More ways to use willow

Low border hurdles for instant effect

Try making these easy, rustic veg or flower border mini fences for a natural look. Use 20cm (8in) stakes as the uprights. Don’t use willow as the uprights or they’ll root and grow foliage. Secure them, evenly-spaced, in the ground, and then cut long lengths of willow stem to weave in figure of eight fashion through the uprights. Push each weaved stem down once they’re in place to create a tight fence.

Mini supports for potted climbers

Got potted plants that need a bit of support as they grow? Climbers and gangly plants that need training, such as coronilla, will benefit from some simple support that also looks attractive. Just bend over three or four long willow stems around the edge of the compost, and tie in plants as necessary. The stems may root if left for a while, but just remove and replace, or trim back, if this happens.

Create a willow screen fence

This is called a ‘fedge’ – a lovely way of saying fencehedge. It’s a living screen that roots itself in the soil and then decorates itself with its own foliage, and in winter, stands proud as a bare, but colourful, fence. Simply weave four or five long willow lengths arched over into the ground, and interweave other sections around them. Use to divide up the garden.

A natural, easy-to-make archway

Make a willow arch to create interest in your garden, and for roses and clematis to climb up. Source long stems and plant them either side of a path 10cm (4in) apart. Once they’ve grown up to about a foot longer than your desired height, bend the tops over into a dome shape, overlapping in the middle and weaving into their opposites. Use more pliable stems, and wire if needed, woven between them to secure them together.