Weeping willows are wonderful trees. They have a somewhat sorrowful grace to them and they are an aesthetic addition to many yards and gardens. Weeping willows also work great next to ponds or lakes.
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.
