Twisted Willow help please

[JABB]

I have a twisted willow which I wish to reduce in height. We are getting more and more wind here and I wish to reduce its height to approx fence hight.
Does anyone know what to do properly? Can I just cut it right back to say within an inch of the ground on each main upright and will it just sprout back?

[caziques]

Willows can usually be cut back and they will happily sprout again - sometimes they are difficult to get rid off.

However - you could be the first.

[Knackered dad]

Took a chainsaw to mine last year with the intention of ripping it out, even put the saw though some main roots. Never got round to hacking it out and this year it came back really well, going to do the same this year.

[herewego]

A twissted willow might not be as vigorous as a normal variety. You could try cutting one stem down this year and if successful cut the other down next year. I don't know why you want to cut it as low as an inch, how about a couple of foot.

[JABB]

The idea of an inch would be to encourage shoots and twists from the ground up, creating more of a bush rather than a trunked bush, if that makes sense?

[Simpo Two]

Is it not a 'contorted willow'?

[Kays vRS]

A willow will be fine if cut right back (an inch might be too much though, I'd leave a few inches). It might also be advisable to leave one long stem, this can always be cut back when it begins to show new growth. Keep an eye on it though when it does start growing back as it might grow some straight stems that will need taking off.

Edited by Kays vRS on Tuesday 13th September 21:18

[Dogwatch]

Local florist or trendy shop might be interested in the twisty branches - some certainly charge enough when selling it.

[Simpo Two]

The really twisty one is Corylus, contorted hazel.

[Mr GrimNasty]

Can't see the point of messy versions of unattractive plants that look diseased myself. I'd bin it for something bushier in nature/more fruitful.