Interest in Willow has revived over the last few years and there are many garden uses.

Decorative Uses

• Royal Horticultural Gardens at Harlow Carr have several living willow sculptures. The fine boat shown above is an example that entertains the kids who visit. A bit big for my garden.
• Narrow Willow hedges can be used to separate ‘garden rooms’.
• Tunnel type structure made of sticks of living willow can create a unique feature.
• Children will enjoy making and playing in wigwams, domes and tunnels.
• More advanced projects, suitable for adults, include fences, chairs and arbours.

DVD Making Living Willow Sculptures

Practical Uses of Willow

• Willow weaving can make Trugs or baskets for use in the garden.
• A natural hedge from woven willow suits some sites, if used as a wind break it is called a ‘fedge’.
• Willow can now be grown for green bio-mass fuel.
• Traditionally Willow is used for cricket bats, charcoal, furniture and medicine.
• The bark contains growth hormones and can be used to make a simple extract that will promote rooting and cutting growth.

Varieties and Uses of Willow

• Salix Viminalis Gigantea Very fast growing – long and straight.
• Good for large structures, windbreaks, hurdle uprights etc.
• Salix Triandra Viminalis Very fast growing – long and straight.
• Good for Large structures, Windbreaks, hurdles
• Salix Dasyclados Very vigorous slightly shorter but thicker than Viminalis.
• Suitable for structures, windbreaks, fuel production.
• Salix Tora or Jorr Very vigorous growth – Swedish, Suitable for structures, windbreaks and fuel production.
• Salix alba Vitelina Ornamental golden willow, Suitable for hedging, windbreaks and basketry.
• Salix Triandra Black Maul Warm chestnut brown colour Suitable for hurdles, basketry and weaving in to structures for colour.
• Salix Triandra Q83 Super Willow- (hybrid of viminalis and triandra) has the vigorous growth of viminalis with the weaving qualities of triandra. Attractive medium brown stems, catkins.Suitable for hurdles, basketry and weaving into living structures.
• Salix Purpurea Leentges, Nicholsonii Purpurescens or Helix Suitable for basketry and hedging.
• Salix Purpurea Abbeys or Dicky Meadows, Suitable for basketry.

List of varieties from Willow Withies