Willow, willow, willow, vine, willow, willow (English - willow; Lat. - Salix) - a plant from the Willow family (Latin: Salicaceae) - a genus of deciduous trees and shrubs. The generic name comes from the Celtic sal, close and lis, "water", indicating the predominant habitat. The genus Salix is one of the oldest pre-glacial plants. Its distribution range extends from the Arctic tundra through temperate zone up to the tropics and from the coast to the alpine and subalpine mountain belts. Willows reveal something unique for woody plants variety of species. Among them there are both large trees up to 40 m high and shrubs of various sizes. Many species of willows are pioneers who are the first to populate abandoned lands.
Classification:
One of the most famous and widespread species of tree willows is white or silver willow (Salix alba) , which in Russia is most often called differently - willow.
White willow grows throughout Europe, in our country it extends beyond the Urals, to the south of Western Siberia. In the European part, it is distributed to the borders of the forest zone in the north and forest-steppe zone in the south. Often found in the floodplains of the Volga, Kuban, Don, Dnieper, Urals, Ob and others large rivers, forming willow forests there.
This large tree 20-30 m high, with a powerful trunk, which reaches a diameter of 1.5 m and is covered with fissured, gray bark. The young branches are very impressive - thin, drooping, silvery-pubescent at the ends. Older shoots are bare, shiny, yellowish or reddish-brown in color. The leaves are alternate, lanceolate, up to 15 cm long, silky-whitish in youth, later dark green above, bare, silvery below, silky-pubescent, which makes the tree very beautiful at the slightest breath of wind. Flower catkins develop simultaneously with leaves. It grows quickly, is photophilous, frost-resistant, has little soil requirements, and tolerates urban conditions well. Propagated by seeds and vegetatively. This plant reproduces well from both summer and lignified cuttings. The rooting percentage is close to 100. There are cases when even stakes dug into the ground take root. Lives up to 100 years. It is an integral element in the compositions of large parks and forest parks located on the banks of large bodies of water. A valuable tree for quick landscaping of new buildings and industrial facilities. Used in groups and for road lining.
Goat willow(Salix caprea) - bredina, or broom. This is the most widely used species in landscaping, growing wild in Europe, the forest zone of Russia, in Central Asia. A small tree 12-15 m high and a trunk diameter of up to 75 cm, with a rounded, densely leafy crown, or less often a tall shrub.
Willow brittle(Salix fragilis), or broom, grows almost throughout Europe, reaching the Volga in the east. A medium-sized tree (15-20 m) with a tent-shaped crown and brittle branches, for which it received its specific name.
Holly willow(Salix acutifolia), or red shell, red willow, willow, is found throughout the European part of Russia - from the forest-tundra in the north to the Ciscaucasia in the south and almost to the Aral Sea in the east. It is a shrub or tree up to 8 m high with an oval crown of medium density and purple-red, twig-like, flexible shoots, covered with an easily erasable bluish coating.
Willow five-stamen(Salixpentandra) is found throughout European Russia and Western Siberia. It is a tree up to 12 m high or a shrub with a rounded, dense crown.
Of the introduced species, the best known willow babylon(Salix babylonica) is native to China. This tree is 10 -12 m high and has a trunk diameter of up to 60 cm. The crown is wide, weeping in shape. It is cultivated in the south of the European part. It is weakly resistant to frost, so its hybrids with white willow are bred further north, almost as decorative as the original species.
Willow forests
Willow forests, or willow forests, are plantings formed tree willows. Shrub willows form thickets (willows or willows). Willow forests of white willow (wildweed) are common in Europe, Asia Minor and Central Asia, in the northwestern part of Africa, and of willow tristamen - in Eurasia and North America, from goat willow - in East Asia.
In Russia, willow forests are found in the forest and forest-steppe zones of the European part, in the North Caucasus, in the south of Western Siberia and in Far East. Willow area forest fund Russia is over 800 thousand hectares with a timber reserve of about 10 million m3. The area of tugai forests of Djungarian and southern willow trees is about 60 thousand hectares in the Volgograd and Astrakhan regions. Willow forests of white willow are mainly concentrated in the floodplains of large rivers (Volga, Don, Kuban, Ural, Ob, etc.). In Siberia and the Far East, the forest-forming species are white willow, dewy willow, three- and five-stamened willow, as well as Schwering willow.
Willow wood:
Willow is a diffusely vascular core species with wide white sapwood, vaguely demarcated from the brownish-pink core. The annual layers and medullary rays are poorly visible, the vessels are small. As for its texture, willow wood has a straight-grained structure, mainly with straight annual layers in a radial section. Overall the texture is inexpressive.
The macrostructure indicators of willow are close to those of poplar, i.e. its wood has a high uniform density (there is no sharp difference between the structure of the early and late wood of the annual layers). As with many scattered vascular rocks, the anatomical irregularities on the surface of longitudinal sections amount to 30 -100 microns. The number of annual layers per 1 cm of white willow growing in central regions The European part of Russia averages 3.6.
