Why Buy Our Volume Trees?
- Our volume trees are plug plants which can be planted all year round. No rush to plant as roots are not exposed.
- Grown in Scotland which makes the plants much hardier (used to bad weather)
- Very easy to plant, little cultivation required and very high success rate.
- Our trees are covered by a FREE TREE WARRANTY. (first 15% not covered)
- Plants do not "check" when planted so rapid early growth.
- Root plug contains both naturally occurring mycorrhizae and fertilzer.
- Growing containers eliminate root spiralling.
- FREE DELIVERY (UK Mainland only)
Large Order Discount
Orders over £1000 may have further discounts added by contacting us or calling 0800 043 1057
Selling Points of Salix Aurita (Eared willow)
Grows to around 3 metres (10ft) with a 20 cm stem, is readily coppiced many times and is a good food source for insects. The flowers smell of white jasmine.
General Description of Salix Aurita (Eared willow)
Considered closer to a shrub than a tree Salix Aurita (Eared willow) is rounded in appearance and multiple stems that start very low down. Smooth grey bark but as they approach old age they do the same as your granny did and develop lines, cracks and splits.
The twigs are reddish brown and scales that cover the buds are yellowy brown, yellow with a touch of brown or summer sun with a hint of light coco and a splash of mother earth depending on how in touch with your feminine/gay side you are.
Salix Aurita (Eared willow) is native to Europe and spread widely over the continent although is absent/not found/is hiding in Italy and Greece (maybe they don't like the food or people?) It prefers moist conditions and slightly acidic soil but will be fine in exposed and hostile sites (Nudist camp in Beirut maybe?). Unlikely to perform well in chalky soil and has been found as high as 780 metres in the UK.
Eared willow is deciduous, which is not the political party it votes for or comes from the land of Decid but drops its leaves for winter with new ones appearing in April and early May which will be grey/green, some green and some grey or lush spring pasture with an unknown amount of off white or pale black. They will be 4-6 cm in length and turn yellow in Autumn.
Salix Aurita (Eared willow) is definitely not like some transvestites you see, as they are either one sex or another. This means you need a male and female tree if you want to produce seed and bees and other insects, instead of the wind, mostly carry out pollination.
The female willow flowers appear just before the leaves open in Spring and are more upright. If pollinated, they will produce seeds that ripen around May or June time. The wind will disseminate them a long distance as they are relatively light or if you want an alternative option to growing your own Salix Aurita, you can take cuttings and plant them directly into the ground.
Eared Willow can be a bit like James T Kirk in that it will go where no other plants have gone before and grow in open ground. It has an extensive root system and so will be greedy with local resources. Identification of this Willow can be a little problematic as it readily hybridises with other willows or in very simple terms it can be the slut of the tree world and have kids that look little or nothing like their parents (Did Dianna readily hybridise with James Hewit?)
Willows in general provide their equivalent of our Welfare State providing without question a free meal in particular caterpillars of several moths. The European Beaver (Castor Fiber) also likes it as a food source but unless you are going to re-introduce it to Britain before planting (it is currently extinct as of the time of writing) then you might be buying it for the wrong reasons!
Delivery
Due to courier unpredictability, we advise having your trees delivered AT LEAST 3 days before you actually need them.
Returning Cell Grown Trees
For Phytosanitary reasons, cell grown trees cannot be returned to the nursery.
Delaying Planting Cell Grown Trees
If you cannot plant straight away, take the trees out of the packaging and stand upright next to each other in a sheltered location outside. November to March, no need to water unless they start to dry out and these would be ok for up to 6 weeks. During Spring and Summer, you can do this for up to 3 weeks.
Site Conditions And Evergreen Tree List
Our tree chart details which site conditions suit which trees and also which are evergreen or semi-evergreen.
Feeding Or Fertilizing Hedges
This is a task that can easily be over done. Any nitrogen based fertilizer will do such as 20:20:10 but the longer lasting ones which take 18/24 months are better as they are regulated by the weather and moisture therefore release slowly.
Woodburning Chart
If you are one of those lucky people that lead an eco lifestyle (VERY jealous if you are) and want to buy trees to burn, then maybe our wood burning chart (excel spread sheet) will help you decide. Ash, Eucalyptus Gunnii and Willow are worth looking at for their growth rates and calorific values.
Planting Tool
If you are looking to plant lots of plug plant or cell grown trees (the 10-40cm-ish) size range then maybe you should consider our tree planting tool. Tree planting rates of over 700 per day achievable.
Adding A Bit Of Colour And Attract Wildlife
Honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymenum) is very attractive, fragrant and attracts more wildlife to your garden. A bit on the vigorous side but worth the effort. A great addition to your project.
Tree Spacing
Broadleaf wood planting would be around 3m between each tree. Christmas tree planting for a commercial crop is around 1m.
Factors Detrimental To Cell Grown Trees
Too much/little water, animal Urine, excessive wind exposure (will slow growth), salt spray, frost on new growth, herbicide drift and over application of fertilizer.
UK Grown Volume Trees
All our volume trees are UK grown and as far as we know because we have never caught one booking a holiday overseas.
Growing Willow For Bio Fuel
If you are in the enviable position of having enough land, then click the link grow your own Bio Fuel.
Canker On Willow Trees
Canker can show itself in the form of black leaves and bark, almost looking like they have been burnt. This is something transmitted by the weather, birds and animals etc and affects thin barked trees in particular. It can get it through wounds to the tree and there is no effective treatment other than cutting the diseased part out and allowing the tree to grow again.
Keeping the tree healthy in the first few years will help the tree fight off infection so fertilise and control weed infestation.
Water Logged Conditions And Willow Trees
So long as you do not have permanent standing water e.g. your local diving and sailing club meets on your lawn then Willow, Alder, Birch and Poplar will be ok to plant and maybe even help lower the level.
Willow Tree Sexing
We are unable to provide the sex of the Willow Trees. We have tried watching to see which toilet they go into but as tree bladders go, these are pretty resilient. Our "watcher" needed to go before they did and gave up.
