How to make a living willow cloud screen
23 April 2025
How to Make a Living Willow Cloud Screen
This project shows a simple way to use leftover living willow to create a movable, sculptural screen in a pot. It’s ideal if you want to divide areas of a garden, add privacy, or create a soft, natural feature that can be moved around as needed.
These “cloud screens” work especially well in planters and look great filled with fresh growth, catkins, and leaves as the season progresses.
Choosing the Container
For this project, I’m using a large planter. Galvanised planters work particularly well, but any sturdy pot will do. The key is choosing something heavy enough to support the willow once it’s grown.
Fill the container about halfway with standard compost.
Planting the Willow
Take your living willow rods and push them straight down into the compost. Make sure the compost is moist and that the rods are planted firmly so they can hold themselves while you work.
There’s no need for complicated spacing. The aim is to create a loose framework that you’ll weave into shape as you go.
Water the container well after planting.
Working Without Permanent Ties
This project is designed to use very little tying in. The rods largely support each other through weaving.
I use simple removable toggles to help hold the first few weaves in place. These are made from hair bands looped around short pieces of willow. They’re useful because they can be taken out later, leaving no permanent fixings in the structure.
Starting the Weave
Begin with one rod and weave it between the others, going under one rod and over the next. Take the weave fairly low down in the design to help lock everything in.
Add a toggle to hold this first rod in place. It doesn’t matter if it slips a little at this stage.
Move on to the next rod and weave it in the opposite direction. This helps lock the structure together and stops it from twisting.
Work through the rods one by one, weaving them in gently. Try not to force them or create sharp bends, as this can damage the willow.
Creating the Cloud Shape
You don’t need to weave under and over every rod perfectly. This style works best when it’s loose and slightly irregular. The aim is to create a soft, cloud-like shape rather than a tight formal structure.
Look for gaps as you work. If you see a large space, weave a rod across it to fill the area and balance the shape.
Willow weaving isn’t random, but it doesn’t need to be over-planned either. Keep stepping back, looking at the shape, and adjusting as you go.
Adding More Rods
If the structure looks too open, you can add more rods at any point. Push them down into the compost and weave them into the existing framework.
It often helps to add two or three rods at once, then weave them back through the structure to even things out.
This example uses 7ft Flanders Red living willow, which works well in a large statement pot and has particularly attractive colour.
Adjusting and Finishing
If the screen feels too tall or unbalanced, simply pull rods back through the weave and reposition them. This is one of the advantages of not using permanent ties.
Once you’re happy with the shape, remove the initial toggles. The structure should now hold itself without any ties at all.
There’s no need to tie anything permanently. As the willow grows, the rods will intertwine naturally and strengthen the structure over time.
What Happens Next
As the willow grows, new shoots will emerge from the base and along the rods. These will fill out the screen, add density, and soften the shape even more.
You can leave the structure to grow naturally or lightly guide new growth back into the weave if needed.
Project Summary
This living willow cloud screen:
- Is made in a movable planter
- Uses minimal ties or fixings
- Works well as a temporary or flexible garden divider
- Develops strength and shape as it grows
It’s a great way to use spare living willow and experiment with more sculptural, creative forms.