In terms of its properties, willow wood is close to linden and poplar. It belongs to the medium-drying breeds. The ability to hold fasteners (nails and screws) is approximately the same as that of aspen and linden.
Willow wood is well impregnated with protective compounds. During the drying process, willow lumber is prone to warping. The stability of the dimensions and shape of willow products is satisfactory.
Due to its high uniform density, straightness and uniform distribution of properties throughout the volume of the barrel, it is well processed by all types of cutting tools. Like poplar wood, it has a tendency to develop moss and hairiness. It glues well, sands and paints.
Areas of application of willow wood:
The most famous use of willow wood is the production of wickerwork, baskets, furniture, etc. The production of such products, which had declined significantly by the middle of the 20th century, Lately is experiencing a resurgence due to growing consumer interest in environmentally friendly products.
Willow bark contains about 16% tannins, so it is widely used to obtain tannins needed in the leather industry.
Light and soft willow wood is not widely used in woodworking, but the growing demand for raw materials for the board and pulp and paper industries makes plantation growing of willow promising. The ongoing projects for growing willow to solve the problems of bioenergy development have already been mentioned.
Willow wood is used in the production of matches. In everyday life it is used for the manufacture of various household products along with linden and poplar, and in the southern low-forest regions of Russia - in the construction of individual housing.
With the development of the technology of glued products from wood of “unpromising” species, it is possible that the demand for willow wood will increase, as evidenced by the developing production of furniture panels made of poplar, which is similar in properties to willow. Subsequently, this shield is lined with valuable wood veneer or synthetic materials.
Willow plantations are of great importance for protecting the banks of rivers and reservoirs, and highways from erosion and landslides. Many decorative forms have been developed that are widely used for urban landscaping.
Willow is included in the British Herbal Pharmacopoeia. The bark, leaves and shoots of willow in our country are used so far only in folk medicine as an anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, analgesic for colds and joint diseases, and is also used in homeopathy.
Preparation of willow twigs
For longer use (for 40 - 50 years) of willow trees to obtain twigs for wicker products, it is necessary to establish their correct cutting, which maintains the productivity of the stumps. For this purpose, in the first 5 years, the rods for weaving are cut annually, then they are allowed to grow for 2-3 years to obtain hoops, then the rods are cut annually again for 2-3 years, etc., alternating correctly; or with each annual cutting of twigs, 1-2 twigs are left on each stump for 2-3 years, to restore the hoops.
The method of cutting and the tools used are no less important: you should not cut off all the branches of the stump at once, with one stroke, and therefore an ax and a mower are less suitable than a knife, sickle or scissors; the cut should be smooth and made closer to the stump, with the butt (remnant of the rod) no more than 2 cm. One-year-old rods prepared for weaving are tied into bundles or bundles (0.60 - 1.0 m in circumference; a worker prepares 15 - 20 per day fagots); three-year-old rods for hoops are cleared of branches (a worker prepares 1000-2000 of them per day) and are sold in hundreds and thousands.
The rods for weaving are sorted: shorter than 60 cm, very branched and with damaged bark, constitute “green goods”, the rest, the best, white - cleared of bark in various ways. The highest grade of white goods is obtained from S. purpurea with S. Lambertiana and S. Uralensis, S. viminalis, S. amygdalina, S. Hyppophaefolia and S. purpu raea + S. viminalis, as well as from S. acuminata, S. longifolia, S. stipularis, S. daphnoides, S. viridis and S. undulata; hoops are prepared mainly from S. viminalis, S. Smithiana and S. acutifolia; The vines are tied (in France) with twigs of S. alba var. vitellina, while larger materials - arc forest - are supplied by S. alba and its crosses: S. excelsior, S. Russeliana, S. viridis and S. palustris.
Our family loves sweet peppers, so we plant them every year. Most of the varieties that I grow have been tested by me for more than one season; I cultivate them constantly. I also try to try something new every year. Pepper is a heat-loving plant and quite whimsical. Varietal and hybrid varieties of tasty and productive sweet peppers, which grow well for me, will be discussed further. I live in middle lane Russia.
Home floriculture is not only a fascinating process, but also a very troublesome hobby. And, as a rule, the more experience a grower has, the healthier his plants look. What should those who have no experience but want to have a home do? houseplants- not elongated, stunted specimens, but beautiful and healthy ones, not causing a feeling of guilt with their fading? For beginners and flower growers who do not have much experience, I will tell you about the main mistakes that are easy to avoid.
Lush cheesecakes in a frying pan with banana-apple confiture - another recipe for everyone’s favorite dish. To prevent cheesecakes from falling off after cooking, remember a few simple rules. Firstly, only fresh and dry cottage cheese, secondly, no baking powder or soda, thirdly, the thickness of the dough - you can sculpt from it, it is not tight, but pliable. A good dough with a small amount of flour can only be obtained from good cottage cheese, and here again see the “firstly” point.
