The elegant willow tree has many uses.
Solitary one species of willow--the coal willow or Salix nigra Marsh--is suitable for lumber, according to Professor Daniel L. Cassens, a wood products specialist at Purdue University.
Marketing to the User
Different applications for willows require different thicknesses, rod lengths and degrees of flexibility. Growers select willow varieties and process their harvest with the special needs of expected buyers in mind.Willow lumber is used mostly for projects that cause not crave a big league deal of impulse and where appealing colour and grain are not big-league. It is generally used for crates, cabinets, loading pallets and still caskets.
Willow Production in the U.S.
Willow is used in basketry.
Although willow branches of many species are used for basketry and furniture forging, there are rare commercial growers in the USA. Most willows for the U.S. mart are grown in the British Isles.
Maximizing Branching
Willow baskets come in many shapes.
When grown commercially for their branches, willow trees are reduce back to the ground during winter dormancy in the antecedent year of duration to elevate vigorous branching. Once established, willows can ultimate productive for more than 20 years.
The Harvest
Harvested willow stems are known as rods and sorted by size, then either allowed to dry or are processed by boiling, steaming and peeling. One acre of willow plantings can yield 4 to 5 tons of rods. Rods are usually harvested annually in the late fall and winter.
On the other hand, the commercial uses of willow are not community to lumber. The Supple branches of the willow obtain uses of their own.
