Willow Pea Climber & Plant Support – Step-by-Step Willow Weaving Tutorial

Hi, I’m Joe Gregory, a willow weaver based in Yorkshire and founder of Creative with Nature. This latest tutorial is a simple one, but a really satisfying make.

In this video, I’ll show you how to weave a willow pea climber / plant support using traditional basketry techniques. I love making these, it’s the kind of structure that fits quietly into a garden without trying too hard. The natural colours blend into nature and shine, doing what it's always done.

A useful piece for any garden

Willow pea climbers and plant supports work well in just about any growing space — gardens, allotments, vegetable patches, cottage gardens, or even smaller outdoor corners where things need a bit of support.

They’re ideal for climbing plants like peas, beans, sweet peas, roses, clematis, and anything else that needs a gentle hand upwards.

There’s something nice about that balance. The structure is practical, but it also settles into the garden in a very natural way.

These supports are made using natural willow, much of it grown locally here in Yorkshire, UK. I’ve always liked working with willow for this reason, it’s a simple, honest material. Nothing synthetic, nothing overcomplicated. Just something that grows, is harvested, and then put back into use by hand.

Using traditional basketry techniques, you can turn it into something strong enough to last for years outdoors. A coat of linseed oil helps protect it, but even then, it still feels like something that belongs outside as it weathers, it softens and settles into the space.

Why do I keep coming back to projects like this?

There’s a quiet satisfaction in making something useful for the garden.

It’s not flashy work. But it’s steady and it makes sense. You put the time in and you end up with something that supports life growing around it. That’s always felt important to me.

A few practical bits and bobs...

If you want to follow along properly, I’ve put together a full soaking guide here. It covers everything you need to know about preparing your willow, along with a list of trusted suppliers and where to find willow to grow or soak. Click Here. 

You’ll also find tools and equiptment I use in my videos here:
https://amzn.to/3OlTh5I

If you’re following the wider series or want to ask questions, you can join the community or find more resources on my website, head up to the FAQ's or check out my other blog posts... 

If you’re new to willow weaving, don’t worry too much about getting it perfect. It’s a bit like anything else in the garden - It takes time and it grows with you. The first one might be a bit wobbly, but it’ll still do the job. The next one will be better.

That’s usually how it goes.

Thanks for being here.

Joe xx

Watch the full tutorial here: