Weeping Willow

Do you want to plant a Weeping Willow? Here you will find all the information you need on how to best plant the Weeping Willow, and on pruning and caring for your Weeping Willow.
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General characteristics of a Weeping Willow

Willow (Weeping)

The weeping willow is a sub- species of the willow tree

The willow, more specifically the Weeping Willow has quite a striking appearance, this is mainly due to it's shape. The tree has long drooping branches that can reach all the way down to the ground. An important characteristic of this tree is that it thrives in wet conditions. It's gracious shape and love for water are some of the reasons why it's often times planted along the waters edge and in parks. It's leaves are light green and the underside is slightly ligher in colour. The branches are thin and very flexible.

Characteristics


How to plant a Weeping Willow

Usually delivered as self rooting willow twigs that are between 1 to 3 meters in length. Plant these as deep as possible, 40 to 60 centimeters, preferably up until the place where the soil is moist. Planting period: between the middle of February and the end of March. Alternatively one can allow the willow twigs to grow roots in water.

How to harvest a Weeping Willow

Freshly cut branches/ twigs can be used to grow roots or put into the soil immediately.

Caring for and pruning your Weeping Willow

The weeping willow tree does not require pruning. Pruning can be applied to maintain it's shape or to prevent the tree from growing too big.

Where does a Weeping Willow grow

Damp to wet places, allong the waters edge, in (city)parks. This species requires plenty of space.


General

Origin
Native
Tree Type Deciduous tree

Length and Age

Length in about 10 years 15 Up to 20 Meter
Reproductive Maturity in How Many Years 5 Up to 10 year
Maximum Age 30 Up to 75 year
Required Space 100 Up to 400m2
Growth Rate

Reproduction

Tree is Self-Pollinating No
Reproduction Method
To be pollarded (the slit is approximately 2m)
Reproduction rate

Reproduction rate

1. Very low reproduction rate. The plant hardly spreads, has few seeds or vegetative spread (e.g., trees with heavy seeds).
2. Low reproduction rate. Spread via limited seed production or specific conditions required
3. Average reproduction rate. Regular spread, depending on wind, water, or animals, at a moderate speed (e.g., dandelion).
4. High reproduction rate. Many seeds and multiple spread strategies (wind, birds, vegetative). Quickly colonizes open spaces
5. Very high reproduction rate. Invasive species that spread explosively over large distances (e.g., Japanese knotweed).

Pruning Period

This Tree is Evergreen No
Summer No pruning in summer
Winter November tot March
Leaf Shapes Lanceolate
Easy to prune Yes

Bark Characteristics Seedling (50-200cm)

Lenticels Yes
Colour

Bud Characteristics Seedling (50-200cm)

Colour
Bud Position
Varied
Bud Shape
Pointed

Other

Root
Deep and wide roots
Bloom
Has catkins
Wind sensitivity Not sensitive to (sea) wind

Diseases

Sensitive to the Following Diseases
Watermark disease (Willow)

Harvest/recognition in winter

Thin, flexible and drooping branches. It has a greyish appearance in autumn and winter.

Light requirement of the Weeping Willow

The Weeping Willow thrives best under these light conditions.
  • Full sun

    • Suitable soil types for the Weeping Willow

    In this overview, you can find which soil types are best for the Weeping Willow to grow.
    Soil type Suitability
    light clay
    heavy clay
    sand
    peatland
    Loam
    Moerig op zand
    Lichte zavel
    Zware zavel

    Humidity

    A (ground)water level indicates how deep the groundwater usually is below the surface. The higher the Roman numeral, the deeper the groundwater.
    I
    II
    III
    IV
    V
    VI
    VII
    VIII

    Suitable acidity level for the Weeping Willow

    Each soil type has a certain acidity level, measured in pH values. You can plant the Weeping Willow in soil that falls within this range:
    0.0
    0.5
    1.0
    1.5
    2.0
    2.5
    3.0
    3.5
    4.0
    4.5
    5.0
    5.5
    6.0
    6.5
    7.0
    7.5
    8.0
    8.5
    9.0

    Nutritional needs of the Weeping Willow

    Some soil types offer more nutritional richness than others.
    1.0
    1.5
    2.0
    2.5
    3.0
    3.5
    4.0
    4.5
    5.0
    5.5
    6.0
    6.5
    7.0
    7.5
    8.0
    8.5
    9.0
    1. Very nutrient-poor soil
    2. Very nutrient-poor to nutrient-poor soil
    3. Nutrient-poor soil
    4. Nutrient-poor to moderately nutrient-rich soil
    5. Moderately nutrient-rich soil
    6. Moderately nutrient-rich to nutrient-rich soil
    7. Nutrient-rich soil
    8. Extremely nutrient-rich soil
    9. Very extremely nutrient-rich soil

