This fast-growing, moisture-loving tree or shrub comes in many sizes and varieties, including the popular weeping willow.
Willows are known to be majestic, moisture-loving trees and shrubs.
During the fall, willows usually have a greenish-yellow color.
Dean Schoeppner.
In winter, the thin stems and smooth barkoffer winter landscape interest.
Where to Plant Willow
Willows like moisture andslightly acidic to neutral soil.
Also, keep in mind that planting below a willow and mowing around it can be difficult.
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Dig a holeas deep as the root ball and twice as wide.
Place the tree in the center of the hole and backfill it with the original soil.
Because of their love of water, they are often not drought-tolerant.
Credit: Marty Baldwin
In extremely dry situations, willows tend to be stunted and grow very slowly.
Fertilizer
Generally, willows don’t need fertilizer.
Pruning
Because willows are fast-growing trees, they need regular pruning.
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Remove all dead, diseased, and damaged branches and all additional stems growing from the base.
Also, remove branches that cross and could rub against each other, weakening them.
Pruning a young weeping willow differs from willows with an upright growth habit.
Credit: Denny Schrock
Identify the leader and handle it carefully; do not ever prune it.
Also, leave all the horizontal branches intact.
Remove any branches that grow from the main trunk in a V-angle, as these are prone to breaking.
Credit: Laurie Black
Potting and Repotting Willow
Dwarf or miniature weeping willow trees can be grown in containers.
It should also have large drainage holes.
Fill the container with equal partspotting mixand aged compost.
Container plants, especially moisture-loving willows, need more frequent watering than plants in the landscape.
Having a drip irrigation system set up is useful for keeping up with the watering.
They may also face pest problems like aphids, scale, borers, lacebugs, and caterpillars.
Because these trees grow rather fast, the wood is often weak and tends to crack.
It often sustains damage in storms or when burdened by winter ice and snow.
Leaf litter and scattered branches after windy weather are also potential problems.
How to Propagate Willow
Willows are one of the easiest trees to propagate from cuttings.
Take a 10-inch, healthy-looking cutting about the diameter of a pencil.
Remove all but the top pair of leaves from the cutting.
Types of Willow
American Pussy Willow
Salix discoloris an American native pussy willow.
It’s a vigorous grower that can reach 8 feet tall and wide.
It grows 3 inches tall and 12 inches wide.
Zones 2-6
Frequently Asked Questions
Like all willows, corkscrew willows grow fast.
Their twisting branches are attractive in the winter landscape, especially when covered in frost and snow.
There are about 350 willow species and many cultivars and hybrids.
Most willows are generally short-lived trees, with most species living to be 2030 years old.
