Willow Tree, Gracefully Weeping
Posted in landscaping, treesKeeping a vigil unasleep, | Counting the slow hours upon her leaves, | Marking the passage of the stars beyond, | Till moonshine glimmers pale upon | Her heavy-laden branches | And, bending, sweeps | The tangled, fallen, leaves | Into the fount of all her tears, hopes and fears.
But why? Pray, why? | Hush now, time to sleep. | I’ll tell you–by and by– | Why the sad willow weeps.
~J.C. Hall
Willow trees grow fast, but that is not the main reason to grow them. The main reason is their graceful presence in the landscape. The best known of weeping trees, it has been a memorable icon of fond thoughts of loved ones. A famous example of a weeping willow was captured in Monet’s Water-Lily Pond and Weeping Willow painting.
Willows are graceful trees
I planted my first willow trees five years ago, and that one is now among the largest trees on the property. It creates a sense of mystery in my too-open yard and filters the view of the road. I have trimmed out some branches and trimmed up some of the drooping fronds to make mowing underneath simpler. It gives the tree a tidier appearance. Plus, I used the extra trimmings to make a garden tuteur.
There are many types of willows- it is a big family of garden trees and shrubs, but I am describing the Weeping willow, Salix babylonica.
[The look]
- May grow from 30-40 feet tall and 35′ wide.
- soft green color with distinctive golden green when first leafing out in springtime.
- light, pendulous branchlets hang down to softly brush the ground
- gray brown deeply fissured bark
- Zones 5-8
- grows up to 10 ft. a year
- adaptable to many conditions
- little tree litter
- keep away from drains
[The needs]
Very easy to grow, the willow adapts to most soils and conditions.
Loves moisture.
It is a large consumer of moisture, and that is why it inhabits stream banks and other moist areas. Willows actually like standing water, and any lake, pond, or river side makes them happy. If you don’t have a readily available source of moisture the roots may roam to your house drains. That is not a good thing! Take note if you are thinking about planting a tree in proximity to a house- another tree is probably a better choice, especially since willows are weak wooded trees and branches may break in wind conditions.
“The roots are remarkable for their toughness, size, and tenacity of life, and roots readily grow from aerial parts of the plant. -so says the wikipedia“
Fertilize little, if at all.
Sometimes a willow trees gets pests and diseases, including borers and bacterial blight.
Willow trees can be pollarded, but it isn’t recommended for those who like the grace of the natural form of this tree. They may be pruned to fit their situation with less destruction of their form. but if a tree is very old and misshapen, and in need of rejuvenating, you might read these pdf files on how to use the pollard technique.
[propagation]
Simple as pie, some people recommend just sticking twig sprigs into the ground, and I ‘m sure they mean ground that you keep moist.
[fun facts]
Willow branches are used for many types of crafts including making garden ornaments, furniture, and weaving baskets.
Sketching charcoal is often made from processed willow bark and trees.
The original aspirin, salicylic acid, was made from willow bark. Today’s aspirin is a synthetic that is easier on the stomach, etc.
The Willow Song; “Desdemona’s song from Othello. The earliest copy is in a lute book dated 1583″
The Magnolia page might also interest you.