    Humidity

    Does Weeping Willow like to have its roots in extremely dry (1.0) or wet (9.0) soil?
    1.0
    1.5
    2.0
    2.5
    3.0
    3.5
    4.0
    4.5
    5.0
    5.5
    6.0
    6.5
    7.0
    7.5
    8.0
    8.5
    9.0
    1. Extremely dry soils
    2. Extremely dry to dry soils
    3. Dry soils
    4. Dry to dry/moist soils
    5. Dry/moist soils
    6. Dry/moist to moist soils
    7. Moist soils
    8. Moist to wet soils
    9. Wet soils

    To be applied in landscapes

    0 = not filled in, 1 = unsuitable, 5 = very suitable
    Landscape Suitability
    Agroforestry
    Hedge
    Hedge
    Forest
    Feeding hedge
    Back yard
    Small back yard
    Solitary
    Wood wall

    Cultural-historical value

    0 = not filled in, 1 = low, 9 = high

    Insects

    How many insects typically live on this tree/plant? 450
    Which insect groups live on this tree/plant?
    Bees
    Butterflies
    Beetles
    Bumblebees
    Are there insects dependent on this species? No
    Which insect species are dependent on this tree/plant?

    Birds

    Average number of birds per tree/plant?
    Which bird groups live on this tree/plant?

    Mammals

    Average number of mammals per tree/plant?
    Which mammal groups live on this tree/plant?
    Are there mammals dependent on this species? No
    Which mammal species are dependent on this tree/plant?

    Bloom Period

    Summer April Up to October

    Tree Species

    Tree species that this tree prefers to grow with

    Suitable for mammals?

    toxic, 1 = unsuitable, 5 = very suitable
    Mammal Suitability
    Human
    Beavers
    Badgers
    Squirrel
    Ferret
    Goat
    Herbivorous rodents
    Deer
    Dog
    Cat
    Chicken
    Cow
    Mouse
    Horse
    Roe deer
    Sheep
    Pig
    Foxes
    Wild boar

    Explanation

    Explanation

    Edibility

    • Toxic: This tree or shrub is toxic to mammals and absolutely unsuitable for consumption.
    1. Very unsuitable: This tree or shrub is unsuitable for consumption by mammals and can be harmful.
    2. Unsuitable: This tree or shrub is generally unsuitable for consumption by mammals and can have adverse effects.
    3. Moderately suitable: This tree or shrub is moderately suitable as food for mammals, possibly with certain risks or limitations.
    4. Suitable: This tree or shrub is generally suitable as food for mammals, with little to no risks.
    5. Very suitable: This tree or shrub is very suitable as food for mammals, safe, and of high nutritional value.


    Trunk Height

    Average Trunk Height (hg) of the basal area median tree

    from - to, in whole meters, average

    Information not available

    Trunk Diameter

    (dg) (1.30m) of the basal area median tree.

    from - to, in whole centimeters, average

    Information not available

    Aboveground Biomass

    in whole kg

    Information not available

    Belowground Biomass

    in whole kg

    Information not available

    Substance Binder

    Which substances can be bound or absorbed?
    CO2
    Particulate matter

    Carbon Attraction (kf)

    (dg) (1.30m) of the basal area median tree Deciduous Trees (Kf = 0,48)

    Warming Resistance

    This tree is well resistant to the warming (plus 3 degrees) of our climate and fits into the future of our climate (heat and drought resistant). Yes
    CO2
    Particulate matter

    CO2

    0. not filled in
    1. no storage
    2. low storage
    3. moderate storage
    4. high storage
    5. very high storage

    Fine Dust

    0. not filled in
    1. no capture capacity
    2. low capture capacity
    3. moderate capture capacity
    4. high capture capacity
    5. very high capture capacity

    This is what an adult tree Weeping Willow looks like

    Wheeping willow; a mature tree
    Bark of the wheeping willow
    Weeping willow in winter

    This is what a Weeping Willow in bloom looks like

    Wheeping willow in bloom

    This is what the leaf of a Weeping Willow looks like

    Leaf of the wheeping willow