I often get asked about why we leave some of our willow on higher stems (pollarding). In this video I dive a little deeper into that question.
Coppicing vs. pollarding willow for basket making
I often get asked about why we leave some of our willow on higher stems (pollarding). In this video I dive a little deeper into that question.
Your videos have been so helpful for us down in New Zealand just starting up our own willow patch. We are thinking that pollarding looks like the best way for us to go to make harvesting and weed management easier. I was just wondering what spacing you use when planting if planning to pollard. You mention in the video that you give them more space if you plan to pollard them, but not how much more. We were planning on the standard 30cm between plants and 60cm between rows, but should we be giving them more space?
Thank you so much in advance!
Hi Monica,
If you are pollarding the willow you will need to leave more space between the plants to be able to move between them to harvest. The heads will grow over time and you won’t be able to walk over them as with coppiced willow, you will need to be able to move between them. For this reason we have planted them as follows. Beds are 4meter wide with a walkway in the middle of approximately 1 m. there are 4 rows on each side, staggered, leaving roughly 40 to 50cm between them.
Hope this helps
That’s very helpful, thank you!
Hi, thank you for the video. Can dogwoods be used in the same way?
Hi, dogwood is similar but not as flexible as willow and also does not soak well in my experience.
Great video. Thank you.
Hi Hannah,
I would like to grow as much willow for basketry pollarded for easier harvest. Do you have purpurea varieties also pollarded at hip-hight?
Thank you and best wishes!
Hi Annabelle, I have some purpurea’s on pollards and they do well. I have slender tips and Irish Black. Currently in trial are the brittany bleus and green. I have also seen Lancashire dicks on a pollard. But just try it out! No harm done if they don’t work. Just cut them off lower again and they will keep on growing.
Hi Hanna, Just wondering what the black looking variety is in the background when you’re snipping the ends of the branches?
Also another question if that’s ok, I am more interested in growing a coppice (or better yet a pollard) and to make wattle hurdles and bent willow chairs. I think that might require the cuts to be on the thicker side…would that take two years growth before cutting?
Groetjes from another Dutch speaker west of Lough Derg :-)
Thank you! What are you using for mulch in your first year when planning to pollard from a shorter cutting? Do you put it down before planting or can you fill it in after as needed?