Pond Boss Forums POND CONSTRUCTION Creating habitat Willows

Anyone have experience planting or transplanting Willows. I have dramatic lake level fluctuations and would like to add some that will become natural brushpiles once it fills again. Is spring time planting an issue. Can they tolerate being dug up and moved? Any tricks? Should I plant below, at, or above the water level? Thanks.

Most likely your dramatic water level fluctuations will slow down with willows. They drink a lot of water. Also, you have to make sure they never get anywhere in the vicinity of the dam. If you drive around and look at dry, silted up stock tanks they will usually be over run with willows. I'd think twice about planting them on purpose. Then I'd think about it some more.

Cormac,
Dave said it right on Willows.
For all that work you could just as easily dump in a bunch of cinder blocks, old tiles or other structure that won't grow out of control.

my pond has a dam around 2 sides and i planted willows on the 2 sides that did not have a dam.a willow is one of the few tree's you can cut branches off another tree and stick them in the ground and they will grow.i cut about 10 branches last year and about 7 of them took and grew well.it takes several months but they will pop up from the ground were you planted the branches.to answer your question i did this twice once in early march and once in about mid may.

Thanks for responding guys, I left out an important piece of info (I now realize), The body of water is a 10,000 plus acre lake in the Ft. Worth area. Would you mind, re-answering the question?

Willows are HUGE users of water. I believe you are subject to big fluctuations in precipitation, in dry years willows WILL cause you big problems. I think there are better choices for you but will defer to the more knowlegable plant folks out there.
Jim

Is this a private lake or your part of a public one or what?

Cormac,
Willows are resilient, fast growing trees which slough their young limbs often.
They use lots of water, but are easy to transplant and move. As a matter of fact, some commercial root stimulants you buy at the garden store are the same as hormones naturally in willows.
Plant at water level, just be sure their feet always stay wet, or the tree will die.

Bob, how long do I have to keep them wet. lake level drops about 8 inches per month. Can I plant them in 6" of water and hopefully get2 months of plenty of water. After that the roots will have to find water on thier own. Maybe by then they will be well on their way. What do you think?

As long as you have sandy soil, and roots can continually seek water, you stand a good chance. Look around the lake in coves, see if you find willows anywhere else. If so, are they dead, or alive? Use real world situations around the lake, and try to duplicate what is naturally working.
Willow roots will grow up, down, sideways, seeking water. As a matter of fact, I have too many willows with extensive root systems above the soil, from growth in high water situations.
It's a cheap experiment. For your lake, I would do it.
For everyone else, especially in private waters, avoid willows at all cost.

Thanks Bob and all others that responded!