How to Grow and Care Willow Tree (Salix)

Willow (willow) has long been used as a sign for the start of spring. Most philosophers and writers have described this tree’s opulent branches that hang down to the pond in their writings. This tree still holds a special place in the hearts of gardeners today. However, you should learn about the characteristics and maintenance guidelines of the plant before selecting to use it to adorn your site.

The family of willow trees includes the willow tree (Salix). The genus Willow also belongs to the dicotyledonous class. Both small and large shrubs and trees belong to this genus. Willow leaves and branches have the ability to hang down or stick out in various ways elegantly. Below is a detailed description of the traditional willow.

Such a tree typically grows to a height of 15 m, and its trunk has a diameter of 30 cm. Wild examples can grow up to roughly 40 meters tall, although planted trees are often much smaller. The typical lifespan of one of these plants is 50 years.

Dark green coloration is most frequently used to depict curly and thick vegetation. However, some examples have uncommon; light gray leaves adorn their branches. The plant’s age and growing conditions have a direct impact on this. Mesh venation helps to discern leaf blades.

Despite being tiny and slender, elastic rod-like branches are highly weak. The hue of the kidneys is a light crimson. Such a tree typically begins to bloom at the start of the spring season, before the leaves emerge.

Spreading

Such trees can almost always be found in moist or damp environments. The Northern Hemisphere is where willow is most commonly found. Such a plant grows wild practically universally on Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine soil.

Willow thrives in middle latitudes as well. Families in their entirety are frequently spotted nearby reservoirs and rivers at the same time.

Willow Tree Care

The type and variety of willow growing on open land directly affect the care that must be given. Most of the time, proper hydration, appropriate trimming, and top dressing are sufficient for the plant.

Watering

Willows prefer standing water. Their extensive root systems have the potential to help remove puddles and flooding from regions of a landscape that are prone to them. They like to establish their roots close to bodies of water, such as lakes, streams, and ponds.

The plant typically has enough moisture during the cold season in areas with icy winters. Additionally, watering is done now, even amid a drought, in areas with moderate winters.

Soil

The quality of the soil is the first consideration when selecting a location to plant a willow. The majority of willow species prefer damp soil. It is advised to add compost or humus to your soil if you have any doubts about whether it is acceptable for such a tree in your location.

Make a small planting hole the same size as the root system in the area you have chosen. Put a seedling in the hole, cover it with soil, and, if required, add fertilizer. A newly planted tree needs regular watering. It is known for its quick growth.

A willow transplant can be done if such a necessity arises. But if it’s the source.

The near-stem circle’s soil needs always to be just damp enough for the tree to grow and develop swiftly. Therefore, it is important to pay extra attention to willow watering, especially during the hot and dry summer. Gardeners with experience suggest filling multiple buckets with water and placing them under one tree at a time. You can also place a watering hose in the trunk circle for a while.

The plant typically has enough moisture during the cold season in areas with icy winters. Additionally, watering is done now, even amid a drought, in areas with moderate winters.

Temperature and Humidity

Willows can withstand a certain amount of drought and the bitter cold of winter. The tree can also survive the intense heat of the desert summer provided there is nearby vegetation and water.

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Fertilizer

If a mature willow is planted in nutrient-dense soil, and its leaves are a vibrant shade of green, or if neighboring lawns are treated consistently, it is not necessary to apply fertilizer to the tree. On the other hand, you can provide fertilizer to stimulate luxuriant development. Before applying any amendments to the soil, including slow-release organic fertilizers like mulch, you should first conduct a soil test to determine its composition.

Pruning

When the tree is still young, prune the necessary pruning to ensure that there is just one central leader. Because the tree is fairly brittle and prone to wind damage, it should also be taught to have broad branch crotches to prevent breaking. This will help. Willow is recommended to be pruned in February or March by having all of its branches lopped off. This will cause the tree to develop new branches and give it greater vitality overall.

Diseases and pests

Like many other crops, Willow is susceptible to disease and pest damage. The disease that affects the plant the most frequently is:

Willow scab. This fungal disease damages leaf blades. In a scab-affected plant, foliage and young shoots turn black.
Leaf spot. Spotting can be brown, black, and brown. In a diseased tree, specks of a characteristic shade form on the surface of the foliage.
Powdery mildew. This disease is quite widespread among many horticultural crops, including willow. In a diseased tree, a white coating forms on the surface of the shoots and foliage. This is also a fungal disease; the plant most often suffers from it in the summer. It is recommended to start treatment as early as possible. Otherwise, it will be very difficult to save the tree.
Cortical necrosis. This disease is very dangerous for willow. Young trees are most often affected. According to statistics, out of 100 trees affected by bark necrosis, only 5 can be saved, and the rest die. However, such a disease only affects a weakened or diseased tree, so it is important to pay special attention to the plant’s health from the very first days of growth.
Crown gall. It is a willow defense response to fungal disease and is a very large growth that forms on the surface of the bark. It can be compared to an abscess. With the formation of only a few such growths, you can quickly get rid of them. However, make sure that the willow trunk is by no means completely absorbed by such formations.
White heart-shaped stem rot. Since the focus of this disease is in the middle of the trunk, it cannot be diagnosed promptly. You can understand that the plant is sick by the rotten sections of the hollow. However, they become visible only when the willow has already begun to die. It will not be possible to save a diseased plant.

