Willow Hedging Plants

What is Willow Hedging & Screening?

The willows, Salix species, are too vigorous to be a neat, formal hedge, and they don't fit in a typical mixed country hedge either. 
However, planted on their own they are exceptionally versatile as a shaggy, wild hedge, a "fedge" (a fence-y kind of hedge), a wildlife friendly windbreak, or something more intricate such as bowers, arbours, and other creative structures like a living sofa woven out of their flexible stems. 

The best willow varieties for live-sculpting and for producing weaving rods are Violet Willow, Scarlet Willow, Osier Willow, and Purple Willow. 
 

• Uses: Wild hedges & windbreaks from 100cm upwards.

• Good Points: Very vigorous, versatile, graceful, easy to propagate.

• Position: Most places in full sunlight, loves wet soil, will grow with roots underwater.

How many Willow hedge plants do I need?

The planting density for your willow hedge depends on the purpose:

• For a normal garden boundary hedge, plant at 3 plants per metre (every 33cm) in a single row.
• A classic willow fedge requires 2 staggered single rows (i.e. start one row 16.5cm after the other), side by side. That works out at 6 plants per metre in total. 
• Other willow fedge designs, such as hooped arches, require looser spacing - it's really up to you!

What size Willow hedge plants should I buy?

• If you are not in a hurry to get a full sized willow hedge, we recommend starting with smaller sizes: up to 60cm tall.
• If you are in a hurry and need instant impact, or are filling gaps in an existing hedge, then of course pick the biggest size that fits your budget.

Smaller plants are cheaper, easier to plant, and tend to establish better because they are dug up with most of their roots intact.

If you still aren't sure, then 60/80cm tall is considered the ideal compromise between price, size, and waiting time until you get a mature hedge.  

Most varieties are also available as larger willow standards.
Browse our range of sapling trees and hedging plants.

Your mail order willow plants are delivered by next working day courier.
If there is anything wrong with your plants when they arrive, Contact Us within 5 working days, and our friendly support team will sort it out.

All bareroot plants are covered by our Refund Guarantee, so you can give them a whirl with complete confidence.