It is no secret that many drugs from pharmacies have migrated to summer cottages. Their use, at first glance, seems so exotic that some summer residents are perceived with hostility. At the same time, potassium permanganate is a long-known antiseptic that is used in both medicine and veterinary medicine. In plant growing, a solution of potassium permanganate is used both as an antiseptic and as a fertilizer. In this article we will tell you how to properly use potassium permanganate in the garden.
Pork meat salad with mushrooms is a rural dish that can often be found on festive table in the village. This recipe is with champignons, but if you have the opportunity to use wild mushrooms, be sure to cook it this way, it will be even tastier. You don’t need to spend a lot of time preparing this salad - put the meat in a pan for 5 minutes and another 5 minutes for slicing. Everything else happens practically without the participation of the cook - the meat and mushrooms are boiled, cooled, and marinated.
Cucumbers grow well not only in a greenhouse or conservatory, but also in open ground. Typically, cucumbers are sown from mid-April to mid-May. Harvesting in this case is possible from mid-July to the end of summer. Cucumbers cannot tolerate frost. That's why we don't sow them too early. However, there is a way to bring their harvest closer and taste the juicy beauties from your garden at the beginning of summer or even in May. It is only necessary to take into account some of the features of this plant.
Polyscias is an excellent alternative to classic variegated shrubs and woody ones. The elegant round or feathery leaves of this plant create a strikingly festive curly crown, and its elegant silhouettes and rather modest character make it an excellent candidate for the role of large plant in the house. Larger leaves do not prevent it from successfully replacing Benjamin and Co. ficus. Moreover, polyscias offers much more variety.
Pumpkin cinnamon casserole is juicy and incredibly tasty, a little like pumpkin pie, but unlike pie, it is more tender and just melts in your mouth! This perfect recipe sweet pastries for a family with children. As a rule, kids don’t really like pumpkin, but they never mind eating something sweet. Sweet pumpkin casserole is a delicious and healthy dessert, which, moreover, is very simple and quick to prepare. Try it! You'll like it!
A hedge is not only one of the most important elements landscape design. It also performs various protective functions. If, for example, the garden borders a road, or there is a highway nearby, then a hedge is simply necessary. “Green walls” will protect the garden from dust, noise, wind and create a special comfort and microclimate. In this article, we will look at the optimal plants for creating a hedge that can reliably protect the area from dust.
Many crops require picking (and more than one) in the first weeks of development, while for others transplantation is “contraindicated.” To “please” both of them, you can use non-standard containers for seedlings. Another good reason to try them is saving money. In this article we will tell you how to do without the usual boxes, pots, cassettes and tablets. And let’s pay attention to non-traditional, but very effective and interesting containers for seedlings.
Healthy vegetable soup made from red cabbage with celery, red onion and beets - a vegetarian soup recipe that can also be prepared in fast days. For those who decide to lose a few extra pounds, I would advise not to add potatoes, and slightly reduce the amount olive oil(1 tablespoon is enough). The soup turns out to be very aromatic and thick, and during Lent you can serve a portion of the soup with lean bread - then it will be satisfying and healthy.
Surely everyone has already heard about the popular term “hygge”, which came to us from Denmark. This word cannot be translated into other languages of the world. Because it means a lot of things at once: comfort, happiness, harmony, spiritual atmosphere... In this northern country, by the way, most of time of year - cloudy weather and little sun. Summer is also short. And the level of happiness is one of the highest (the country regularly ranks first in the UN global rankings).
Meat balls in sauce with mashed potatoes - a simple second course prepared based on Italian cuisine. The more common name for this dish is meatballs or meatballs, but the Italians (and not only them) call such small round cutlets meat balls. The cutlets are first fried until golden brown, and then stewed in a thick vegetable sauce - it turns out very tasty, simply delicious! Any minced meat is suitable for this recipe - chicken, beef, pork.
In folk art, willow is most often found as a symbol of sadness and at the same time beauty. Tall, beautiful spreading trees are found along roads, on the banks of rivers and reservoirs. The long branches of the willow descend all the way to the ground; moreover, when there is excess moisture in the soil, they are able to release droplets of water, which is why the willow is called weeping. Thanks to the work of breeders, there are currently many hybrid varieties of willows that are widely used in ornamental horticulture.
