Weaving live arbors from willow

Another type and direction of using willow for living compositions is the weaving of living arbors. It is difficult to compare it with a real gazebo with a roof, because woven from sprouted shoots will not save you from the rain. It will only shelter from the scorching sun, and then not immediately - not in the year of planting. Like any living tree, she needs to grow a crown. The very base of the willow arbor can be weaved in one day. But first things first.

In the beginning, you need to stick shoots into the ground and weave such living columns. They look like woven willow trees. There was an article about them here.

The only difference is that weaving takes place around the reinforcement frame (four welded reinforcement rods). This will give the greatest rigidity to the structure in the early years. The frames of the columns should be connected with each other by arches - also made of reinforcement. Later, grown branches will be intertwined along them to obtain a dome. You can weave both square and round column bases.

Bars of the same maximum length and thickness are harvested. For 1 column you need 16 bases of 3 pcs. (48 rods). As always, we revive, slightly germinate the roots for 4-5 days in water.

How to weave such columns for a gazebo - video here: https://youtu.be/PDUWg0B36o4 You can also order cuttings there or ask about the willow varieties used. They write that the American giant willow (Salix Americana L) variety is ideal for these purposes. It grows very quickly. If someone wants to do it for sale - the price is at the link: http://paviva.ru/price.php

In the first year, you need to let the columns take root and start up the crown. All the buds and leaves from the columns themselves break off. Next year, in the spring, the branches need to be woven into the reinforcing frame of the dome, tied with ropes.

We continue to braid the grown branches in the spring for 2-3 years in a row. Only after reaching the required density of the dome - you can begin to cut the living structure.

You don't have to bother with weaving, but just plant lively long willow shoots and weave them into a dome (tie with ropes). Then, also for 2-3 years, weave and tie the grown branches.

Another option is to plant the shoots so that a solid dome is formed. And tie the branches themselves at the top together and add diagonal shoots for the stability of the structure (tie with vertical rods). If the gazebo turns out to be low, it's not scary. She tends to grow in height.

By the same principle, benches are closed from the scorching rays of the sun. Sitting in the cool shade of such a living half-tent is much more comfortable. Weaving a half-tent is similar to weaving a hedge - only the opposite branches bent into an arc are tied. I think that in 7-8 years it will even be possible to hang a swing swing in such a tent.

Another type of weaving from live willow shoots is entrance arches. For example, to the garden part of the site, access to the forest from the site, etc. It can be a complement to a hedge. About her weaving, the article was here.

In the first year, planted shoots should be watered frequently and regularly. Willow loves water. And you need to take care of such a living structure every year. Set up a ladder and cut off grown branches with a brush cutter. But this is only an hour of business or even less. A living gazebo is not on the basis of that principle: built and forgotten. Keep this in mind.

In the west, willow has long been used to create compositions in landscape design. Some of the parks have turned into such thickets:

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