How do I store dried willow?
13 November 2025
Storing is an important part of keeping your willow in good condition prior to weaving. When stored in the right environment, the willow will remain in a workable state for a good number of years. If stored in the wrong environment, the willow will degrade, becoming brittle and unusable.
If you order willow from Musgrove Willows, your willow should always be unwrapped immediately upon arrival. Whilst we ship our willow in a bio-based stretch film wrap, your willow should never be stored in it – or any similar covering which will inhibit its ‘breathing’.
We have a handy video about unwrapping your living willow on arrival – the same tips apply to unwrapping any semi-dry or dry willow.
Where should I store dried willow?
When storing dried willow, you should create an environment that is:
- Of ambient temperature: Not too hot, not too cold – and with little fluctuation.
- Well ventilated: So air can circulate around the willow.
- Dry: Damp conditions encourage mould, mildew growth, and bark discolouration.
- Pest free: Ensure your space is free from small creatures which may want to nest in your willow.
- Dark: Especially important when storing white willow, as exposure to sunlight can impact the quality of your willow by degrading and discolouring your rods.
Storing bundles of willow
Before storing your willow, it is important to sort it into bundles. Your bundles should be:
- Completely dry before storage.
- Sorted, tied together, and in a neat and tidy order.
- Free from mould, mildew, or insects/insect eggs.
When storing your willow:
- Store it in an elevated position off the ground, with air circulating around the bundles (including from below).
- Label your willow with the variety and the year of cut, so you can use the bundles in date order.
- If you’ve bought unsorted willow, ensure it is sorted so that there are no nesting materials for small creatures.
Unsorted willow
3 top tips on storing willow
1. Should I check my stored willow?
Check your willow periodically – particularly in winter. Turn it and deal with any mould, or other issues, which could spread to the rest of the store.
2. How long can I keep my willow before using it?
If you observe all the considerations above, your willow should remain in a workable state for a good few years.
Over time, willow will mature and adjustments may to be made to its soaking and mellowing times – usually, they will need to be slightly longer.
3. How old is my willow when I buy it?
The age of your willow depends on the time of year, but most of the willow bought from Musgrove Willows is sold the year after or the year of the cut.
For example, we start cutting when the leaf is off (usually October), through to the sap rising (in spring). If we cut in winter 2025, through to spring 2026, most of that willow will be sold in 2026 – so it will be up to one year old.
The same applies to a basket. If kept in optimum conditions, cleaned, and cared for, a willow basket will last for years. See our blog on how to clean and preserve a wicker (willow) basket for more information.
