![]() We can rate the wood as poor to fair when employed as firewood.Īs we have seen above, the wood causes more creosote and produces less heat than some common firewood options. Willow wood might not be the best option for use as firewood. When willow wood dies and rots, salicin is released into the soil and absorbed by tree roots. Willow has salicin which has proven to help fight off diseases in other plants like a scab in apples. Fighting Apple Scabįruit growers are among the main beneficiaries of the willow plant. Allowing your livestock to eat willow will therefore allow them to self-medicate. Salicin, an active ingredient found in willow, was then chemically modified to develop aspirin and acetylsalicylic.Īn observation has been made that sick animals or those in pain eat willow thanks to its anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. Its bark was used mainly in the Middle East to reduce fever, pain, and inflammation. The use of willow for medicinal purposes dates back to over 4,000 years ago. ![]() ![]() Smallholders can employ willow wood for several purposes, as we have highlighted below: Medicinal Applications However, don’t allow the willow to stand in water for long periods to prevent roots from getting killed. Using it will help limit flood risks since the roots slow water runoff and stabilize the soil. Willow is known for coping with temporary flooding and waterlogged soils. You need to guard the plant against pests and rabbits. You should plant it through a ground cover material to have zero competition from weeds and for it to retain moisture. The perfect cutting should be about 300 mm long and 10mm thick and needs to be pushed halfway into the soil. The wood is established from cuttings that you can insert into the ground during spring and winter. However, the wood causes more creosote and produces less heat making it less effective for the fireplace.ĭespite such challenges, is wood good for anything? Here, we help you understand everything about willow wood and how it can help you. You can employ it as a hedging plant, for hurdle-making, worming, medicinal purposes, and biomass. It’s known for being a very useful plant option on a smallholding. This includes creating cricket bats and shelterbelts, reducing the bloats in ruminants, and developing agroforestry schemes. Avoid planting anything where the tree was for a few years, and regularly check surrounding plants for signs of crown gall growth.Willow wood is among the most popular wood options available for different uses. When the soil has been exposed to crown gall, it is extremely hard to remove. If you see crown gall on your weeping willow, remove and dispose of the tree immediately. Willow trees are particularly vulnerable to this disease, as well as various fruit trees and roses. ![]() Crown gall is an infection that affects trees, and appears in tumor-like masses along the wood (via The Spruce). The weeping willow tree's biggest threat is crown gall. Other diseases like powdery mildew and rust should not be a major cause for concern with healthy trees, and can usually be managed by pruning affected areas. This can be treated by pruning the infected leaves and branches. Willow scab is a fungus that manifests as green spores on the bottom of leaves, and can combine with other fungi to turn into willow blight. Common weeping willow tree infections can include root rot, cankers, fungi, willow scab, and willow blight. ![]()
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