livw:living_willow_structures

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livw:living_willow_structures [2025/12/12 12:45] – Dave Darbylivw:living_willow_structures [2026/08/19 00:24] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
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-# Living willow structures+This topic is part of [[gt:gardening|Gardening, smallholding & farming]]. 
 +====== Living willow structures ======
  
  
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-## What are living willow structures?+===== What are living willow structures? =====
  
 They're garden features like fences, domes, arches, screens, windbreaks, play tunnels or more artistic creations, that are alive - made of willow. Willow is a most amazing plant. You can cut off a length, stick it in the ground, and it will grow. You can stick it in the ground horizontally and it will root downward and shoot upward. You can even stick it in the ground upside down and it will take! It grows incredibly quickly, making it a prime candidate for a lot of research into use for biomass burning. It also loves water, and therefore can be planted in very wet ground, where other plants would not thrive. They're garden features like fences, domes, arches, screens, windbreaks, play tunnels or more artistic creations, that are alive - made of willow. Willow is a most amazing plant. You can cut off a length, stick it in the ground, and it will grow. You can stick it in the ground horizontally and it will root downward and shoot upward. You can even stick it in the ground upside down and it will take! It grows incredibly quickly, making it a prime candidate for a lot of research into use for biomass burning. It also loves water, and therefore can be planted in very wet ground, where other plants would not thrive.
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 ![living willow dome](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/livingwillow-dome.jpg) ![living willow dome](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/livingwillow-dome.jpg)
 <caption> <caption>
- A living willow dome in summer; you can build them any size, and kids will love it. (Image: Julie Starks)+ _A living willow dome in summer; you can build them any size, and kids will love it. (Image: Julie Starks)_
 </caption> </caption>
 </figure> </figure>
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 ![willow rods](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/livingwillow-rods.jpg) ![willow rods](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/livingwillow-rods.jpg)
 <caption> <caption>
- 2-year-old willow rods (right), 1-year old growth (middle) and young whips (left) with a roll of Mypex.+ _2-year-old willow rods (right), 1-year old growth (middle) and young whips (left) with a roll of Mypex._
 </caption> </caption>
 </figure> </figure>
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 <WRAP center centeralign> <WRAP center centeralign>
 <figure> <figure>
-{{url>https://www.youtube.com/embed/QUkIUOeHYfU 560,315}}+{{url>https://www.youtube.com/embed/QUkIUOeHYfU}}
 <caption> <caption>
 _3-year old living willow fence (or ‘fedge’); forms a boundary, neighbours’ dogs and kids can’t get through. Gives privacy in summer, when it’s [covered in leaves](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xCfgwBwXmQ) ([here's](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrdTNaQo_Bg) a more detailed guide to building a bigger structure)._ _3-year old living willow fence (or ‘fedge’); forms a boundary, neighbours’ dogs and kids can’t get through. Gives privacy in summer, when it’s [covered in leaves](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xCfgwBwXmQ) ([here's](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrdTNaQo_Bg) a more detailed guide to building a bigger structure)._
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-## What are the benefits of living willow structures?+===== What are the benefits of living willow structures? =====
  
 Creating structures with willow is easy to do yourself and doesn’t cost very much; nothing in fact if you have your own source of willow. It can be extremely satisfying, but can also provide valuable educational opportunities. Creating structures with willow is easy to do yourself and doesn’t cost very much; nothing in fact if you have your own source of willow. It can be extremely satisfying, but can also provide valuable educational opportunities.
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 ![Willow tipi](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/livingwillow-tipi.jpg) ![Willow tipi](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/livingwillow-tipi.jpg)
 <caption> <caption>
- Willow tipi. (Image: Wildworks)+ _Willow tipi. (Image: Wildworks)_
 </caption> </caption>
 </figure> </figure>
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 ![New fedge](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/livingwillow-spring.jpg) ![New fedge](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/livingwillow-spring.jpg)
 <caption> <caption>
- New fedge coming to life in spring.+ _New fedge coming to life in spring._
 </caption> </caption>
 </figure> </figure>
 </WRAP> </WRAP>
  
