Most people recognize a graceful weeping willow tree from a distance by its long, pendulous branches.
Weeping willows grow into large trees in a short time.
Its beauty doubles when you’re free to see it reflected in a pond.
Opt for a site that receives full sun to partial shade.
Plant weeping willows well away from water lines or sewer lines.
The roots of the tree aggressively seek out any water source and can cause substantial damage.
Dig a hole twice as wide but the same height as the trees container.
Remove the tree from the container and set it in the middle of the hole.
Fill the hole halfway with soil amended with organic matter and add a couple of gallons of water.
Fill the remaining half of the hole with soil and lightly tamp down.
They need at least four hours of sun daily.
Weeping willow trees thrive in humid areas.
Fertilizer
Weeping willow trees dont usually need fertilizer to be healthy.
Pruning
Prune a weeping willow treeduring winter while it is dormant.
It is easier to spot any damaged or rubbing branches when the leaves are off the tree.
Also, trim the tips of any branches dragging on the ground.
Insect pests includeaphids, scale, borers, lace bugs, and caterpillars.
Litter from leaves, twigs, and branches can be a nuisance in landscapes.
Also, the weeping willows shallow roots make it tough to garden underneath the tree.
Keep the area moist; the cutting will root in a few weeks and begin leafing out in spring.
Types of Weeping Willow
There are several types of weeping willows.
Babylon Weeping Willow
Salix babylonicaBabylon is the most common weeping willow in the United States.
This large tree is difficult to fit into a typical residential landscape.
It needs a lot of room.
It naturalizes easily in most sections of the United States, where it tolerates deer but not dry soil.
It is useful for erosion control.
Hackberry
Hackberryis a native tree that looks best in a naturalized landscape with other resilient trees.
It isnt picky about site conditions and tolerates a range of wet to dry soils.
Hackberry produces edible fruit that attracts birds and wildlife in fall.
Zones 29
Downy Serviceberry
Downy serviceberrythrives in native woodlands.
The birds also enjoy the subsequent berries that appear.
This trees fall foliage is a delightful mix of orange, red, and gold.
Its attractive white flowers bloom in spring.
They are followed by tart black berries that provide a food source for wildlife.
In the fall, the green leaves turn a bright red-to-burgundy color.
The shrub gets its name from its reddish-brown bark that matures to gray.
It grows 10-15 feet tall and wide.
Dont forget your neighbor’s water lines, either.
Weeping willow will seek out water wherever it can find it.
