CONTROLLING EROSION

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Cottonwoods and poplars can also be rooted if you follow the instructions I'm going to give. But in addition to water they need a richer, "river bottom" type of soil if they are to prosper.

When to plant. The best time to plant willow cuttings is in the fall or very early spring — when we call the tree dormant. Actually, only the leaves are dormant. The roots continue to grow all winter from stored energy, and when the buds burst in the spring, the new leaves will have a healthy system of roots to provide them with moisture and minerals.

There is a way of planting willows when they are in leaf. The danger, of course, is that the leaves will transpire moisture faster than the growing roots can provide it and the tree will dry out. You can prevent this by clipping off all the leaves along the stake except one or two, and by continuing to trim off leaves all summer long. It's a lot of trouble, and it's a bit risky, but if you can plant only during the leafy season, you might give this method a try.

Collecting and preparing willow branches. Follow normal instructions for pruning. Cut weak or crossed branches first, and be sure to cut flush with the trunk . . . don't leave a stub. Any willow will give equally good cuttings, so don't get hung up on species.

After you collect the branches, cut them into convenient lengths for planting. Don't try to chop them up while you're in the middle of a tangle of willows, but drag the branches out to a clear area where you can set up a chopping block and have enough room to work.

The cuttings should be at least 18 inches long and at least a half-inch thick. Anything this size or bigger — even up to 10 or 12 feet long — will grow, but the bigger the cutting, the deeper you will have to plant it, so beware.

One thing that determines the length of the cuttings is the water table. If you're planting on land that is wet year-round, you can use shorter lengths. In our part of California, where it gets dry in the summer, l usually have to cut the stakes five feet long or more so that 1 can pound them deep enough to reach moist soil.

To cut a branch, lay it over a chopping block and use a sharp ax. At the thicker end (the end toward the trunk), make a point. At the narrow end (toward the tip of the branch), make a flat, straight cut.

It is very important to note which is the butt end. If you plant the willow upside down, the sap will flow in the wrong direction and the cutting will die.

Preparing a hole. If the ground is soft and moist, you can just pound the stake into the ground without any preparation.

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