Building a privacy screen or garden boundary with willows

Living property boundaries or privacy screens can be beautifully created with various types of willows. The name "willow" refers to the high flexibility of the rods, as it is derived from the Indo-European word "ueie," meaning to bend, twist, or turn. In addition to the wood's good flexibility, willows are also characterized by fast and often straight growth.

Due to their aforementioned properties, willow rods are ideal for creating various "green structures," such as fences, privacy screens, tipis, and crawl tunnels. In addition to their aesthetic value for humans, elements made from willow rods also provide food, breeding, and living space for a variety of insects, birds, and mammals. Therefore, design elements made from willows are perfect for natural gardens. Moreover, such construction projects can be implemented easily and quickly, as cut branches form new roots in the soil.

Willows generally prefer fully exposed, moist, and competition-free locations. From an ecological perspective, it is advisable to use willows from the local area, as they are best adapted to the regional conditions. Long-shooting willows are especially well-suited as building material. Examples include the hemp or basket willow (Salix viminalis), the silver willow (Salix alba), and the so-called goat willow (Salix caprea), also known as palm or pussy willow. A very beautiful willow for weaving is the almond willow (Salix triandra). The classic species used by basket makers is the basket willow (Salix smithiana). For guidance on which willow species is most suitable for a particular construction project, a specialist at a garden center can also be helpful.

The best time to cut the willows is during the dormant season, meaning in winter when the trees have no leaves. At this time, optimal rooting and the strongest growth of new shoots are ensured in the first few years after planting. Saws or pruning shears are ideal tools for cutting. If the cuttings cannot be processed directly on site, the uncut willows and branches should be transported quickly at low temperatures. The most important factor is to protect them from evaporation. Covering them with plastic is helpful to prevent drying out during transport. If the willows cannot be processed immediately, for example because the ground is frozen, they can be stored for a while. However, care should be taken to ensure that the dormancy is maintained and drying out is prevented. Ideally, the branches are placed in soil or sand in a shady spot and covered with plastic. Alternatively, they can be bundled and weighted down in cold flowing water.

To build a stable fence or privacy screen from willows, about 5 to 10 cm thick willow branches are required. The length of the branches should be approximately 50 to 70 cm longer than the desired fence height. First, a trench about 20 to 30 cm deep is dug. The willow branches are then inserted into the ground at intervals of about one meter, to the final height of the fence. The depth of insertion should be around 30 to 40 cm. Between these branches, thinner rods are woven in a cross pattern at intervals of 15 to 30 cm. This ensures better rooting. Next, fill the trench with soil and tamp it down firmly. To create a denser fence right from the start, long horizontal branches can be woven between the vertical ones. Additionally, the new shoots of the willow can be intertwined as they grow. If the newly formed shoots become too large, they can be trimmed back with hedge shears. To ensure proper rooting, especially during the establishment phase, regular watering is necessary, particularly during dry spells.