In field plantings, the willows were planted as eight to ten-inch rooted and unrooted cuttings. During five years of evaluations, we found no significant difference in percent survival or establishment between rooted or unrooted cuttings. The willow whips in all cases had a significantly higher survival and growth rate. The reason for the lowered survival and growth rate in the shorter cuttings appeared to be primarily due to severe competition for water with established herbaceous plants. The whips can be planted to a greater depth in the soil, preferably to the water table or in contact with moist soil.
Whips have one to two feet of stem above ground on which to develop leaves.
This allows them to grow at a faster rate and compete more effectively with herbaceous vegetation than the shorter cuttings. The primary intent of this planting was to keep the developing roots in contact with soil moisture througout the first growing season and thereby greatly improve survival despite severe herbaceous competition. The site consists of embankments created by the construction of the pumping plant forebay. The site had been seeded to orchardgrass, tall fescue, and perennial ryegrass. Reed canarygrass has invaded the site along with Himalayan blackberry.