The willow genus includes almost 600 plant species. Moreover, these can be both trees and shrubs. Most of them grow in the cool part of the northern hemisphere, in Eurasia and North America. The closer to cold regions, the smaller size plants that have mastered the climate. The smallest representatives of the species are found in northern regions, and they are so small that their height does not exceed the height of moss. In most species, the shoots are flexible, thin, the leaves are narrow, long, pointed both on the outer edge and at the petiole. Willow blooms in spring, before the first leaves appear; small flowers are collected in earrings. Some species bloom after the leaves bloom. After flowering ends, a fruit is formed in the form of a capsule with seeds. Small, light seeds are carried by the wind over vast distances. In the open air they remain viable for a short time, but if they get into water they can wait for favorable conditions for several years. The most common and frequently found representative of the genus in the middle zone is the weeping white willow. An adult tree reaches up to 25-30 m in height and lives for about 100 years. The willow trunk is powerful, the bark is gray, and the lower part of the tree is covered with cracks. The crown of white willow is wide, spreading, see-through. The leaves are dark green, smooth, shiny, light on the underside, covered with whitish down. In calm weather the tree is green, but in a light breeze the leaves move, turning with their undersides, and the foliage of the tree appears white. Willow: plantingAll willows are unpretentious plants that are found almost everywhere in nature. IN different regions Different varieties of willows have taken root, so the planting site and type of plant are chosen based on the characteristics of the area. Landing locationLight to medium loamy soils are best suited for planting. Choose a place that is well-lit, sunny or lightly shaded. Willows do not grow in full shade. Even in natural conditions willows are not found in the depths of the forest, although they feel great at the edge of the forest. For planting willow, you can use a site with a close location groundwater. Boarding timeWillow with a closed root system is planted at any time of the year, from early spring to late autumn, provided that the seedling is planted together with a lump of earth from the planting container. The optimal time for planting seedlings with an open root system is early spring, before buds open, or autumn, after the end of sap flow. It should be borne in mind that varieties with low frost resistance will not have time to take root properly when planted in autumn, so when planting in autumn, the ground under the seedlings is mulched with dry leaves of trees and shrubs, and the seedlings themselves are covered with spruce branches. Landing
Willow: careIn order for willows to develop quickly and look attractive, you should know the individual needs of these plants and the features of caring for them. Growing willow requires the most attention during the first time after planting. WateringWeeping willow is a moisture-loving plant, so it needs frequent watering and spraying. Young plants grow very quickly, especially in the first years of life; some varieties are capable of growing up to 3 meters per year. Seedlings are watered once a week, at the rate of 2-5 buckets of water per plant. Watering is done early in the morning or in the evening, after sunset. When watering, water is poured not only under the root, but also onto the crown of the plant. FertilizerAt the beginning of the growing season, the soil under the willow is loosened and mulched with peat. The plant is fed with complex fertilizers. In total, 2-3 such feedings are carried out per season, the last feeding is carried out in July. In the second half of August, superphosphate and potassium sulfate are applied under the willows. Do not leave fallen willow leaves under the tree, as they contain tannins that will adversely affect the development of the plant. TrimmingFor the first 2-3 years, the willow grows uncontrollably and does not need to be pruned. Then the tree or shrub rises and it becomes necessary to shape it. The best time for formative pruning of willow is spring, after flowering has ended. The exception is dry branches frozen over the winter or broken, which are cut off in early spring. Don’t be afraid to cut willow branches; it won’t cause any harm to the plant. Branches of decorative species are pruned by 10-20 cm, then lateral shoots are formed from the remaining upper buds, and the plant acquires an attractive dense crown. Mature trees are pruned annually by cutting off their long branches hanging to the ground at a height of 2 m from the ground. By pruning, one achieves both a spherical or umbrella-shaped appearance of shrubs and trees, and a regular rectangular shape when planting willows as a hedge.
Willow propagationWild willows reproduce by seeds; in cultivation, the plant is most often propagated by cuttings or layering. A plant grown from a cutting retains all the varietal characteristics of the parent species. Reproduction by cuttings
Cuttings can also be germinated at home; to do this, they are placed in a jar of water and wait for the first roots to appear, after which they are planted in the ground. Green cuttings that are cut during the growing season of the plant also root successfully. To do this, remove the apical bud and lower leaves from a cutting 15-20 cm long, and shorten the upper ones. The cutting is stuck into a wet nutrient mixture and greenhouse conditions are provided for it, covered with a jar. If you need a lot of seedlings, form a greenhouse using film. The survival rate of green cuttings is 50-90%, depending on the conditions created for rooting. Reproduction by layering and willow graftingNot all willows are propagated by cuttings; for some, only propagation by layering or grafting onto a standard is suitable.
Willow diseases and pestsEven such an unpretentious plant as willow needs to monitor the health of its leaves and wood. Willow diseasesFungal diseases on willow include powdery mildew, rust, different kinds spots, scab. The appearance and development of fungal diseases is facilitated by high humidity resulting from long-term rainy weather. To combat such diseases, ornamental varieties of willows are treated with fungicides for prevention twice a season - in spring and autumn, as well as during the season when the first signs of the disease are detected. Tall tree varieties are pruned so that their branches do not touch the ground. Fungal spores overwinter in fallen leaves and infect plants again in the spring. Without timely control, fungal colonies grow and the willow may die. Regularly inspect the bark and branches of willows, since when necrotic signs appear, timely measures must be taken to combat the disease and prevent its development and transfer to other plants. Infected branches are removed to healthy wood, and the cut areas are treated. Avoid mechanical damage to tree bark, through which disease vectors usually enter. Preventive treatments against cytospor and diplodin necrosis are carried out in August. If treatment was not carried out in the summer, then it should be carried out in May. One treatment per season is enough. Willow pestsThere are also pests on willow. Caterpillars of the willow silkworm eat the leaves, as a result of which the bush or tree loses its decorative appearance. To combat the pest, clutches found on leaves and bark are removed, hatched larvae and white butterflies are collected by hand and destroyed. Aphids suck out the juices of the plant, young buds and leaves fall off. Aphid eggs overwinter on the bark of a tree, and without pest control, new colonies of aphids appear from them the next year. For prevention, avoid planting plants that the pest loves near willow. Affected plants are treated with insecticides.
