Planting the best young trees – a solid investment
To successfully grow English cricket bat willow trees (Salix Alba Caerula), you must ensure that the planting and growing conditions of your young trees are correct.
With the right maintenance, willow set farmers will see a healthy return on their investment. In this article, we’ll explain how exactly to go about planting your young trees and how this can become a lucrative option for landowners.
How to plant your young trees
The most important factor when planting willow sets is to select good quality trees that will flourish in their growing location. If you choose poor quality trees, you will inevitably end up with poor quality mature trees that won’t command the top prices. In worst case scenarios, landowners might end up with no trees if they don’t make it through to maturity by having a poor start.
It’s also essential that young trees are planted straight. If they aren’t planted straight, this can cause the young tree to grow at an angle, which can then destabilise its base and increase the chances of it falling over. If it does reach maturity there is a good chance the trunk will be bent and be worth much less than it should.
What are the requirements?
You’ll need 16 feet (4.8m) of length for a willow set which is then planted 2.5 feet (76cm) into the ground, this will give you the correct lengths of cricket bat blades on maturity, short sets take the same time to grow but are worth less as they have less lengths for bats.
Finally, a plastic rabbit guard or metal deer guard needs to be installed around the tree to protect it from any damage from these species, no stakes are needed.
Proper cultivation and maintenance of young trees
After the planting stage, the manner in which your willow sets are cultivated will significantly impact the overall quality of your wood.
Consistent pruning is required to make sure that side shoots don’t become overgrown and affect the value of the tree. With the right growing conditions, a landowner can expect to see a return on their investment in 15-20 years; however, this return can occur in as little as 8 years with the amount of water and fertility of the soil and spacing being the main factors.
Doing things The Wright Way
Partnering with experts in the cricket bat willow industry means you get the highest quality young trees that are correctly planted, spaced, and protected from animals. They can also assist in the maintenance stage, offering key insights as well as inspecting and trimming your contracted stock.
When the time comes to harvest, we take care of the felling and replanting of the trees. This means you’re able to reap the rewards of your harvest without having to worry about maintenance or supply chain contacts.
Partnering with JS Wright & Sons is a sound investment
The above may sound confusing, that’s where we can help. JS Wright & Sons has over 125 years of experience with growing and supplying English cricket bat willow to cricket bat manufacturers. Take advantage of our wealth of knowledge and partner with us to produce some of the finest English cricket bat willows in the country, by planting willow trees on your land.