Cutting propagation on an industrial scale

[wireme]

Cuttings (willow and cottonwood) were harvested with a chainsaw during winter, bundled together and tarped on a frozen pond for winter storage.

 

[wireme]

Retrieved from pond about 2 weeks after melt (2weeks soaking time).

 

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These long bundles are planted lengthwise in the ground (think raft style) for erosion control purposes. Horizontally to slow and diffuse surface water or at an angle to direct and drain water flows. They are known as contour fascines and live pole drains.

 

[wireme]

Here's a few fascines and contour drains before and after backfilling. Of course the grow roots and shoots and become structurally stronger and more effective over time. I may show a few more pics once the project is complete. I've been driving the track dump truck the last few days, pretty fun on the slopes!
Hope you liked seeing a different application for large cuttings. We routinely take cuttings up to 8" diameter no problems.
Mp

 

[wireme]

Sorry for the upside down pics, I'm just posting from an iPhone that I barely know how to operate.

 

[Dan W.]

This awesome! Can you share any pictures of these that have been growing for a while?

 

[wireme]

Hi Dan, glad you like it. I don't have growing pics with me but you could follow links on our website to see some. http://www.terraerosion.com/
Mp

 

[monza]

Very interesting, I have a yard erosion problem myself and read about this technique. Seems like you've got it dialled.

 

[Dan W.]

Very nice, I love that your website is full of pictures documenting your work. Do you use any similar techniques for your bonsai material cuttings?

 

[wireme]

Hi Dan, for sure I have found there to be a lot of crossover of ideas from my work and my bonsai growing. Both ways, many things I've learned through bonsai can lead to practical applications at work and vis-versa. Soaking of willow and cottonwood prior to planting really seems to help. Duration depends on water temps but generally about 1 week seems good. Last fall I collected some funky largish willow and cottonwood root cuttings. I stored them under snow for the winter, soaked and planted them (upside down) this spring just like we often do with our large cuttings. We'll see when I get home from this job if they took or not.
Dave if you would like some advice regarding your yard erosion problem feel free to ask, I'd be happy to help out.
Mp

 

[Bill S]

Cool idea, except I hate you, more appropriately, my allergies hate you , cotton wood is the worst for me, can you make them not pollinate

 

[Poink88]

Interesting. Do you intend to grow both willow and cottonwood or just use the willow to help the cottonwood to root?

Thanks for sharing!

 

[monza]

Dave if you would like some advice regarding your yard erosion problem feel free to ask, I'd be happy to help out.
Mp

Thanks. Maybe I'll email you. My issue is I live on a ridge, a portion of my back yard is steep not possible for any machine to access. About the middle of my slope is a under ground spring that comes to the surface. Creating a mess of mud in the summer, a massive 'glacier' in the winter, eroding the earth away and the soil has 'crept' a amazing amount, moving my fence posts down three- four feet and huge spruce trees if you can believe it have also been creeping down. Other trees in the path are dead and or dying due to soil being washed off the roots.

I started a ditch to install a weeping tile pipe (french drain) and that was all going 'ok' ( digging in clay mud) then last winter it just completely changed paths after I gave it a nice path. This weeping tile would be covered with gravel, then soil and planting your erosion control tree bundles was a thought.

I dont know if I'll ever win the battle against mother nature, moving my fence line over and giving the eroding land back to the city park behind me might be easier. It all started so my dog would not come back into my house with muddy legs every trip in the yard. This spring has been running for many years, I've lived here for 5 years and the first person to try and fence the yard properly.

 

[wireme]

Dave, we have used a combination of live pole drain on top of French drain before with good results. It sounds like a tricky situation you have there. Possibly a dangerous one to if the slope is creeping along with mature trees. Ill try to get back to you on this soon, in the meantime you should send me a pic or two, maybe I'd have some ideas for you.
Mp

 

[monza]

Sure, here are some pictures for you. It's pretty crazy and a hell of a mess. Hardest thing is it's steep so it's all hand shovel work in wet clay with a bit of top soil if it has not washed away already.
Winter glacier this can vary from 10-40' wide, 2-4' thick, +100' long




Summer, you can see the fence posts bottoms have moved downhill three to four feet. The PVC pipe was to try and divert the water so I could dig a ditch.



Where I buried a bucket to collect the water for my diversion drain. The spring starts 10'ft above the bucket.


I also ran a heat line down the pipe for the winter to stop the glacier this winter, it worked and then the entire flow shifted over to the neighbours property, but it's back again flowing lots this summer.

 

[wireme]

Dario, both the willow and cottonwood will grow. Unlike other poplars cottonwood poplar ( populus balsamifera for example) will root from cuttings just as well if not better than willow. Dogwood ( cornus) is another species that works well. Here's a cottonwood stem about to pop roots. See the swelling? Another cottonwood stem with roots extending from the swollen spots. After a bit of time soaking these bumps where roots or shoots will pop out are easily seen.

 

[wireme]

Dave, hate to say it but I'm not sure you're going to fix that with a shovel and wheelbarrow. the pics don't show a lot though, maybe you can. Possible solution may be a crown drain ( French drain as you planned) with live pole drains on top. The crown drain is kind of a rainbow arch, it can catch groundwater across the whole area you're trying to control, avoiding your earlier issue of the spring changing exit points. The live pole drain likewise for any surface flow. Every now and then we have a spyder hoe passing by Calgary if you want to throw money at it and have it dug by machine, the spyder is amazing for where it can go and what it can climb.

 

[wireme]

Btw that pic of the Doug fir creeping with your fence line is pretty cool. Have you ever thought about the consequences of the slope releasing suddenly and quickly? Would it reach your house and yard? Pretty good rainstorms lately, something to think about for you safety wise.

 

[monza]

Dave, hate to say it but I'm not sure you're going to fix that with a shovel and wheelbarrow. the pics don't show a lot though, maybe you can. Possible solution may be a crown drain ( French drain as you planned) with live pole drains on top. The crown drain is kind of a rainbow arch, it can catch groundwater across the whole area you're trying to control, avoiding your earlier issue of the spring changing exit points. The live pole drain likewise for any surface flow. Every now and then we have a spyder hoe passing by Calgary if you want to throw money at it and have it dug by machine, the spyder is amazing for where it can go and what it can climb.

Ha you nailed it with the shovel and wheel barrel comment, made me laugh. I had three different excavator operators come out and have a look. They all said this is a major project building a access road on the slope.... Massive cost. I brought out the shovel, it's beaten' me down to the point of giving up. I looked into all kinds of mini back hoes etc.

That spyder hoe kicks ass, I googled it and I was amazed, that's the piece of equipment to do the job 100% totally what I need. Please PM your phone number and I'll call to discuss.

 

[monza]

Btw that pic of the Doug fir creeping with your fence line is pretty cool. Have you ever thought about the consequences of the slope releasing suddenly and quickly? Would it reach your house and yard? Pretty good rainstorms lately, something to think about for you safety wise.

I still shake my head at a massive tree creeping down the slope, it's amazing. House, and most the yard are safe, above this on flat ground, thanks for the concern. Not sure if I've made it worse or just all this rain? If it did suddenly release not much danger to any one unless you are in a odd place with really bad timing. Ultimately it could effect the home with long term erosion and weakining of the stable ground, no signs of it and this spring has been running for many years.