855609644522009-02-22T10:46:00.000-08:002009-02-22T10:46:00.000-08:00Hello Frances. Nice to see your blog. Quite a bit ...Hello Frances. Nice to see your blog. Quite a bit of work to create your willow growing beds. It certainly makes me feel guilty with my till and plant alluvial soils. Just wondering how that 9 inch grid is working out after a couple of years? We are not familiar with some of the varieties you have on your favorite's list. Amazing how many named cultivars there are! I would say that 'Purple Dicks' could be what other growers call 'Dark Dicks'. (I was told that a certain basketmaker in B.C. renamed it when he brought it there.) I imagine you are getting excited about your upcoming trip to the UK.<BR/>By the way I started a blog also at willowbaskets.wordpress.com.<BR/>Kind regards, <BR/>Steve in Mount Vernon, Washington.Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06889247975871643656noreply@blogger.com