A stone shapes the river – a willow sculps the wind

– Aric Confucius Michael Scott 

A simple series of willows placed with intention can make dramatic changes to your slice of the world. Here we’ll explore just a few of the ways you can bring all of the benefits of salix to your local ecosystem whilst solving a problem, naturally.

Purpurea is an excellent selection that fills many roles. In our experience it has little issue with disease, insects, and browsing by herbivores. Harvested material can be used for weaving projects like lantern making.

Miyabeana is hands-down our most vigorous grower. Unlike the reported bitterness that purpurea has, this one seems to be enjoyed by a lot of different creatures. Sx61 has been of particular interest for animal fodder growers. When it’s not being chewed on, the rods it makes are great for large woody projects like wattle fences.

Alba is an impressive ornamental willow often used for wood carving. Allowing your barrier to grow for a few years then coppicing provides high quality raw material while.

Natives local to you are always a good choice. Books say to not harvest more than 30% from a wild native willow…I would say not even that much! A few clippings for you, and a few planted in the bank for nature. We’re stewards of the earth and we must endeavor to give back, especially when we take. 

Planting in staggered rows simply puts more mass between you and the other side of your rows. Our nursery beds here become quite impenetrable in the Summer! Having multiple rows allows you to coppice/pollard on a rotation while keeping some level of coverage. Using our example: coppice rows one and three one year, row two the next. The more rows you have the better the outcome. …fourteen rows? You’ve got Willow Fort Knox. Anything more just be silly.

Setting Expectations

You didn’t come here to have a yarn spun at you! You can expect these to take up to three years to properly establish. The first year will be spent rooting, the second you’ll see some growth, third is when they start to get producing. If you need something more immediate a fedge or rods may be of interest. Those too will take the same time to get established, to be sure! When you trim them you actively encourage more growth at that location, or more accurately, below that location. 

Your barrier will be less effective during dormancy. The bare willow will provide some shield but in a reduced capacity. 

The general principals above apply for the purposes we’ll cover. Keep in mind that these are really just suggestions and not rigid guidelines! So long as your chosen willow’s growth habit matches your need just about anything will work. The three rows can be shortened to two, or four and a half, etc. They can be planted in any configuration as long as their need for water and sunlight is met.

Privacy Hedge

A privacy hedge is a lower-cost alternative to fedges. They can be used to fill a gap in a fence to keep all manner of critters out from deer to prying eyes. Rabbits or a determined dog not so much. Once leafed out and established even just one row does a decent job. A single row will offer little in the way of coverage during dormancy as shown below. Plan accordingly!  The more rows you have the more coverage your hedge will provide. Don’t schedule your nude BBQs until you know you’re sure you’ve achieved your desired effect!

Starting from cuttings also gives you the largest selection to choose from. If you diversify keep their growth rates in mind – you want your shortest willows facing the sun so they don’t get shaded out if left unattended. You can use this chance to start your own little sali garden!

Specific Privacy Hedge Recommendations

• purpurea ‘Gracilis’
• gracilystyla
• purpurea ‘Pendula’
• integra ‘Hakuro Nishiki’

• schwerninii
• miyabeana (warning: tall grower!)
• ‘Americana’

Wind Break

Coming soon!

Dust Screen

Coming soon!

Snow Break

Yep you guess it…coming soon!