Like many other crops, Willow is susceptible to disease and pest damage. The disease that affects the plant the most frequently is:

Systematic inspection of the tree to identify rodents and pests. Treatments with the appropriate pesticide are carried out as necessary.
Inspect for mold or yellowing leaves. Remove the affected leaves from the willow as soon as possible and try to find the cause of this trouble.
Experts recommend treating such a tree twice a year with a solution of Bordeaux mixture (3%) or using copper sulfate. Such treatments are excellent prevention of various diseases.

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How to Grow and Care Willow Tree (Salix) near river lake

Willow Tree propagation

Cuttings and seeds are the two techniques for willow propagation most frequently utilized at home. The seed method of reproduction isn’t employed all that often among gardeners. However, this tree frequently reproduces exactly by seeds in nature. The issue is that the seeds rapidly lose their ability to germinate. The seed can only sprout for seven days after its full ripeness. As a result, finding high-quality seeds for sowing is very challenging.

Willow, though, may be grown from cuttings with ease. Cuttings should be harvested in the spring or fall, and the best times to do this are in March or November. To do this, select a mature shoot at least two years old. The handle should be 25 centimeters long at its ideal length.

It is advised to plant the stalk in a flower pot or a greenhouse for roots. In ideal circumstances, the cutting will begin to grow, and the roots will spread out swiftly. The juvenile willow is placed in the open ground after a year when it has grown stronger. Tree planting is done early in the spring after the snow has melted.

If desired, you can buy a ready-made willow sapling that needs to be planted right away in a patch of open ground. This will eliminate unnecessary concerns.

Types and varieties of willow

Willow comes in various shapes and colors, and they can all appear quite distinct from one another. You should become familiar with the most popular types before choosing which willow to use to beautify your site.

Bebb Willow (Salix bebbiana)

This shrub or small tree has several stems and is native to dense undergrowth around water bodies like ponds, lakes, and bogs. Both evergreen and deciduous forms are possible. Although it is mostly a northern North American species, it is occasionally seen south of zone 4. The timber of the Bebb willow tree is commonly used in the craft of carving. Bebb willow is rarely utilized in landscaping due to its short lifetime and susceptibility to damage from insects and illnesses. The two notable exceptions to this rule are its uses in woodworking and river bank stabilization. Once it’s established, this species can survive significant periods of drought.

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Weeping willow (Salix babylonica)

These species typify the genus, Willow. It is also one of the most typical varieties. This tree is rapidly growing and very ornamental. Such a plant is simple to establish, does not require specific soil characteristics, and may grow and develop normally, even in challenging circumstances. Such a plant is typically planted near a reservoir, and it is also used to spruce up lawns.

Although the weeping willow is the most well-known example of a landscape tree with a weeping habit, other landscape trees can also exhibit this characteristic. Trees of this type are not only beautiful additions to the shorelines of lakes and ponds but also make excellent focal points in larger yards. The branches will wave gently in a little breeze but may snap off the stems and crash to the ground in a stronger wind. Plan on replacing it in around 30 years because weeping willows don’t last very long. On the other hand, it might grow as much as 10 feet yearly when it reaches its full size.

Creeping willow (Salix repens)

The creeping willow, also known as Salix repens, is a tiny species of willow that belongs to the family Salicaceae and can grow to a maximum height of 1.5 meters. It is a polymorphic species, meaning that it may take on a wide variety of forms and can be found in heathlands and dunes. At least in the United Kingdom, they can range from short, prostrate, hairless plants on one end of the spectrum to much higher, upright, or ascending silky-leaved shrubs on the other. Because of the extensive range of possible forms, there is a lot of synonyms.

Such a low-growing shrub grows to a height of about 100 centimeters. This tree tends to grow on arid, mostly sandy soil in the wild. The soil and growing conditions do not need to meet any unique requirements for the plant.

Corkscrew Willow (Salix matsudana Tortuosa)

This type is popular because it has twisting branches, which may give interest throughout the winter months. It is not a shrubby plant with several stems but a complete tree in its own right. In addition to its usage as a focal point in flower presentations, the corkscrew willow may also be grown as a bonsai. Because of the close relationship between the weeping willow and the species known as S. matsudana, some botanists regard the latter as a naturally occurring variant of the former tree. S. matsudana ‘Tortuosa’ is among the most popular varieties, and its twisted branches distinguish it. Other cultivars, such as ‘Golden Curls’ & ‘Scarlet Curls,’ are also available.

Brittle willow (Salix fragilis)

This plant is covered with a beautiful green crown and curved design. Such a tree is around 15 meters long. It doesn’t start blooming until May. Rapid roots and growth are this type’s key benefits.

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FAQ

Are weeping willow roots invasive?

When it comes to tree roots, weeping willow roots are among the worst. The roots are invasive, spreading deeper than the tree itself in search of water in places like sewers and septic systems.

Are flowers present on all weeping willows?

Willows are dioecious trees, meaning they can be either male or female, although both sexes grow catkins, which are flower clusters, on their branches.