Willow: types and varietiesAmong the willows there are tall trees, shrubs and creeping species. They all grow quickly, adapt well to their environment, and can be trimmed and shaped. Let's look at the varietal characteristics of some of them. 1. Iwa Matsudana – tall tree, up to 10-12 m, grows in its natural environment in Korea and China. More often, its decorative form is used for cultivation, which grows in the form of a bush, its branches are curved, the crown is highly decorative, openwork. For planting, a sunny, well-lit place is required. 2. Willow whole leaf- tall spreading shrub. The leaves are oblong, oval, the shoots are red or yellowish. The shape of the bush and its leaves resemble a fern. It blooms with dark red earrings, emitting a pleasant aroma. In nature it grows in damp meadows. Decorative varieties of whole-leaved willow:
3. Willow or willow– a shrub or tree with strong growth force, grows in nature near a body of water, prefers sandy soil. The branches are thin, flexible, young shoots are red, with a waxy coating. The leaves are long, pointed, bluish on the underside. Unpretentious species, easily propagated by cuttings. 4. Brittle willow, or broom, differs from its relatives in the shape of leaf branches. Its shoots are fragile, olive-green, the leaves are elongated, pointed, with a serrated edge, with a blue tint on the underside. Crown natural look round, asymmetrical, openwork. As a decorative species, the spherical shape of the Bullata variety of willow is used, which has a dense, even, rounded shape. 5. Babylonian willow- a tall tree with a luxurious weeping crown. It grows up to 15 m, the crown diameter reaches 9 m. It is successfully used in landscaping parks and reservoirs. The leaves are long, narrow, serrated, blooms after the leaves open. 6. Goat willow- the most common type in landscaping. This is a tree up to 10 m with a dense crown and wide oval leaves. Young leaves become pubescent, over time top part becomes smooth. It blooms with large earrings, decorative forms are propagated by cuttings, and in nature by seeds. Many varieties of decorative forms of this species have been bred. The most interesting of them:
Willow: photoWillow wholeleaf Hakuro Nishiki
Iwa Matsudana
Brittle willow, or broom
Babylonian willow
Weeping goat willow
Varietal varieties of willows are used for landscaping city parks, designing gardens and park areas. The bark and branches of willows are used for medicinal purposes, as well as as material for weaving baskets and furniture. Willows also performed well as plants used as hedges. Unpretentiousness and rapid growth allow you to grow a real hedge in just 2-3 years, which will not only serve as a fence for the site from uninvited guests, but will also decorate it with its unusual attractive appearance. |
Willows are extremely common plants. Some species are so unpretentious that they have filled ravines, others are actively planted in gardens because of their spectacular crown, and others have such a non-trivial appearance that they are the object of desire for many gardeners. It is not surprising that they have so many different popular names: willow, vine, willow, black-talk, krasnotal, tea-talak
Text by ANNA KRASAVTSEVA Photo by YURI SOLOVIEV
The genus Willow (Salix) is abundant and complex in taxonomy - it has more than 300 species of shrubs and tree bushes. In the north, willow raw materials are used as a seasoning, medicines have long been obtained from it, flexible shoots are used for weaving baskets, and flowering plants not only spread a spicy aroma throughout the garden, but are also excellent honey plants, playing an important role in the spring harvest of apiaries. A use has also been found for the modern summer resident - varietal and many species of willows will decorate any garden, from the tiniest to hectares. Willows are good at any time of the year. In early spring These woody primroses are covered with foam from fragrant earrings that smell of honey, hyacinths, and violets.
Later, varietal qualities are revealed that give the plants a cone-shaped, oval, spherical, weeping or other original crown shape and silvery or variegated leaf color.
What types of willows are there?
In October, most ornamental willow trees turn their foliage some shade of yellow. And after the leaves fall, the skeleton graphics are fully revealed. Avant-garde, like veins stretching to the sky, are the spreading shoots of the variety ‘ Fantasy'. The intricate, bizarre curves of the Babylonian willow look mysterious ( S. babylonica) ‘Ural’. Along with them, the dense dome-shaped crowns are emphasized Bullata'
Lovers of geometric shapes will appreciate the purple willow balls lined up in a row Nana', and romantic natures will be closer to the sad lashes that descend to the very ground’ Pendula'.
