290 Kuzovkina: Living Structures Made of Willow Stems Arboriculture & Urban Forestry 2008. 34(5):290–295. Establishment and Maintenance of Living Structures Made of Willow (Salix) Stems Yulia A. Kuzovkina Abstract. Two experimental gardens were installed in Storrs, Connecticut, U.S., to evaluate the potential and limitations of constructing living structures of willow stems as play elements for children. Detailed designs and illustrated descriptions of six structures were developed, which can be accessed on the Internet (www.plantscience.uconn.edu/kuzovkinacv.html). Two clones of Salix miyabeana, previously selected for biomass production, exhibited the required characteristics for growth and stem pliability, low pest susceptibility, and satisfactory performance. The plantings were visually appealing and site maintenance was relatively low. A broader implementation of this innovative practice may appeal to horticulturists, arboriculturists, landscape architects and designers, environmental educators, and school teachers. Key Words. Arboricultural education; children’s garden; Salix; willow. Living installations, or “soft structures” made of woody plants, provide ecologic functions and aesthetic appeal. Living sound barriers are an alternative to conventional noise reduction con- crete walls in Europe and Canada (Szczukowski et al. 1998; Labrecque and Teodorescu 2005a). Large-scale green architec- ture made of living woody poles has been constructed in Ger- many (Kalberer and Remann 1999, 2003). Another novel use— the construction of living structures as play elements for chil- dren—has been introduced in the United Kingdom, Germany, and Denmark (Gro 2004; Warnes 2004). It is based on the union of the traditional craft of basketry with the science of tree growth. Branches are planted as dormant 1.8 to 3 m (5.9 to 9.9 ft) long whips bent into various shapes and configurations. They take root, foliate, and may naturalize to an area. Willows are amenable for the construction of living structures because they possess fast growth rates and the ability to grow at high planting density, ease of vegetative propagation, rapid es- tablishment from unrooted stem cuttings, rapid resprouting at old nodal areas, and reliable coppicing ability. The last quality en- sures a sustainable supply of stems for many years (Keoleian and Volk 2005; Dickmann 2006). The construction of living structures has been explored by artists, and the knowledge base of the technique is limited to a few articles and books written by craftsmen (Mack and Stender 2004; Warnes 2004). The potential of living structures for public playgrounds has been emphasized in the United States with a small number of artists being engaged in the designs on a local scale (Danks 2002, 2003; Christofer 2006). Living structures introduce children to the arboricultural prac- tices of planning, planting, growing, pruning, and tending tech- niques in an entertaining manner while providing them with basic agroforestry experiences. Understanding and working with willow biology is important for the success of the structures, and the basic principles of the technique can be blended into a sci- ence curriculum. The introduction of trees as sources of recre- ation into urban environments raises the social value of trees, promotes experiential learning, and cultivates strong emotional attachment. ©2008 International Society of Arboriculture To further use this technique, basic arboricultural aspects, in- cluding plant selection, establishment, and maintenance, need to be addressed. As part of this investigation, the experimental gardens were installed to provide initial experience, to evaluate the potential and limitations of the technique, and to identify further research questions. MATERIALS AND METHODS Two trial installations were established at the Research Farm of the Department of Plant Science of the University of Connecticut located at Storrs, Connecticut, U.S. (USDA hardiness zones 5/6) in Spring 2006 and 2007. Annual precipitation totaled 1351 mm (54 in) in 2006 and 1035 mm (41.4 in) in 2007. Field soil was sandy loam. Both sites were located in full sun. The area for each project measured 21m×33m (69.3 ft × 108.9 ft) or 693 m2 (7,484 ft2). Stems of S. dasyclados Wimmer (clone ‘SV1’), S. udensis Trautvetter (clone ‘S × 61’), and S. miyabeana Seemen (clones ‘S × 64’ and ‘S × 67’) were received from the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Spring 2006 as dormant 2.4 m (7.9 ft) long stems with a 2 to 2.6 cm (0.8 to 1.04 in) diameter at the base and 1.2 to 1.5 cm (0.48 to 0.6 in) diameter at the tip. For the 2007 installation, stems of the same varieties and same lengths, but with smaller diameters—1.5 to 1.8 cm (0.6 in to 0.72 in) at the base and 0.7 to 0.9 cm (0.28 to 0.36 in) at the tips—were used. All stems were cut in March 2006 and 2007, side branches were removed, and the material was stored in a freezer at –2.2°C (28°F). After removal from the freezer and transportation, the stems were stored in a cooler at 4°C (39.2°F) for 1 to 2 weeks before the planting. During storage, the stems were packaged in plastic bags to prevent evaporation and drying. During the planning phase in Spring 2006, the blueprint that was used during the 2006 and 2007 installations was developed. Site preparation was accomplished in the fall before the plant- ings. Existing vegetation on the sites affected the site preparation for each installation resulting in two different approaches. A previously uncultivated site was used for the 2006 installation. After controlling existing weedy vegetation with glyphosate in
September 2008
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