--Characteristics--
The Common Osier, or Willow is a vigorous, fast-growing native shrub, often found in wet or damp situations in the countryside. The young stems are yellow in spring, and the yellow-green catkins attract a variety of insects. The Common Osier is best known as a source of stems for basket-making, but in recent years it has become familiar as the plant used to make living willow sculptures. Environmentally, it is useful for its ability to absorb heavy metals, and is planted to clean up contaminated sites.
Site and soil
Wet and boggy soils, chalk and coastal areas. Will do well on exposed and contaminated sites.
Height and spread
Below are the approximate stages of growth, assuming sited in suitable conditions for this species;
After 10 years: 5m x 5m
After 20 years: 5m x 5m
Leaf and bark
The leaves are glossy, linear and dark green up to 15cm long, silvery-hairy beneath. The bark is smooth and yellow-green on younger shoots.
Flower, seed and fruit
The flowers are greenish catkins, appearing in late winter/early spring before the leaves. The Common Osier is dioecious - male and female flowers are borne on different plants. The males have yellow anthers, and the green female flowers become more spiky before releasing their tiny seeds in June. When bought in quantity there is a good chance both sexes will be represented.
Uses
Screening, windbreak, damp woodlands, waterside planting, coppicing, contaminated sites. The Common Osier has the ability to absorb some heavy metals like cadmium, and is often planted to reclaim industrial sites. It is also planted to make small scale water treatment systems; waste water is passed through willow beds, which clean it for re-use. With a growth rate of about 1m per year, the Common Osier is now planted commercially for bio-fuel, although formerly its most familiar use was for basket-making and fencing. Salicylic acid, the active ingredient of aspirin, was originally extracted from the bark.
Wildlife
Important for reclaiming contaminated sites. The catkins provide early pollen and nectar for bees, and a range of butterflies and moths, including the Lackey Moth and the Herald Moth depend on the Common Osier.
--Plant Protection--
--Planting & Care--
Planting
Can be used as part of a mixed species hedge.
We recommend 5 plants per metre.
Aftercare
For coppicing, the stems are cut down to ground level in winter. For bio-fuels, the cycle is every 3-4 years, for basket making, every 1-2 years.
The main reasons for buying protection is to protect the plants against:
- Pests
- Spraying
- Strimming
Pests
When it comes to deciding what protection to choose the golden rule is to choose the product dependent on which pest you are protecting against. The below will help you in deciding what height of protection you will need.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Vole, Mice 20cm |
Rabbit 60cm |
Hare 75cm |
Roe Deer, Muntjac 1.20m |
Fallow Deer 1.50m |
| Pest & Minimum Protection Height | Protection Type Where more than one size is listed, the wider diameter protection is recommended for taller, bushier plants. |
Support Required Taller support is recommended for use in sandier, lighter soils and wider/stronger support should be used at exposed sites. |
Vole, Mice 20cm |
Vole Guard 20cm |
None required |
| Pest & Minimum Protection Height | Protection Type Where more than one size is listed, the wider diameter protection is recommended for taller, bushier plants. |
Support Required Taller support is recommended for use in sandier, lighter soils and wider/stronger support should be used at exposed sites. |
| Sorted by price; lowest to highest | ||
Rabbit 60cm |
Spiral Guard 60cm x 38mm, 60cm x 50mm |
Bamboo Cane 90cm x 9-11lbs, 12-14lbs or 14-16lbs |
| Tubex Easywrap 60cm x 50-65mm |
Bamboo Cane 90cm x 9-11lbs, 12-14lbs or 14-16lbs |
|
| Mesh Guard with Spray Shield 60cm x 130mm |
2 x Bamboo Canes 90cm x 9-11lbs, 12-14lbs or 14-16lbs |
|
| Tubex Fruitwrap 60cm x 65-80mm |
Bamboo Cane 90cm x 9-11lbs, 12-14lbs or 14-16lbs |
|
| Tubex Ecostart 60cm x 57-73cm |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 75cm x 25mm, 75cm x 32mm |
|
| Tubex Tree Shelter 60cm x 73-105mm |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 75cm x 25mm, 75cm x 32mm |
|
| Tubex Shelterguard Mesh Tube 60cm x 80-110mm |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 75cm x 25mm, 75cm x 32mm |
|
| Tubex Treeguard Mesh Tube 60cm x 80-110mm |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 75cm x 25mm, 75cm x 32mm |
|
| Tubex Shrub Shelter 60cm x 130-160mm, 60cm x 144-200mm |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 75cm x 25mm, 75cm x 32mm |