But the most interesting thing is the color of the shoots. They can be burgundy (and holly), yellow-orange (‘ In memory of Mindovsky’), swamp (‘ Kilmarnock'), bright golden (‘ Vitellina’), scarlet (‘ Chermesina’), finally, completely unique, shimmering tones of a campfire flame in the winter sun (‘ In memory of Bazhov’).
For small flower beds, alpine hills, rocky and non-flooded banks of reservoirs, miniature species of willow, not exceeding 30 cm in height, are suitable.
They are able to cover large spaces, stretching shoots up to 5 m in length and possessing a powerful creeping root system. The most northern and frost-resistant - arctic willow (Salix arctica) with richly pubescent silvery leaves and reddish earrings due to crimson anthers. And the most original - willow reticulum (Salix reticulata) with rounded leaves distinguished by decorative venation. They are leathery dark green above and silky bluish below.
Both plants are unpretentious to the composition of the soil, but love to
moist, well-drained substrates. Creeping species perfectly keep the soil from crumbling and go well with other inhabitants of the hills - bulbous, edelweiss, saxifrage, low-growing sedums and crowberry. Willows of medium height (from 1 to 3 m) are more diverse. Short stature can be restrained by the height of the trunk, onto which several shoots of weeping or bushy willow are grafted. Weeping varieties ‘Pendula’ willow (Salix integra), goat willow (Salixcarnea), and purple willow (Salix purpurea) bowing their manes near streams, fountains, a small pond in the company of irises, daylilies, and hostas. And bush-like “balls on a stick - whole-leaved willow Hakuro-nishiki and Swiss willow (S. helvetica), spear willow (Salix hastata) ‘Wehrhahnii’- add texture to flower beds. These trunks are created for small gardens, where they play the role of a tree, and therefore it is undesirable to plant herbaceous plants nearby that are taller than willows. Dwarf willows require less effort while maintaining their shape. A dense bush about a meter high creates hairy willow (Salix lanata), y rosemary willow (Salix rosmarinifolia) the crown is translucent. A low, silvery, disheveled bush with rounded leaves creeping willow (S. repens) ‘Argentea’ you can diversify the surface of the lawn or complement the colorful flower garden. Surround it with forest sage and scarlet astilbe varieties.
Higher, up to 2 m, purple willow ‘Nana’ with regular trimming it looks like a neat green ball. Hybrid willows grow as squat trees Globular Dwarf and Schwerin Willow (Salix schwerinii). Astilbes, hostas, irises and daylilies, cereals, roses, ground cover are organically combined with low willows. conifers and low spirea. If the site allows you to grow a tree up to 5-6 m, then opt for the hybrid willow ‘ Weeping Gnome' with a spreading crown and shoots falling to the ground.
IN OCTOBER, MOST DECORATIVE WILLOWS HAVE FOLIAGE COLORED IN ONE SHADE OF YELLOW. AFTER LEAF FALL, SKELETON GRAPHICS APPEAR
Rapid growth and huge size amazes white willow (Salix alba). In the old days, this constant companion of villages provided excellent relief from the heat, covering the wide streets with openwork shadow. Therefore, several willows towering in a field or in a forest are, as a rule, a kind of monument to villages that have disappeared into oblivion.
Despite its fragility, this species is durable and quickly recovers, sending out new vertical shoots even on old, fallen trunks. Even white willow stakes stuck into the ground take root well and turn green. Many summer residents took advantage of this property and specially arranged such green fences around their plots. Subsequently, the branches were additionally intertwined and cut. Variety ‘ Sericea' with silvery narrow leaves on both sides at a young age has a dense crown, later becoming looser. It works well as a background for both yellow-leaved and purple, as well as dark green plantings. Picturesque weeping form ‘ Tristis', obtained on the basis of white willow with the participation of and. Babylonian, decorate streets and large areas.
The hybrid willow, reaching 9 m in height, is more winter-hardy In memory of Mindovsky’. The extremely long and flexible shoots swaying in the wind are artistically reflected in the surface of reservoirs, look good against the background of the lawn, and benches and swings are often placed under them.
Despite the fact that there are swamp and alpine species, all willows are quite drought-resistant and feel good in ordinary garden soil, the main thing is to provide them with open sun rays place. Nevertheless, for faster development and lush flowering, it is better to pay attention to the individual preferences of a particular specimen. Unfortunately, not all types are frost-resistant, but planting in places protected from the wind and succession warm winters give plant collectors the opportunity to enjoy capricious southern varieties for a certain period of time. Some southern plants, for example, a popular variety with spirally twisted leaves and twisting shoots ‘ Erythroflexuosa’, can be replaced with more resistant species and varieties with similar and sometimes superior decorative characteristics.
In this case it’s ‘ Sverdlovskaya Izvilistaya 2’. An important aspect in growing willows is pruning. And, although willows quickly heal wounds and recover well, you should not get too carried away with this technique. Typically, sanitary pruning is carried out during the thaw after winter. At this time, all off-grade, frozen and broken shoots are cut out. At the end of March, before the leaves bloom, formative pruning can also be done, but this is usually done after the plant has bloomed. remember, that tall plants give powerful growth, and they cannot be kept in a dwarf form all the time.
