Whether it's a living willow hut to shelter children's play, a plant-covered walkway – more or less stylised – to provide shade in your pathways, or simple decorative elements to hold garden lights, willow can accompany all your creations, even the wildest ones!
The next step is to choose the most suitable willows for your project and the right time to start your living willow hut, before mastering the art of weaving and proper maintenance. Don’t worry, this tutorial will guide you through all the essential steps!
When and with what to make a living willow hut?
Willow is prized by basket weavers for its flexibility and the strength of its long stems: even when cut, transported and twisted, it can take root again to become a living hedge or a plant-covered hut.
There are several varieties, differing mainly in colour and foliage. For artistic projects, it’s best to use:
- The Salix purpurea, also called "purple willow" for its beautiful stems, particularly striking in winter.
- The Salix alba Vitellina or "golden willow", with flexible stems in a golden/coppery hue.
- The Salix viminalis, with very long stems, also flexible and downy, grey-green in colour, turning yellowish-green to orange-yellow when mature.
- The Salix triandra or "brown willow", with slender, straight young branches.
- The Salix americana, with flexible mahogany-red stems, turning brown with age.
The willow variety you choose for your living willow hut influences the weaving period: for example, while the first three varieties mentioned above are early growers, sprouting in March, the fourth won’t start until mid-April. You should also consider sunlight requirements: while the americana thrives only in full sun, the others tolerate partial shade.
Gardener’s tip: you can mix willow varieties (accounting for their growth needs) to vary colours, but it’s best to alternate them in separate sections to prevent one from smothering another.
How to weave a living willow hut?
Materials needed
Round, square, crossed, woven or interlaced – your living willow hut can take any shape you desire. For a structure 1.5 metres in diameter and 1.7 metres high, you’ll need around 130 willow stems, each 2.4 metres long. For a tipi-style hut 2 metres in diameter and 1.8 metres tall, prepare 150 stems of 240 cm and 20 of 220 cm.
You’ll also need:
- Garden twine,
- Binding ties,
- 1 metre of wire,
- Wire cutters,
- A good pair of secateurs,
- A 1-metre stick,
- A small wooden rectangle 5 cm wide and another 20 cm tall.
Planting
After trimming the willow stems, plant them in groups of four, spaced 5 cm apart (use the small wooden piece as a guide), ensuring they’re inserted 20 cm deep (the other piece measures the correct depth). Water thoroughly after planting.
Plant architect’s tip: don’t forget to leave space for the door!
Weaving
Before starting the weaving process, cut 100 binding ties, each 10 cm long, to secure the crossings. Begin to the left of the door: after leaving the first two willow stems, cross the next two with the following pair and tie them with a binding tie.
After the first round, all right-hand stems are crossed over the left ones. For the second level, reverse the process: cross left stems over right ones, including the two stems left on either side of the door. At the third level, wrap twine around the hut to shape and start closing it. Continue weaving in the same way, adding twine every two rows until reaching the roof.
Finally, gather the willow tops with twine and secure them loosely with wire.
Plant architect’s tip: don’t forget to close the top of the door once the opening height is satisfactory. You can also reuse lower ties higher up. Lastly, wrap willow stems at the top to conceal the wire.
How to maintain this willow tipi hut?
Once your willow hut is complete, keep the soil consistently moist, especially in the first few years. Water almost daily from spring until late summer. Some recommend using a hose or drip irrigation for steady moisture.
Ideally, apply a mulch of willow bark to retain moisture, reduce water use and suppress weeds.
Prune the willow hut at least once in winter and once or twice in summer to balance new growth and encourage branching. Note that Salix viminalis requires more frequent trimming. Pinch back young shoots lightly during the growing season and cut back summer growth hard in winter.
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