Growing Willow

Growing willow for basket making can be a rewarding and sustainable way to source your own basketry materials. Willow is a flexible and fast-growing woody plant that is well-suited for basketry due to its pliability. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to grow willow for basket making::

  -Plant willow cutting in early spring as soon as the ground thaws and is free of standing water. Once established standing water can be tolerated and even beneficial.

   - Spacing willow is much debated. To get the most production out of a given area you plant the cuttings densely at 6" to 10" spacings. To get the most production per cutting, they are often planted 12" apart in single rows spaced at 24" apart. On our rock in the ocean, we don't have much arable land so we planted 4 rows per bed with 12" between beds and 10" between plants.

 - Willow generally doesn't require much, if any fertilization. However, starting with a good layer of soil or well-rotted compost can promote a healthy start.

   - Plant by sticking cuttings directly into the ground. Make sure there are at least 2 growth nodes above the ground. The tops of the cuttings may be up 2" to 5" out of the ground. These will be trimmed to 2" or so after the first harvest.

   - We recommend using paper or cardboard covered in mulch not landscape cloth. Landscape cloth has environmental costs but can also choke and kill your plants and ironically become a sanctuary for weed roots when they get in.

   - Keep the soil consistently moist, especially during the first year of growth. Often found by streams, willow is thirsty. Choose a wet location if you can or even one that has standing water periodically. Do not plant near underground pipes as the roots will search them out as a water source. Regular watering is essential in the first few years and during drought conditions. We recommend a thick layer of mulch to retain moisture.

   - Willow typically comes into full production after 4 years and can produce for 20 years or more. Harvest the rods during the dormant season on the new moon when the sap is in the roots.

   -The willow plants will produce some useable rods the first year, and more each year after that. As they start to produce more rods, the density increases. This in turn makes the rods grow straighter and taller.

   - Cut the rods at the base, leaving a few inches above the ground to encourage regrowth.

   - Most weaving projects use dry willow as it is pre-shrunk. Fully drying willow can take 4 - 6 months. Willow is also used green or semi-green depending on the project. Dry willow in a covered place out of the direct sun with lots of air flow. 

   - Store the dried willow in a dark, well-ventilated area like a shed or garage until you are ready to use it. Keep up off of dirt or gravel.

  -If kept dry and pest free, dried willow can last indefinitely. There are stories of people weaving with stock that was decades old.

Growing willow for weaving is exciting and relatively easy. It requires a bit of patience, as it takes a few years for the plants to reach a fully productive age. Regular care and attention to the growing conditions will contribute to a successful willow project.