So ‘Sverdlovskaya Izvilistaya 2’, reaching 12 m, can be trimmed, but still it is better to immediately select the height in accordance with the landscape possibilities, opting for low-growing forms (from 5 to 2.5 m) of the same ‘Sverdlovskaya Izvilistaya’.
Willow (Salix viminalis), purple willow ‘Mayak 2’ and more graceful ‘Mayak 3’ ideal for weaving and solitaire planting only with annual pruning to the stump. In this case, the shoots will be smooth, long and unbranched, and the bush will look like a fountain. Willows with decorative shoots are also heavily pruned: as they age, they lose their attractive color. Willow ' Bullata' It holds a spherical shape well and is tempting to grow in a row. This produces very spectacular borders, which can be left completely without pruning - or the shoots can be shortened to reduce the height.
WILLOW BLOWING
Willows are dioecious. This means that male flowers bloom on some specimens, and female flowers bloom on others. Most often, the greatest decorative effect is the flowering of males. Early vigorous flowering with thick catkins begins before the leaves bloom or simultaneously with it, which gives the plant a very delicate, spring appearance.
At the moment of appearance, the earrings are silvery and look like hare’s tails; as the long stamens dissolve, they increase in size and become golden (white willow, brittle willow), yellow-purple (rosmarinolium) or crimson (arctic and polar). ). The elegantly flowering willow is used in Orthodoxy for the holiday of Palm Sunday. Female plants have pistils that are green, dirty pinkish, or brownish green and are less decorative.
(With rare exceptions - S. xgrahamii with pistils of a bright scarlet color.) In addition, in June they disperse seeds, which are equipped with very fine white downy hairs for flight. Willow fluff is similar to poplar and can cause allergies. There are also advantages - for example, five-stamen willow (Salix pentandra) late autumn surprises with its pretty snow-white “blooming” appearance. The secret lies in women's earrings left fluffed up for the winter.
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In the wild, willows (Salix) are found almost throughout Russia. They are easily crossed, allowing breeders to obtain numerous varieties and hybrids that are widely used in ornamental horticulture. Currently it is known that great amount different types and varieties of willows, that you can choose plants from creeping forms to twenty-meter trees, with spherical and weeping crowns, green, silver, spotted leaves. There are many options: for any conditions, any size.
Tall trees and large bushes
Schwerin willow (S. schwerinii)- more often a shrub than a tree, in our conditions up to 4 m high with long (up to 13 cm) narrow (no wider than 1.2 cm) leaves. Their upper side is smooth, shiny, green, the lower side is white-silky, with a rolled edge. The plant is valued not only for the beauty and shape of the leaves, but also for the delicacy of the crown and the flexibility of the branches, which creates a weeping effect. Willow Schwerina is a winter-hardy and fast-growing species.
White willow (silver) (S. alba)- a large tree (up to 20 m) with a beautiful tent-shaped crown. The silvery form of this willow is especially beautiful. Its young lanceolate leaves are silky-white, adults are bare above, dark green, silvery below. Thin young hanging shoots with silvery pubescent tops are very impressive. The most unpretentious of decorative willows.
Brittle willow (S. fragilis)- a large plant (up to 6 m) with olive-green branches that easily break in the wind. It is distinguished by its endurance and good winter hardiness. However, species plants are not used in ornamental gardening. Only the garden form became widespread Bullata, having a dense, perfectly soft rounded crown, and an adult plant looks like a huge ball. Interestingly, the shoots of the Bullata willow are not as brittle as those of the species plant. A spherical crown can also form on a trunk, which in this case needs to be regularly removed. The best balls are made from the willow of the brittle Bullata form!
Purple willow (S. purpurea)- a shrubby willow up to 4 m high with long graceful thin reddish-purple shoots covered with narrow bluish-green leaves above and bluish below. This willow is graceful and winter-hardy, although it can freeze slightly in frosty winters.How can such large trees be used on plots? Firstly, there are large gardens and parks where these willows can grow either in single plantings or in tree groups. They are wonderful in the form of a high, powerful hedge on the edge of a plot, if it borders on a field. Young willows are planted at a distance of 2 meters from each other, and after a few years a solid wall appears, covering the area from the winds. Secondly, if you don’t want to have a large tree, you can always find a saw and cut it down at the right time. As a result of this event, it is no longer a tree that grows, but a large bush. Thirdly, if a large bush is too big (in a small area), nothing prevents you from shortening it over and over again using the same saw. At the same time, the spherical shape of the crown of the Bullat willow, for example, is preserved. And how wonderful a large, chic, silvery white willow bush looks!
Low-growing shrubby willows
Shaggy or woolly willow (S. lanata) in our conditions it grows no more than 1 m. Young shoots are yellow-green in color and quite thick. From very large buds, yellowish-olive erect catkins open. The round, gray-green leaves are covered with white felt pubescence and appear almost blue. This willow is especially good in the first half of summer, when it looks like a neat fluffy ball. She does not like waterlogged soil and piercing cold winds. Ordinary garden soil in a place protected from strong winds will suit her perfectly. It should be noted that this willow grows slowly.
