How To: Planting and Caring for Weeping Willows
One of the really nice things about weeping willows is that they grow fast and are highly adaptable. They do work best in growing zones 4-9 (see map of growing zones here) but they will survive in almost any soil or growing conditions.
They grow really big. Mature weeping willows reach a height between forty and fifty feet and a width of thirty-five feet. This leads many people to think that planting one in their yard would be much too difficult a feat. This however, is not true. New trees can be grown relatively easily merely from cutting from an existing weeping willow. New trees can sometimes even be grown from very large branches if they are stuck in boggy soil and kept moist all during the spring. Trying to grow a tree from a cutting or a branch can, however, be an iffy business. If you want to make sure that you will have a tree there are plenty of places online that you can order one. One tree should not cost more than thirty dollars and should only be about three to five feet tall when you receive it.
If you do order a weeping willow either online or from a catalogue don't worry if it has no leaves. The tree will most likely have been kept in a dormant state while being shipped to you. If you are worried that the tree you've received is dead merely scratch off a bit of the bark approximately an inch about the root system. White or green means the tree is alive; brown or black mean it is dead. Most places will have a policy where if you do receive a dead tree they will refund your money or at least send you a new tree.
You should plant your weeping willow at least 6 weeks before the first frost so that it has time to become adjusted to its environment. When planting your willow, the hole should be about twice the size of the root system so that the roots have plenty of room to spread. Also make sure to cover all the roots completely as the air will dry them out.
Weeping willows will grow almost anywhere you plant. Just be sure that if it's a very dry area that the willow gets watered during the first year. If you have an area where puddles are prone to forming you might consider planting your willow near there as they will dry up most standing water.
The leaves will fall off and the stem will turn brown during late fall and winter. In the spring, weeping willows are one of the first trees to start growing new leaves. Weeping willows are also one of the fastest growing trees.
Weeping willows require very little care. Weeds and grass should be kept from growing within three feet during the first year and chemicals such as weed spray should not be used on the tree but other then that there is very little that has to be done besides watch your willow tree grow.
Published by Theresa Sylvester
I'm 23 year old single mother. Trying to get my life on track. I hope that in a year I'll have a real job and my own place. For now, I'm watching my little girl grow and being nanny to my nephew and suppleme... View profile
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8 Comments
Post a CommentI have a small prairie cascade (weeping willow) and am unsure how to properly care for it. It grew wonderfully the first year, last year was a drought so it was maintained with watering but did not grow. This year we have had more then enough moisture and the tree has flourished but only with the branches. It has not grown any taller and now i have branches trailing on the ground. Do i need to prune the bottom branches to help promote growth, and do i trim back the trailing branches so as to get them off the ground?
My willow tree is about ten years old and I pruned it back for the first time today, did I mess it up or will it come back?
I am researching soil information for weeping willows as I have planted 2 weeping willows in the same spot over the last couple of years and have lost both of them. I have kept them watered well and sprayed as I have had problems with aphid infestation. I have neighbors throughout my neighborhood that have beautiful specimens in their yards, yet mine keep dieing. I have a green thumb and grow hundreds of plants. What am I doing wrong. Do you have any suggestions. timthepiper@yahoo.com
I enjoyed the info about weeping willows. My husband just planted one near our pond.Does anyone know if the roots will end up in the pond. We use our pond alot in the summer. Also what about the weeping willow tree by a septic field? I would like some info. cinmorg@pop4.net
Weeping willows are my favorite tree. We had a beautiful one growing in our yard in Pennsylvania - in just 3 years it grew from a twig to a very large tree. Unfortunately, we now live in that small section of Wyoming that is zone 3, and we can't get one to grow here because it is way too dry. Great article!
I have always loved weeping willows. Thanks for the tips.
I love weeping willows - especially near the water like you showed.
My favorite tree. I just found out(somewhere else) how many varieties there are. Anywho, we just got a few so this will help.