We are at 1,000' and grow nearly all types of willow, except some of the really delicate ones.
How long you make your cuttings depends in part if you want a tree shape, ie with a single leg, or if you want shrubby growth. We started with short cuttings, about 1' long, buried almost their entire length. Now they are huge trees, we have problems with some species blowing over, as their root systems are too close to the surface. Now when we put in replacements, we use 3' cuttings, with half the length in the ground. We don't start them in water as this makes them grow 'water roots' which are a bit different to ground roots, so once they get planted out they have to start over. Once the roots start growing then shoots are put out at the top of the cutting - if this is near the ground then you will get a multi branched shrub starting at ground level; if you plant with 18" above ground, then you will have an 18" leg. The shoots can be trimmed to just one leader to make an even longer leg. If you have animals near the trees, you are best to grow them on a 5' leg, thin shoots out to about 5 or 6, then let them grow thick enough to be worthwhile firewood, then pollard them and they start again. If you want to coppice them then cut them back to about 6-9" above the ground.
The variety you grow depends on what you want them for. If you want to make a bower, then you want a quick grower such as that grown for biofuel. If you want tree hay, or branches for goats or sheep, then you want a fast growing variety which grows to a sturdy tree quickly, such as goat willow. We have tall, thick trunked trees, mid sized trees and a few small ones. We also have 3 alpine varieties in the ornamental garden. The different kinds have a wide variety of pussies, some big, some small, some black, most silver, and they come out over a few weeks, so the bumble bees, which need their nectar, can feed for longer.
