Non-living willow?

[1Bee]

I have a lovely living willow den on my plot, which I'm really happy with. It's thrown out a few very useful shoots that I want to use to make an arched entrance to the plot, but I'd rather not have this one grow...

What do I have to do to the shoots to turn them into non-living willow for weaving? I know you can use either, but not how to turn living willow into non-living...

Any clues?

[Small pumpkin]

My guess would be cut it and let it dry out before starting your new constitution.

[Small pumpkin]

Maybe this will help
Planting, harvesting, grading and preparing willow for basket making - Hanna Van Aelst

[muck lover]

In my fairly limited experience with willow I have found it to be awfully hard to kill. Even quite thick pieces left to dry for months grew roots when I tried to use it as a plant stake.

[mothhawk]

I think the trick is to take off all the bark on the end that goes into the ground and for a couple of inches above the soil. I've done that when I've used fresh cut willow for sweet pea canes, and they didn't grow.

[1Bee]

Thank you everyone! SP that's a really helpful link.