How to order:

Last day to order cuttings for 2008 delivery is April 15. We are happy to answer your questions about cuttings year round. We take orders for cuttings from December 15 to April 15. Orders are shipped starting in January. The best way to propagate willow is from dormant hardwood cuttings; so we have to limit the sales to these months.

We will ship cuttings to addresses in the USA with the buyer paying for postage. Orders can also be picked up at the farm after arranging the time.

Please use the willow cuttings order form. Or e-mail steve@dunbargardens.com with the name of the varieties and the quantity of each you would like to order. Please include your shipping address with zip code. We will confirm the order by email. Prior to shipping we will give you the total price including postage. Most orders will be shipped Priority Mail in a flat rate box which costs $9.80. Your order will be mailed after we receive payment by check or money order. We can also bill you through PayPal.

Our production of willows for our basketmaking and classes allows us to select good sized cuttings to insure successful rooting in your garden.

Prices:

Price is determined by the quantity of EACH variety ordered.

1 to 4 : $1.50 per cutting // 5 to 9 : $1.25 per cutting // 10 or more : $1.00 per cutting

Please remember that the quantity discount does not apply to the total number of cuttings but the total of each variety.

There is a minimum order of $25 for mail orders.

Washington State residents are required to pay a sales tax of 8% (sorry!).

Please note that we do not currently ship dried willow for basketmaking. Cuttings are for planting to grow your own.

Planting and growing tips:

Basket willows can be grown in a wide range of soil types, but they prefer well drained soils in full sun.

Your willow bed should ideally be free of any perennial weeds. Get your willow growing area ready the year before you plant. The soil is often too wet in the early spring when you will want to plant the cuttings.

Spring is the best time to plant, especially March. Leave the cuttings in your fridge until you are ready to plant.

Willow roots easily from cuttings. Plant by simply pushing the cuttings into the ground with the buds facing up. If the soil is rocky or compacted, make a hole with a dibber for each cutting. Try to plant 6 to 8 inches into the ground. Leave 2 or 3 buds above the soil surface. Firm the soil around the planted cuttings.

Maintain and check for adequate soil moisture during the first summer. Minimize competition for water and sunlight from weeds or other plants. Mulching the plants can be helpful.

Spacing of basket willows depends on several factors including how the willow will be harvested, how weeds will be controlled, variety, and soil fertility. We are using a spacing of 9 inches in the row by 32 inches between rows for most of our basket varieties. We have also used 12 inches by 28 inches. Wider spacing is appropriate for producing large rods for garden structures, trellises, or living fences. Hedges can be planted in a single row spaced from 12 to 24 inches; or a double row planted 24 inches apart with the plants offset.

Basket willows are usually coppiced to the ground annually, including the first year. This approach will give you more straight and uniform rods. The exceptions for us are rods that are left to grow a second year for "sticks" or the variety "Nana" which has responded better to being cut as a mini pollard.

Attractive hedges can be produced by coppicing alternate plants in alternate years just before the willow leafs out in the spring. The result is a hedge that will look good year round; highlighting the winter rods that are more colorful in the first and second years growth.

Take a look at our webpage about basketry willow for some more information and photos of the willow at Dunbar Gardens: basketry willow.

Basketmakers.org has more information and links about basketry willow growing: http://basketmakers.org/topics/bymaterial/willow/willowsupplies2.htm.