The growing of willow is very labour intensive needing constant attention. Although fast growing the willow rods are subject to several diseases. The water table must be kept hight. A new plantation is made by pushing 14 inch cuttings into the ground in March at a density of around 16,000 to the acre. The first two years the crop is worthless and it is not until the third year that the crop can be considered commercial.
Opinions differ on whether hand or machine cutting is preferable.
A few still cut by hand, using a sickle, the work is certainly back breaking and slower but should leave a cleaner stip. Cutting is done between November and April but is subject to delays if water is on the moor. Some parts may be flooded to a depth of several feet in severe floods which can last for up to a month. There are over 200 varieties of willow but few are now grown in Somerset. The most popular is Black Maul which gives a good clean rod of about six feet.