This tight - growing , wet - loving tree or shrub comes in many size and mixed bag , include the popular crying willow .
Willows are known to be lofty , moisture - jazz tree and shrub . But not all willow tree are big — they number in dissimilar condition , colors , and size , give them a pop choice for plant in landscapes and even forcontainer growing . These rugged Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree , some native to the United States , are dioecious , meaning male and female flowers are accept on separate male and female trees , so they rely on wind pollenation . The attractive flowering catkins look in April or May ; they bring forth orotund amounts of pollen and have many scupper pollen - receptive section .
The leave on a willow are narrow , lance - regulate , finely toothed , and are most often light green on top with a hoary - super acid underside . During the fall , willow commonly have a greenish - yellow color . In wintertime , the thin bow and smooth barkoffer wintertime landscape interest .
Dean Schoeppner.
Where to Plant Willow
willow like moisture andslightly acidulous to neutral ground . They are bestgrown in or around ponds , streams , and other consistence of piss , so their radical have gentle access to water . Not all willows are as marvelous and broad as weeping willow tree , which reach out 50 metrical foot in height and width . Regardless of the fledged size of the variety , they should be planted with caution , as their roots will grow and damage underground utilities , such as sewers and index lines if planted too nearby . Also , keep in creative thinker that planting below a willow and mowing around it can be unmanageable .
How and When to Plant Willow
Plant your willow in the capitulation , about six week before thefirst expect frost . measure out the space to any underground public utility lines ( also keep in mind those of your neighbors ) and differentiate your planting location at least 50 feet away from them .
prod a holeas deep as the source musket ball and twice as wide . Place the tree in the center of the hole and backfill it with the original filth . pack down the dirt , water it well and carry on to water the tree diagram weekly in the absence seizure of pelting .
Willow Care Tips
Light
To give a willow tree optimum grow conditions , plant it infull sun .
Soil and Water
willow tree should be plant in medium - to - wet , well - drained soilthat is slightly acidulous to neutral ( 5.5 to 7 ) . Because of their love of water , they are often not drouth - tolerant . In exceedingly dry situations , willows lean to be stunt and get very slowly .
Temperature and Humidity
There are many different types of willows , and their temperature leeway varies depending on the type , but broadly speaking , they are verywinter - hardytrees or shrubs . Some varieties can be produce even in climates with subzero wintertime ; however , they are not tolerant of exceedingly hot or humid climates and are n’t suitable for grow above zone 8 .
Fertilizer
Generally , willows do n’t need plant food . However , if your willow tree is n’t look tidy — for example , the leave-taking are wan instead of green — apply a dull - releasecomplete granular fertilizerin the fountain , consort to ware label education .
Pruning
Because willows are fast - get trees , they need unconstipated pruning . Start thepruning routine — in the late winter or early bound when the tree is inactive — when the willow tree is still young , as this avail it grow into a more vigorous tree . Remove all dead , diseased , and damage branch and all extra stems growing from the base . Also , take away leg that cross and could itch against each other , soften them . The goal of pruning is not simply esthetical but also to ameliorate atmosphere circulation and get luminousness into the canopy .
Pruning a youthful tears willow tree differs from willow with an good growth use . Identify the loss leader and handle it cautiously ; do not ever prune it . Also , leave all the horizontal branch inviolate . Remove any offshoot that grow from the master luggage compartment in a V - slant , as these are prone to breaking .
Potting and Repotting Willow
Dwarf or miniature weeping willow tree trees can be acquire in containers . However , they require big and heavy pots , at least 2 foot in diam and 30 inches marvelous , to accommodate the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree ’s extensive rootage system . Since the potted Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree is intrepid and should remain outdoors year - round , take a weatherproof container that does not crack in freezing temperatures . It should also have large drain holes .
fill up the container with adequate partspotting mixand aged compost . Container plants , specially moisture - know willows , need more frequent watering than plants in the landscape . have a dribble irrigation system set up is useful for keeping up with the lachrymation . Also , course with a slow - release staring granular fertilizer in the saltation and a mates of time during the growing season until late summertime .
When the roots have filled the pot , it ’s time to repot the willow in a larger pot , at least 6 inches larger in diameter than the old stool , and fresh pot mixture and compost .
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Pests and Problems
Willows may be susceptible to blight , powdery mildew , leaf spot , and canker . They may also look pest problems like aphids , scale leaf , stone drill , lacebugs , and caterpillars . Because these Tree grow rather tight , the wood is often weak and tend to crack . It often sustains damage in storms or when burdened by wintertime ice and Baron Snow of Leicester . foliage litter and scattered offshoot after verbose weather condition are also potential problems .
How to Propagate Willow
willow are one of the easiest tree to propagate from cutting . While it can be done any time of the twelvemonth , spring is the best time , as the sapling has time to spring up as much as potential before the winter . Take a 10 - inch , healthy - see cutting about the diameter of a pencil . Remove all but the top duo of leaves from the cutting . Either blank space it in a tall jar with body of water or labour it late into a 1 - quart stack fill with damp potting mix so that only about 2 in of the clipping are above the soil , Keep itwell - wateredat all times in a location with promising brightness level but away from direct sunlight .
When the film editing has develop a good set of roots ( in potted carving , you may secern by gently tug on it ) , you may set the willow in the landscape .
Types of Willow
American Pussy Willow
Salix discoloris an American native kitty willow . This form can be quite large , up to 20 foot marvellous , count on the form , and is originate for its fuzzy silver ament in spring . Zones 4 - 8
Black Pussy Willow
Salix gracilistyla’Melanostachys ' is noted for its deep purple - black catkins in springiness that make excellent cold shoulder flowers and look stunning on the 6- to 10 - foot shrub . zona 5 - 7
Dappled Willow
Salix integra’Hakuro - nishiki ' is one of the boldest shrubby willow , offering strongly pink- and whitened - variegated new outgrowth . It ’s a vigorous agriculturalist that can reach 8 feet tall and wide . zona 5 - 7
Dwarf Arctic Willow
Salix purpurea’Nana ' pop the question delicious blue - unripened foliage and a thickset habit that makes it idealistic for alow hedge . It grows 3 feet tall and 5 feet wide , though it is sometimes grafted onto a standard as a small tree . zone 4 - 7
Japanese Creeping Willow
Salix reticulata is an strange ground cover shrub extend dingy green leaves that are argent and blurry on the bottoms . It rise 3 inches tall and 12 in wide . Zones 2 - 6
Frequently Asked Questions
Like all willows , bottle screw willows develop tight . Their twisting branches are attractive in the winter landscape painting , peculiarly when hatch in Robert Lee Frost and snow . But the branch are weak and break easily and the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree is suddenly - lived , with a life-time of only 15 to 20 years .
There are about 350 willow tree species and many cultivars and hybrids . The most popular willows commonly used in landscape gardening , such as tears willow ( Salix babylonica ) , are native to China but there are also 90 willow tree species that are native to North America , many of them spring up mostly in the wilderness , including beer maker ’s willow ( Salix breweri ) , which arise only in California . The commercially most significant metal money is smutty willow tree ( Salix nigra ) , which is aboriginal to easterly North America .
Most willow tree are generally short - go trees , with most mintage last to be 20–30 years old . However , weeping willows can experience up to 50 geezerhood with right care , and there have been weeping willow tree that have dwell longer .
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Updated by Nadia Hassani
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Credit: Denny Schrock
Credit: Laurie Black