U purple willow variety Gracilis (S. purpurea "Gracilis") thin flexible branches with reddish bark extend from a short central stem almost close to the ground. There are a lot of branches, they rush radially in all directions, forming a regular ball with a diameter of about a meter. IN harsh winters it, just like the species purple willow, can freeze a little. The leaves are linear, very narrow, bluish, and sit close to each other on the stems. The earrings are thin, graceful, slightly reddish, but generally unnoticeable.
Willow Matsuda variety Tortuosa (S. mat-sudana Tortuosa) differs in strongly twisted branches. In the south it is a tree, in the middle zone it is a shrub, and in our country it is practically a herbaceous plant. It freezes every year almost to the ground level, but over the summer it grows back, forming a very beautiful openwork crown about one and a half meters high. A low-growing group of Matsuda willow looks very exotic and elegant, and the twisting shoots are good for winter bouquets. Shoots for bouquets can be cut in the fall without waiting for them to freeze in the winter.
Sverdlovsk willows
A unique combination of beauty and resistance to difficult climatic conditions typical for interspecific hybrids willows obtained by breeder Veniamin Ivanovich Shaburov. He began work on hybridization in the 60s of the last century in the Urals, where he managed to obtain hardy and winter-hardy varieties of weeping, spherical willows, with twisted shoots. Later, the work was continued by his daughter, I.V. Belyaeva.
Sverdlovskaya Izvilistaya 2- a tree with a winding trunk and intricately curved branches. The crown is narrow-pyramidal, of medium density. According to descriptions, the height of the trees reaches 10 m, but I have not seen adult specimens. Our tree has grown 3.5 meters in three years. Young greenish-gray shoots appear glossy brown in the sun. The sinuous leaves are light green with a barely noticeable bluish tint. This willow is good at any time of the year and easily tolerates pruning and shearing. She lives with us very windy place, but never froze, although the winter temperature dropped to -38°C in January 2006 and to -32°C in February 2007.
Sverdlovskaya Izvilistaya 1- a tree up to 4 m high, with a spherical, loose crown. Young shoots are red-brown, branches are olive-colored. Lanceolate leaves are light green above, glaucous with reverse side. Shoots, branches and leaves are highly tortuous. It is surprising that the tortuosity of the shoots is also combined with weeping. The tree looks light and airy, winters well, and does not need shaping.
Improved Schwerin- a tree with a narrow pyramidal, openwork crown. The shoots are yellow-brown, very weeping. In addition to the weeping crown, it is valued for its beautiful, long (up to 30 cm) belt-shaped leaves. In summer they are green on the upper side and bluish-silver on the lower side. In autumn, the leaves do not fall for a very long time, maintaining an unusually bright yellow. Young trees need to be tied to a reliable support and the crown formed.
Ideal- according to descriptions, this tree is up to 10 m high. Its crown is broadly oval, openwork. The leaves are green, long, lanceolate. The shoots are olive or brown, the branches are long, drooping, and very weeping. It grows quickly, but young plants in the first years of life require obligatory gartering to a strong support, otherwise they simply creep along the ground due to pronounced weeping. Unfortunately, our Ideal willows are still 3-4 years old, so it is difficult to talk about the size of adult plants, but there is no doubt that they are weeping and wintering.
Weeping Gnome- a low (up to 1.8 m) standard tree with a very weeping, rather loose crown. The leaves are lanceolate, bluish-green with slight pubescence, about 5 cm long. Annual shoots are yellowish-brown, long, hanging to the ground. In the first years of life, young plants require tying to a support to form a straight, stable trunk.Globular Dwarf- a little less than one and a half meters high with a spherical crown on a very low trunk. The leaves are green, lanceolate, about 5 cm long. Annual shoots are thin, very shortened, so the small lanceolate leaves are located very closely to each other. All together this creates the appearance of a dense green ball.
Snowball- a variety of willow with a spherical, openwork crown. Young shoots have an amazing light bluish color. The leaves are very narrow, bluish-green. The stamp is not formed. This willow looks very unusual.
Why are Sverdlovsk willows valued? First of all, for the variety of crowns and sizes. You can find whatever you want: from small balls to weeping trees with twisted shoots. They all winter well. The disadvantage of a number of weeping forms is the need for a garter, but this can be easily tolerated.
Willows are very unpretentious and varied. They easily tolerate high groundwater levels and ordinary garden soil, needing watering only during drought. True, they prefer well-lit places and are responsive to the addition of organic matter. Willows with a closed root system can be planted at any time of the growing season: from April to October, and with an open root system - only at the very beginning of spring, preferably before the buds open. Autumn planting of bare-rooted willows in our climate is very problematic, as it leads to significant losses in the spring.
Nadezhda Martikainen, nursery " "
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