How much do you reckon a Living Willow Structure would cost & could I DIY it?

[KatyMac]

As OFSTED thinks I should have one & I'm broke

They're about £60 IIRC and you could definitely DIY as you get full instructions.

www.thewillowbank.com/kits.htm

shall I try that again, more skilled-like

It'll have to wait

Never mind, it was a nice idea - I wonder what the best time to plant is?

There is definitely a season and I've got a feeling it's quite soon or just gone...

That'll give me a year to save up then

Yeah, checking the website it says you CAN do them up to May, but basically this is the lsat week, I think. I've been after one for ages, but I note that I need weed-free soil. Might just get some mulching bark and some black fabric stuff and start by killing the weeds in the area I want to put it!

My mum did some living willow structures at the infants school she worked at. She just took a pair of secaturs to a willing donors willow and used those withies. Worked great - and zero cost

Totally agree with CMOT, I've just been pruning one for a school near here, chucked out loads of cuttings which you could have used.

Katymac Beware that if you plant one you MUST have it pruned every winter without fail or it will TURN INTO A TREE!!

Specialmagic, the soil doesn't need to be completely weed-free, just remove enough of the perennial weeds to give the willow shoots a fighting chance.

Oh....that's an idea

Thanks

The kids trampling feet will keep the grass short, imo.
Katymac - what are you doing on here at 7.30 am - are you obsessed?

Now this is going to sound daft but if you have an old wicker chair it may well sprout if you leave it our in the garden. We did that (inadvertently) with one and by the time the summer came we had a chair-shaped green sculpture. Willow can come to life again after quite a few years.

Alternatively if you live near any willow growing areas you could try and get hold of some osiers. I'll bet they cost a lot less than a kit.

I start work at 7:30 - so computer is on & ready

I'll see if anyone locally grows willow

Maybe ask on Freecycle

I reckon I'd need 6 or 7 ft bits - wouldn't I?

I am thinking a widemouthed igloo (ish)?

Whereabouts are you katymac?

It really is a bit late now as willows they are a-sprouting. Use it as excuse to delay?

You do need to do the annual pruning though. Our school got 2, left unmaintained with one trampled/whacked and the other one turning into a small willow forest ...

osiers

and

I'm about to prune my willow (keeping it pollarded at about 5' and take 1/2 out each year) so if there's anyone in Yorkshir that wants some, let me know!

My parents have a willow house, about 10 feet across, made by latticing angled verticals. You don't put the verticals in staight up, you slope them 60 degrees, one ring angled clockwise, the other anti-clockwise and weave them in and out of each other. This makes the basic stucture stronger.

Then each winter cut all new growth right back to the original sticks, which will get fatter each year. The structure looks like a gothic window in winter.

You will need a couple of dozen withies, and choose your variety dependant on how fast it grows/colour of bark/type of leaf - ie look at donor tree.

Oh this is so exciting

I am in Norfolk - so a scrap far to collect (mind you my mindees were up in Yorkshire last weekend...shame)

Sorry KM - I'd have cut them earlier had I known

Katymac - try freecycle for a willow structure being pruned near you, or contact a tree surgeon and ask for donated cuttings? Might not be too late - spring is late this year.

Another thought - always make an extra door - then one kid can't "control" the entrance, makes it easier to avoid domineering behaviour.

That is useful to know - I can see the appeal of 2 doors (not in a straight line

How small can I make it? (mainly under 5s)

I have advertised on Freecycle & asked my local gardener

5 feet across or so? Go and see one in a nearby school, there's bound to be one, they're so popular at the mo.

They're easier to grow and control bigger imo, 10 feet or so. Look better too.