Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Gardening

Planting and caring for a willow tree, an elegant addition to any yard or garden

A guide to caring for a willow tree

By
A weeping willow in fall
Image used with permission by copyright holder

If you’re looking for a tree to plant near a river or other water source, then a willow tree is likely going to come to mind. These beautiful and elegant trees love wet soil, and they’re easier to care for than you might first suspect. Even if your backyard doesn’t have a pond or river, you can still grow one of these lovely trees. Here’s everything you need to know to successfully grow a willow tree in your yard or garden.

Recommended Videos

Difficulty

Moderate

What You Need

  • Container with drainage holes (optional)

  • Balanced fertilizer or compost

  • Water

A weeping willow tree in a field
Tama66 / Pixabay

Choosing a willow tree variety

Weeping willows are perhaps the most common willow variety, with their long, vine-like branches that trail toward the ground. However, there are other willow tree varieties to choose from as well!

If you’re low on space, then getting a dwarf willow might be a good idea. There are two main types of dwarf willows. Dwarf cultivars of other willow varieties are smaller versions of those trees, with dwarf arctic blue and dwarf purple being the two most common options. There is also dwarf willow Salix herbacea, a tiny creeping willow that's great for containers but has little in common visually with other willows.

If you want something visually appealing, then goat willows or corkscrew willows are for you. The goat willow, also called pussy willow, is a small willow variety with interesting puffy flowers. The corkscrew willow tree earns its name from its curvy, spiral-shaped branches.

A weeping willow tree growing beside a river or pond
peggychoucair / Pixabay

Planting your willow tree

Here's how to plant a willow tree:

Step 1: Plant it in moist, well-draining soil.

Step 2: Plant your tree in the spring or fall.

Related

Step 3: Place your willow tree where it will get full sun in mild climates or partial shade in hot climates.

Step 4: Use a container with drainage holes if you plan on growing your willow tree in a container.

Step 5: Leave room to grow.

Willow tree sizes can vary quite a bit depending on the variety, but it’s important to space them correctly. Pay attention to how close structures and other trees are to your willow tree.

A weeping willow tree planted in a patch of grass surrounded by stone in front of a building
kiwi / Pixabay

Caring for a willow tree

Once you've planted your willow tree, here's how to care for it:

Step 1: Fertilize your willow tree with a balanced fertilizer or add compost in the spring.

This may not be necessary every year, depending on how naturally rich your soil is.

Step 2: Water it frequently during dry weather.

Willow trees can withstand some drought, but they need water to thrive.

Step 3: Watch for fungal infections.

As with other water-loving plants, willow trees can develop fungal infections if left sitting in water for too long.

A willow tree can turn an empty pond into a picturesque relaxation spot, but you don’t need a lake or even a big yard in order to grow this tree. With regular watering, any yard or garden can become the home of a magnificent willow tree. Whether you choose a classic weeping willow or a more unusual variety, these care tips will help your willow tree thrive.

Editors’ Recommendations

Topics
Cayla Leonard
Cayla Leonard
Contributor
Cayla Leonard is a writer from North Carolina who is passionate about plants.  She enjoys reading and writing fiction and…
Beautyberry care made easy: Your complete guide to growing this shrub
Growing your own beautyberry tree
American beautyberry shrub

There are several reasons you might want to add a shrub to your garden. They can have gorgeous flowers, they keep your garden from looking bare during winter, they create a small privacy hedge, and they even benefit your local wildlife. While fruit may not be at the top of your list of reasons, we have a shrub that might change your mind on that! Beautyberry shrubs, true to their name, have incredibly beautiful berries. Want to grow your own? Here’s what you need to know about growing a beautyberry shrub and how to care for your beautyberry in winter.
What are beautyberry shrubs?

Beautyberry shrubs are a group of shrubs in the Callicarpa genus with a fairly wide native range. There are species native to North America, South America, Australia, and most of Asia. There are both evergreen and deciduous varieties, and the berries are technically edible (although the raw berries have an unpleasant flavor). Callicarpa americana, the American beautyberry, is found primarily in the southeastern U.S. It’s a deciduous species, and the berries are sometimes used to make a jam that is much tastier than the raw berries.

Read more
Winterberry: A complete care guide for this holiday favorite
Adding a winterberry tree to your garden
A spineless holly or winterberry plant

The outdoors in winter can seem bleak and barren, but there are actually many plants that still thrive in the snow! In addition to early blooming flowers and winter vegetables, there are many types of evergreens. If planting different types of pine tree isn’t your idea of a good time, then consider planting some winterberry trees instead. This lovely tree is great for most types of gardens and can provide color and interest to your winter garden. Want to get started growing your own winterberry tree? Here’s everything you need to know in order to successfully care for your winterberry.
What are winterberries?

A winterberry tree is a small tree or shrub in the holly family. Ilex verticillata is the botanical name, but it's typically easy to find under the common name winterberry. True to its name, this shrub produces red or orange berries in late fall and winter. Although it is a type of holly, it doesn't have the glossy, spined leaves characteristic of English holly. Instead, it has long, oval leaves that are a lighter shade of green and don't spines. These plants are also dioecious, meaning the male and female flowers appear on different plants. That means if you want to see berries, you'll need at least two winterberry trees.

Read more
How to care for coreopsis, a long-blooming plant
Caring for cheerful yellow coreopsis flowers
Yellow coreopsis flowers

When planning a garden that is low maintenance and environmentally friendly, one of the first plant categories you should look to is native wildflower species. These flowers aren’t just beautiful -- they’re also easy to care for and provide food and shelter for many native creatures! One such wildflower is coreopsis, a cheerful yellow flower native to most of the U.S. If you want to get started growing your own coreopsis flowers today, then here’s what you need to know about coreopsis care.
Planting coreopsis

Coreopsis can grow from seedlings or mature plants, but are often started from seeds. Like other types of wildflowers, coreopsis seeds are easy to grow. Seeds should be planted no deeper than half an inch and can either be planted directly in your garden after the last frost of the year has passed or started indoors a few weeks beforehand and transplanted after the last frost. If you want a more natural-looking wildflower garden, you can scatter the seeds over the area rather than planting each one individually.

Read more