-## What can I do?+===== What can I do? =====
  
 Willow needs to be harvested in the colder months. This is because the sap is down at this time of year, and it is this sap which makes them brittle. Remember – if it’s sappy, it’s snappy!  Professional growers cut from the beginning of December through until March, so plan to create your structure in the colder months. Pick your variety with care. A firm favourite is _Salix viminalis_ but for added interest, you can select by stem colour. There are greens, browns, silvers, purples, oranges, reds and yellows to choose from. It’s pretty cheap to buy willow and the beauty is that once you have some of the right variety, it doesn’t take long to grow some of your own to harvest. Willow needs to be harvested in the colder months. This is because the sap is down at this time of year, and it is this sap which makes them brittle. Remember – if it’s sappy, it’s snappy!  Professional growers cut from the beginning of December through until March, so plan to create your structure in the colder months. Pick your variety with care. A firm favourite is _Salix viminalis_ but for added interest, you can select by stem colour. There are greens, browns, silvers, purples, oranges, reds and yellows to choose from. It’s pretty cheap to buy willow and the beauty is that once you have some of the right variety, it doesn’t take long to grow some of your own to harvest.
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 <figure> <figure>
-{{url>https://www.youtube.com/embed/Mi-IGFvHpy0 560,315}}+{{url>https://www.youtube.com/embed/Mi-IGFvHpy0}}
 <caption> <caption>
 _Maintaining a living willow tunnel (in the winter, when the sap is down and the rods are more flexible); you can also snip off excess growth at any time of year._ _Maintaining a living willow tunnel (in the winter, when the sap is down and the rods are more flexible); you can also snip off excess growth at any time of year._
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 ![fedge](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/livingwillow-fedge.jpg) ![fedge](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/livingwillow-fedge.jpg)
 <caption> <caption>
- Newly-planted fedge and arch in winter, in an urban garden in London, to hide compost bins.+ _Newly-planted fedge and arch in winter, in an urban garden in London, to hide compost bins._
 </caption> </caption>
 </figure> </figure>
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 ![window in a fedge](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/livingwillow-window.jpg) ![window in a fedge](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/livingwillow-window.jpg)
 <caption> <caption>
- Inserting a window into a fedge – made from 2 whips wound around each other and tied off with a third one; all ties can be done with willow rather than string or twine.+ _Inserting a window into a fedge – made from 2 whips wound around each other and tied off with a third one; all ties can be done with willow rather than string or twine._
 </caption> </caption>
 </figure> </figure>
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 ![thin willow ‘string’](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/livingwillow-string.jpg) ![thin willow ‘string’](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/livingwillow-string.jpg)
 <caption> <caption>
- Tying off with bits of thin willow ‘string’.+ _Tying off with bits of thin willow ‘string’._
 </caption> </caption>
 </figure> </figure>
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-## Further resources+===== Forum ===== 
 + 
 +This topic belongs to the section [[gt:gardening|Gardening, smallholding & farming]]. You can ask questions or add information on the corresponding [Forum section](https://forum.growingthecommons.org/t/gardening). 
 + 
 +===== Further resources =====
  
 - [How to build your own backyard willow dome](https://inhabitat.com/diy-bio-tecture-build-your-own-backyard-living-willow-dome/) - [How to build your own backyard willow dome](https://inhabitat.com/diy-bio-tecture-build-your-own-backyard-living-willow-dome/)
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-## Specialists+ 
 +===== Related topics ===== 
 + 
 +- [Basketmaking](bask:basketmaking) 
 +- [Fences](fenc:fences) 
 +- [Hedges](hedg:hedges) 
 +- [Hurdles](hrdl:hurdles) 
 +- [Urban / small space gardening](urbs:small-space_gardening) 
 +- [Willow sewage treatment](wsew:willow_sewage_treatment) 
 + 
 +===== Specialist curators of this topic =====
  
  
  • livw/living_willow_structures.1765543525.txt.gz
  • Last modified: 2026/07/23 08:54
  • (external edit)