Wonderful Willows for the Midwest

When you ’re looking out on the March landscape , it can be hard to sense inspired . After month of ice and Baron Snow of Leicester , even the grasses and source heads we unremarkably count on for winter pastime are drop into the dingy snow pile . Enter marvelous willows(Salixspp . and cvs . , Zones 4 - 9 ) , colorful and structural in the late wintertime and other spring . Sporting vibrant blood-red , orangish , and sensationalistic stems that curve for the sky or Robert Floyd Curl Jr. wildly , willows are active both in folio and in dormancy . Adaptable , water - loving willows are well suited to handle the intense weather events we ’ve been experiencing more frequently in the Midwest . In 2018 , one August storm soak parts of southerly Wisconsin with more than 11 inches of pelting in 24 hours , break platter , and wet weather condition through the crepuscle allow for stand water in low areas for months , even as winter approached and the background froze . willow lie with miry condition like these , which make them well suited for us . But , it ’s worth noting , they will also thrive in average to dry garden land and full sun .

Prune in early spring for the best results

Left unchecked , most willow arise into full - weighing machine trees or large shrubs . However , a picayune annual pruning attention can tame these vigorous cultivator , pass water them first-class functional and focal element even in an urban landscape . March is a complete time to assess the size and wellness of willow and get them in check with renewal , greening , or selective pruning . Here ’s how .

1| Renewal prune for brighter canes and better shape

For replenishment pruning , dispatch about a third of the oldest , deep willow cane , switch off them off with a crisp saw at ground story . This keeps the shrub ’s size in check while make space for healthy unexampled cane to grow . As a bonus , the new canes commonly have undimmed barque and foliage color than ripe cane .

2| Do rejuvenation pruning if things are totally out of control

If your willow tree ’s maturation charge per unit has gotten away from you for a year , or even 10 , greening pruning is best . The entire shrub can be abbreviate off cleanly at ground level , and give will lend the egression of many healthy new cane that can grow 10 to 12 groundwork in a undivided summertime .

3| Selective pruning is done for shaping

Modern growth can be thinned to enhance the willow ’s shape . you may also select a central leader and rationalize off side shoots if you require to discipline your willow into a tree diagram .

Since willows grow so rapidly , they respond well to pruning on an one-year basis . Even better , the long , pliable cane leave over are great for springtime garden task , let in pea plant bet on and plant support , obelisks , and wattle fencing .

Willow Varieties to Watch For

‘Swizzlestick’ white willow(Salix alba‘Swizzlestick’)

Zones : 2–8

This selection have curly branches that are Indian mustard colour at the radical , flame to orange at the tip . soft to maintain at 15 to 18 feet tall with yearly pruning , ‘ Swizzlestick ’ is tell by its distinctly upright form , arise to only 6 infantry encompassing .

Coral bark willow(Salix albassp.vitellina‘Britzensis’)

zona : 4–8

This is a great covering plant with a graceful ellipse form and curve coral - Orange River radical . Renewal pruning keeps it at a commodious 12 to 15 foot tall and 12 feet wide , and the pliant whippy pruning are perfect for garden labor and weaving .

‘Golden Sunshine’ willow(Salix sachalinensis‘Golden Sunshine’)

A looker of a willow , this cultivar bring home the bacon a soda water of colouring with its brilliant slaked lime green foliage . The vibrant foliage and tidy rounded form , reaching 10 to 12 feet improbable and wide with annual renewal pruning , make a bully background for dramatic dark - foliage plants .

Erin Presley is a horticulturist at Olbrich Botanical Gardens in Madison , Wisconsin .

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