Silky Willow Live Stakes

Silky Willow Live Stakes for Erosion Control

Salix sericea silky willow live stakes is a plant that thrives in riparian areas where water levels can vary significantly over the course of a year. It is for this reason that the plant has such excellent reliability in high runoff, flood, or saturation areas where other plantings fail.

Once established dormant cuttings quickly come out of dormancy and begin to root in the ground. The roots also help to hold soil in place, and cut the speed of water flow. This process will help reduce washouts over time, as well as decrease the amount of sediment lost due to erosion.

The stems of the live stakes will also break up the velocity of the water, while the root mass does its work below the surface. The result is erosion control that becomes stronger with each passing growing season, rather than breaking down like a hardscape solution.

Silky Willow Live Stakes for Restoration Projects

Salix sericea is a species that restoration professionals and private landowners alike have heavily used. This is largely due to the speed and reliability with which this species will take root and form new growth.

New growth will quickly establish a cover over the ground, which will both shade the soil and help to moderate temperature fluctuations and microbial activity below ground. Additionally, this species will improve conditions for natural succession to occur by providing an environment that allows nearby native plants to establish themselves.

Birds, amphibians, and beneficial insects will also be attracted to the new cover and moisture created by Salix sericea growth, creating a functioning habitat on land that would otherwise be bare. This species is also quite easy to grow and does not require intensive maintenance, which is particularly important for large and/or remote restoration projects.

Silky Willow Live Stakes Grown for Success

TN Nursery carefully grows Silky Willow live stakes from high-quality parent stock to ensure that only the strongest and most vigorous cuttings are sold to our customers. Live stakes are harvested in their dormant phase to preserve the maximum amount of energy for rapid root development.

Individual cuttings are also graded based on strength and viability, so customers know that they will receive only the highest quality material for successful establishment in the field. As a cool-season plant species, Salix sericea responds best to planting during cool seasons that have high moisture.

This will give roots time to become established before top growth starts to take off. With the right spacing and soil contact, this species will quickly mature into flexible, but dense plantings that can respond and adapt to changing site conditions.

Live Stakes can Be Planted in Water's Edge

In addition to erosion control, Salix sericea can also help to improve water quality. Filtering runoff and trapping excess nutrients before they enter a stream or pond is a great way to reduce nutrient pollution in sensitive ecosystems.

Flexible stems and branches also mean that this species will bend rather than break during high water events, which can reduce damage from woody debris to the downslope.

Established plantings can also reduce maintenance needs over time, while also providing a natural appearance that blends well into the surrounding environment. They are an all-around sustainable and long-lasting solution for balancing land, wildlife, and ecosystems.