Nows the time for Willow cuttings for early Pollen for Bees

[BrianO]

Hi Guys

Worth considering simply cutting some foot long , pencil thickness cuttings. From a Salix Spp Pussy Willow you identified as male, pollen bearing.

Cut just above and below a protruding node, sloped cut to top.

Pot up and when rooted in spring transplant near your Apiary, fantastic late winter / early spring pollen source !

As ultimately a tree , abundant source also...

What better way to boost your hive during this vital early stage when Queen is coming into lay !

 

[BeeJayBee]

I've tried to get S. caprea cuttings to root, haven't yet had any success but even so, this thread might also help anybody else who wants to try. http://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=23077

 

[drex]

Push your spade in about 6 inches. Wiggle back and forward to make a slit trench. Pop in your cutting ( right way up). Fill slit with sandy soil. Keep moist. 12 months later dig up your new tree. 90% take.

 

[B+.]

From a Salix Spp Pussy Willow you identified as male, pollen bearing. !

Thats a great idea BrianO
Spring seems a long way off so here's a short clip of what's to come http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p007fjpg

 

[enrico]

Just had to cut six fifty footers down from near my house, goat willows, they rot and split so be careful where you plant them. Sad because my bees used to go mad over them in the spring. Luckily there are still some standing a safe distance from the house!
E

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Just had to cut six fifty footers down from near my house, goat willows, they rot and split so be careful where you plant them. Sad because my bees used to go mad over them in the spring. Luckily there are still some standing a safe distance from the house!
E

just keep coppicing them - you get better growth anyway and can keep them at a manageable height.

 

[B+.]

Sad because my bees used to go mad over them in the spring. Luckily there are still some standing a safe distance from the house!
E

I think I'm correct in saying that willows regrow from the stump. If you didn't remove that too, it may come back.

 

[Karsal]

Willow

WOW!
Something that has never crossed my mind. The old gentleman who has allowed me to put my hives on his land has carried this out over many years and is now at logger heads with some of his neighbours as the hillside is covered with willow obstructing their views.
I had a reasonable amount of early season honey which probably came from these willow. One local is intent on cutting them back which has encourages them more.

 

[Erichalfbee]

just keep coppicing them - you get better growth anyway and can keep them at a manageable height.

Such valuable early pollen too

 

[Finman]

.
Fertilize willows. They Bloom lots more.

.

 

[Finman]

I think I'm correct in saying that willows regrow from the stump. If you didn't remove that too, it may come back.

Give Monsato's Roundup! Amen.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I think I'm correct in saying that willows regrow from the stump. If you didn't remove that too, it may come back.

almost a dead cert - willow is just totally geared up for regeneration, just leave a few prunings lying around on the ground, come back in a couple of weeks and they'll have rooted. When i was doing bankside maintenance work on our river we'd just get in a load of 'slips' about 12" long and a thickness of a pencil (I wanted osier willows and we didn't have many to pinch from in that area) my grandfather's heavy steel bar - handy for 'starting' fence posts, digging out terriers, prising out rocks and general mining work! in hand (well two hands really ) and off we'd go, quick *** into the ground, pop in a slip with a few inches showing, heel in with a boot and on to the next one - planted hundreds in an afternoon.
Coppice them and the next spring you'll have a couple of feet new growth.

 

[Goran]

Salix caprea pollen and nectar in pics. When weather behave.. Colonies grow little to say "explosive". When open the hives in willow flow, they smell with strong willow smell. Pollen is yeast for the brood, and abundance of nectar accelerate comb building, and of course remain something to extract ( together with other forest trees) before black locust occur at my place.

 

[Finman]

Salix caprea pollen and nectar in pics. When weather behave.. Colonies grow little to say "explosive". When open the hives in willow flow, they smell with strong willow smell. Pollen is yeast for the brood, and abundance of nectar accelerate comb building, and of course remain something to extract ( together with other forest trees) before black locust occur at my place.

Willow pollen has quite little raw protein. IT is only 15%. Good pollen is over 22%

Brood have it own cycle, 3 weeks. Brooding does not explode, not at least after winter.

In my nature S. Caprea is first plant to give pollen in spring so, that brood rearing can start, with couple of other willow species. Flowers are full of many other insects, moths and bugs.


Caprea is slow start to bloom. One caprea 20 years before it made its first flowers. There are many willow species and hybrids which grow fast and bloom almost next year after planting the cuttings.