The Los Lunas Materials Center known. Those species that easily are good candi- fine-textured soils, you can use a jet of high pres- (LLPMC) has developed revegetation techniques in- dates for planting as dormant cuttings for streambank sure water to excavate a hole; this method requires stabilization. a pump and an easily accessible water source be- volving “deep planting” for disturbed riparian areas; cause appreciable water is consumed to jet each these methodologies allow rapid root extension into The key to successful establishment is to place the hole. Another successful method for planting whip the capillary fringe which is the permanent soil mois- base of the dormant cutting into the water table to as- cuttings is to use a large diameter auger to reach ture above the water table. These deep-planting sure the cutting is well hydrated while it forms adventi- the water table and place several whips in each hole techniques allow the establishment of obligate ripar- tious that will extend into the capillary fringe. An- to assure survival. This produces a clump of ian species (phreatophytes) with little or no need for other crucial factor is that the dormant cutting is planted rather than an individual stem. follow-up irrigation. deep into the alluvium to resist extraction by flood flows. The following factors may influence the success Dormant pole cuttings of riparian overstory of a planting: trees, typically cottonwood and willow stems 12 to Attributes of willow and dogwood whip cut- 16 feet long, and longstem container stock of under- tings include small base diameter (less than 1-inch cali- • Hydration–As with all dormant cuttings, it is im- story have been successfully established by per) and relatively short length (5 to 8 feet) compared portant to keep the whips hydrated by storing deep planting them into the capillary fringe. The cap- with dormant pole cuttings. This is the natural growth newly harvested cuttings in water and minimizing illary fringe provides moist but unsaturated soil for form of young vigorous shoots (whips) which are the desiccation during transport. root proliferation. most likely to root readily. • Beaver damage–Willow whip cuttings can be Streambanks prone to erosion during high-flow The LLPMC’s typical method of augering the holes to damaged by beaver predation. Even though events can be stabilized by establishing a dense, plant dormant whip cuttings is to use a spline drive ro- the entire aboveground portion of a newly woody cover to armor the banks, and prolific root tary hammer with a 1-inch diameter bit that is 36 inches planted whip might be consumed, the below- systems to stabilize the streambank soils. long. The 30-inch-plus deep holes have a sufficient di- ground stem often has sufficient reserves to ameter to accept most whip cuttings. A portable genera- In lower elevations of the southwestern United sprout and form new shoots. tor can provide sufficient power for several hammers via States, the following native species frequently serve • Groundwater flucuation–In situations where the extension cords outfitted with ground fault circuit inter- this role: groundwater depth fluctuates significantly, plant- rupters. A team of two persons, one doing the augering ing along the streambank at different elevations • coyote (narrowleaf) willow (Salix exigua) and one planting the cuttings, can plant up to 800 whip above the water level may be advisable as long as • seepwillow baccharis (mule’s fat) (Baccharis salici- cuttings per day provided the soil is cohesive sand with the base of the cutting is in contact with the cap- folia) only small amounts gravel or cobble. Heavy soils take illary fringe or preferably in the saturated zone. much longer to auger because it is often difficult to pull • desert false indigo (Amorpha fruticosa) Those cuttings close to the water’s edge and in- the bit from the wet clay sediments. Rotary hammers serted into very shallow groundwater may en- • occasionally arrowweed ( sericea) can penetrate several inches of frozen surface soil that is dure if the water level recedes drastically. How- frequently encountered during the late-winter or early- At higher elevations, a variety of shrub willows ever, if water levels stay elevated for long peri- spring planting window for dormant cuttings. If cobbles (Salix sp.), redosier dogwood (Cornus sericea), ods of time, the higher cuttings may be the only are present in moderate numbers, it is possible through thinleaf alder (Alnus incana), and occasionally water ones to survive. trial and error to auger deep holes if care is taken to not birch (Betula occidentalis) serve the same purpose. exert excessive lateral force on the bit which may result The density of a planting depends on these Some of these species will root readily from dor- in breakage. factors: mant cuttings including most willows and dogwood. If the soil contains dense cobble or has a riprap Before and after: Coyote willows “deep planted” • The urgency of stabilizing the streambank Baccharis and false indigo will root from cuttings but cover, using a long, sharpened rod (referred to as a along drainage ditch not consistently. The remaining species do not root • The spreading potential of the species planted stinger) attached to a backhoe or excavator arm often from cuttings or their rooting propensity is un- can be successful in driving holes of sufficient depth. For • The cost per unit area Coyote willow can form dense stands from root Beaver damage to newly planted coyote sprouts. Because low density plantings can fill in rap- willow stand with willows resprouting in the idly, coyote willow can be very useful for streambank spring after predation Deep Planting stabilization on lower elevation sites. On higher eleva- tion sites, most willow species are multi-stem shrubs The Ground Water Connection which can resprout from root crowns, but they do not root sprout to form thickets. For this reason, higher density plantings of these willow species may be neces- sary to rapidly stabilize eroding streambanks in mon- Planting coyote willow tane environments. One montane species, red osier whips with rotary hammers dogwood, does propagate by stem layering which al- lows rapid spread on streambanks. If additional information is needed regarding plant- ing dormant whip cuttings for streambank revegeta- tion, contact the Los Lunas Plant Materials Center at 505-865-4684.

Guidelines for Planting Dormant Whip Cuttings to Revegetate and Stabilize Streambanks

Before and after: Streambank stabilization is achieved by “deep planting” coyote willow whips; planting holes were augered in the rocky soil by using rotary hammers.

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