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DOMES
Dome entrances can be damaged by children swinging on them.
Therefore, reinforce damaged entrances with any strong flexible
poles available and tie to the existing entrance. Support the
roof of the dome with a couple of stout poles (large garden
canes will do if nothing else is available). Securely tie in
the supports with string or gardeners twine. These supports
can be removed after a good canopy has developed after 2 years.
Also block any gaps forced by children squeezing through with
any available branches. You can use
anything trimmed from a hedge as it does not need to live. New
willow growth should soon grow into the protected gaps and cover
the dead branches.
TUNNELS
Like domes, tunnels can suffer from children swinging from the
entrance and exit. Support with extra poles and tie in the entrance
arch to the rest of the tunnel. Similarly block any gaps that
appear with branches.
ARBOURS
Carry out similar repair strategies on damaged arbours. Weave
any new growth emerging from the entrance arch around the existing
archway. Tie in if necessary.
TREE
SEATS
Willow seats woven around tree trunks are usually quite short
lived as the woven wall of the seat often fails to grow well
due to the dryness of the soil core. Regular watering will help
to establish growth. For comfortable sitting it is necessary
to prune off any growth coming from the top of the seat. Growth
from the horizontals needs to be woven and poked into the soil,
pushing new shoots through the original weave.
ARBOURS
WITH SEATS
Willow arbours with integral living willow seats need to be
maintained in the same way as tree-seats. |