|
| Tubex Shrub Shelterguard Mesh Tube 60cm x 130-160mm, 60cm x 170-200mm |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 75cm x 25mm, 75cm x 32mm |
|
| Tubex Treeguard Mesh Tube for Shrubs 60cm x 130-160mm, 60cm x 170-200mm |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 75cm x 25mm, 75cm x 32mm |
|
| Pest & Minimum Protection Height | Protection Type Where more than one size is listed, the wider diameter protection is recommended for taller, bushier plants. |
Support Required Taller support is recommended for use in sandier, lighter soils and wider/stronger support should be used at exposed sites. |
| Sorted by price; lowest to highest | ||
Hare 75cm |
Tubex Easywrap 75cm x 50-65mm |
Bamboo Cane 90cm x 9-11lbs, 12-14lbs, 14-16lbs or 1.20m x 20-22lbs |
| Spiral Guard 75cm x 50mm |
Bamboo Cane 90cm x 9-11lbs, 12-14lbs, 14-16lbs or 1.20m x 20-22lbs |
|
| Tubex Fruitwrap 75cm x 65-80mm |
Bamboo Cane 90cm x 9-11lbs, 12-14lbs, 14-16lbs or 1.20m x 20-22lbs |
|
| Tubex Ecostart 75cm x 57-73mm |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 90cm x 25mm, 90cm x 32mm |
|
| Tubex Tree Shelter 75cm x 73-105mm |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 90cm x 25mm, 90cm x 32mm |
|
| Tubex Combitube 75cm x 73-105mm |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 90cm x 25mm, 90cm x 32mm |
|
| Tubex Shelterguard Mesh Tube 90cm x 80-110mm |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 90cm x 25mm, 90cm x 32mm |
|
| Tubex Treeguard Mesh Tube 75cm x 80-110mm, 90cm x 80-110mm |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 90cm x 25mm, 90cm x 32mm |
|
| Tubex Shrub Shelter 75cm x 130-160mm, 75cm x 144-200mm |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 90cm x 25mm, 90cm x 32mm |
|
| Pest & Minimum Protection Height | Protection Type Where more than one size is listed, the wider diameter protection is recommended for taller, bushier plants. |
Support Required Taller support is recommended for use in sandier, lighter soils and wider/stronger support should be used at exposed sites. |
| Sorted by price; lowest to highest | ||
Roe Deer/Muntjac 1.20m |
Tubex Tree Shelter* 1.20m x 73-105mm, 1.20m x 80-120mm *Not recommended for this species |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 1.20m x 32mm, 1.35m x 32mm |
| Tubex Combitube* 1.20m x 73-105mm *Not recommended for this species |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 1.20m x 32mm, 1.35m x 32mm |
|
| Tubex Shelterguard Mesh Tube* 1.20m x 80-110mm *Not recommended for this species |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 1.20m x 32mm, 1.35m x 32mm |
|
| Tubex Treeguard Mesh Tube* 1.20m x 80-110mm *Not recommended for this species |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 1.20m x 32mm, 1.35m x 32mm |
|
| Galvanised Mesh Tree Guard* 1.20m x 300mm *Not recommended for this species |
Machine Rounded Tree Stake 1.20m x 50mm, 1.50m x 50mm |
|
| Pest & Minimum Protection Height | Protection Type Where more than one size is listed, the wider diameter protection is recommended for taller, bushier plants. |
Support Required Taller support is recommended for use in sandier, lighter soils and wider/stronger support should be used at exposed sites. |
| Sorted by price; lowest to highest | ||
| Fallow Deer 1.50m |
Tubex Tree Shelter* 1.50m x 80-120mm, 1.80m x 80-120mm *Not recommended for this species |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 1.50m x 32mm, 1.80m x 32mm |
| Tubex Combitube* 1.50m x 80-120mm, 1.80m x 80-120mm *Not recommended for this species |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 1.50m x 32mm, 1.80m x 32mm |
|
| Tubex Shelterguard Mesh Tube* 1.50m x 80-110mm, 1.80m x 80-110mm *Not recommended for this species |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 1.50m x 32mm, 1.80m x 32mm |
|
| Tubex Treeguard Mesh Tube* 1.50m x 80-110mm, 1.80m x 80-110mm *Not recommended for this species |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 1.50m x 32mm, 1.80m x 32mm |
|
| Galvanised Mesh Tree Guard* 1.80m x 300mm, 1.80m x 600mm *Not recommended for this species |
Machine Rounded Tree Stake 1.80m x 60mm |
|
Spraying
Tubex tree shelters offer the benefit of not only protecting against animal damage, they also ensure that herbicides do not come into contact with the plants during spraying.
The main reason for spraying is weed control, however, there are other options available to suppress weeds, such as weed control matting.
Strimming
Young plants should be protected from damage caused when strimming. To protect plants solely for strimming, our strimmer guards are the ideal product.
