Our ground is ideal as it is made of heavy clay and is very wet, so our willow thrives in these conditions.
Planting usually takes place between December and March for best results.
A willow bed is fairly easy to prepare, although if you have a deer or rabbit problem the area will need to be fenced off first. After this the area is covered with pegged down black weed suppressant fabric, which may not be everyone’s initial choice, but for small areas it’s ideal.
Each cutting is 30 cm/1ft long. The willow rods need to be pushed into the ground about 3 quarters of the way and about 10 inches apart in rows 2 feet apart. The new shoots will need cutting back each year once all the leaves have dropped and the same rules apply for cutting and planting when the plant is dormant between December and March.
Your freshly cut willow can be used straightaway, but is best left to mellow for a few weeks, although it does have the tendency to shrink slightly whilst drying.
These ‘withys’ will take about 3 months to completely dry out, and then can be used for making basketry items.
For all living willow items, the willow used can be cut and put straight into the ground. In the case of cuttings they will survive after being cut for a good month or so if kept in the fridge after purchasing.
A rough soaking guide for Dried willow is generally 1 day per foot, but this can vary between varieties. At Withysmythe Meadow we usually soak ours for about a week prior to use in the summer months, but in winter it can take a bit longer due to the water being colder.
