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Willow tree branches

Started by Guest_factnfiction101_* , Dec 22 2011 08:14 PM

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14 replies to this topic

#1 Guest_factnfiction101_*

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Posted 22 December 2011 - 08:14 PM

Can willow tree branches be used for a short time in a small pond to soak up/absorb nitrates?

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#2 Guest_Yeahson421_*

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Posted 22 December 2011 - 08:25 PM

I've heard of Willow's regrowing from only a branch, but of course that was an old fisherman's tale, so I'm not sure how true it is.

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#3 Guest_gzeiger_*

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Posted 22 December 2011 - 08:46 PM

It's true, but they don't grow very fast. I doubt they'd soak up a whole lot of nitrate, but it wouldn't hurt to try.

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#4 Guest_mywan_*

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Posted 22 December 2011 - 10:23 PM

I've heard of Willow's regrowing from only a branch, but of course that was an old fisherman's tale, so I'm not sure how true it is.

It is no wise tale. They will grow from cuttings just by sticking them in the soil. The branches of willows contains very high levels of plant growth or rooting hormones (Indole-3-acetic acid) called willow water. You can chop up willow branches and soak them in water to make your own rooting hormone for propagating other plants.
http://www.ehow.com/...-help-root.html

Willow also has a chemical called salicin, an anti-inflammatory agent chemically similar to aspirin and used for millenia.

As far as absorbing nitrates I would be really skeptical, but it's not something I know for sure. Unless of course the willow takes root and starts growing. Then they should be excellent.

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#5 Guest_Ken_*

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Posted 22 December 2011 - 10:52 PM

Why not use bog plants like cat tails or the like instead? I believe they would accomplish the reduction of nitrates more effectively.

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#6 Guest_factnfiction101_*

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Posted 22 December 2011 - 11:32 PM

I've been growing some in a milk jug with old water from fish tank changes, and they're doing pretty good. They have started sprouting lots of little white roots. Also a lot of them have turned bright green, the more sunlight they have the better they do. Some of them I have in my son's fish tank isn't doing so well. I think it's because his window position doesn't allow much sun to come in (I think it's facing north or south).

I'm not sure if the amount of nitrate in the water has much to with their growth, I've heard putting them in city water they won't do as well. I'm happy that some of them are doing so well, I would like to grow some of them at my grandma's house. If the deer doesn't get them

I'm not sure how i feel about a willow tree taking root in a pond smaller than 8'x8'. I don't think it would be a good idea

I'm not sure how I'm going to build the pond.

Thanks for the info mywan, I didn't know they could be used as a root hormone. I knew that were used for soaking up heavy metals out of soil and to prevent erosion of hillsides.

Why not use bog plants like cat tails or the like instead? I believe they would accomplish the reduction of nitrates more effectively.

I don't know much about aquatic plants. I've only had luck with java moss in my fish tanks.

Edited by factnfiction101, 22 December 2011 - 11:37 PM.

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#7 Guest_az9_*

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Posted 25 December 2011 - 12:54 PM

Interesting thing about willows... They regrow quite well even if cut off at ground level. I have a a few that I used to fight every year on the banks of my largest pond. I would cut them off and soon they would regrow again. However they now serve a valuable purpose as something for my yellow perch to lay their eggs on. I cut them off every spring and weigh them down in the water. The perch lay their eggs on them and I can remove the eggs for population control (I produce my perch in another pond where I can more easily harvest and feed train them). Every spring I have a new crop of willows to cut off. This makes more sense then rustling up used Christmas trees! This picture actually shows yellow perch eggs draped on dried out asparagus branches from the garden as I wasn't using willows back then, but you get the point.

Posted Image

This is just one of the examples of using nature to your benefit vs. trying to fight it. Another example is I used loathe the Great Blue Herons that would nail a few of my larger broodfish. Since I can keep them out of the water with staked lines they now only feed on moles, mice, snakes, along with frogs which does me a favor.

Edited by az9, 25 December 2011 - 01:00 PM.

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#8 Guest_factnfiction101_*

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Posted 28 December 2011 - 11:18 PM

Thanks for all of the posts

I'm going to try willows in the pond and cattails along one edge. I've always liked cattails :]

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#9 Guest_az9_*

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Posted 03 January 2012 - 06:26 PM

Thanks for all of the posts I'm going to try willows in the pond and cattails along one edge. I've always liked cattails :]

Keep in mind cattails can be difficult to control. They can almost take over a pond.

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#10 Guest_az9_*

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Posted 05 January 2012 - 01:46 AM

Keep in mind cattails can be difficult to control. They can almost take over a pond.

And another downside to cattails is they are a primary food source to muskrats that can do a lot of damage to your pond banks.

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#11 Guest_gzeiger_*

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Posted 05 January 2012 - 11:54 AM

An upside to cattails is that you can eat them, if you're into that sort of thing. Also, redwing blackbirds.

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#12 Guest_factnfiction101_*

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Posted 23 January 2012 - 06:14 PM

thanks again for your thoughts, i'm going to make a small pond about 8ft by 8ft or so. so the cattails won't bother me too much. i love muskrats and my mom likes birds, so it isn't a big deal.

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#13 Guest_mywan_*

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Posted 23 January 2012 - 08:36 PM

thanks again for your thoughts, i'm going to make a small pond about 8ft by 8ft or so. so the cattails won't bother me too much. i love muskrats and my mom likes birds, so it isn't a big deal.

I like that attitude :smile2: