Trimming a Willow Bush When Small?

If you’re planning to plant a willow bush in your yard, you’ll need to know how to prune it when it’s young. These tips will help you make the willow look graceful and pleasing. First, decide which kind of willow you’d like to plant. 

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Weeping Pussy Willow 

It’s best to prune your Weeping Pussy Willow tree when it is young and hasn’t grown overly dense. Cutting off the lower limbs will allow new branches to sprout. This will improve the overall health of the tree and produce long straight branches. Trimming during its younger years will also help it produce fewer branches that hang over the lair. 

Weeping Pussy Willows are susceptible to fungal diseases. These can cause brown patches on the leaves or wilting branches. If left untreated, they can stunt the plant and die. To treat these diseases, use a copper fungicide. Another fungal disease is twig blight, which causes the twigs to become black and develop cankers. Powdery mildew, which leaves a white film on the leaves, is another common problem. You can treat this with a fungicide or by applying neem oil. 

Japanese willow 

Pruning a Japanese willow bush is an important part of caring for the plant. It is best to prune the shrub when it is small to control its size. Cut the new growth and the hard-pruned portions of the willow. Hard-pruned sections will take on a branching appearance. You should remove these sections to keep the willow looking its best. The best time to prune a Japanese willow is late winter or early spring. 

To start pruning your Japanese willow, remove approximately 30 percent of its height. Then, prune the new growth back to a height of about a foot or less. This process will help the willow grow more efficiently. 

Dwarf Arctic Willow 

Trimming a dwarf Arctic Willow bush is relatively easy. It is best to prune the branches when small. This shrub grows in groups and makes an excellent screen or hedge in a shrub border. It also tolerates shearing and can be shaped into a ball. Its soft, wispy branches wave in the wind. 

When you prune a dwarf blue Arctic willow, you’ll want to take care to keep its rounded shape. Its spherical shape gives it a sculptural look that makes it ideal for topiary and formal gardens. In addition to being easy to shape, it also looks good with mulch. This shrub thrives in USDA hardiness zones three through six. 

Pussy Willow 

To get the best result from your willow bush, begin by pruning its top growth and cutting back the older branches. This will encourage new growth and reduce the risk of disease. Cutting back a willow will also encourage new shoots to form from the roots. The best time to prune a willow is in the winter or early spring. In spring, you can plant dormant cuttings the in soil, placing two or three buds above the soil level. Water the cuttings regularly during the growing season. 

While pruning a willow tree is not necessary every day, you should be very careful not to cut the trunk. This can result in sap oozing out of the tree. In addition, it can be difficult to identify the central leader. To make it easier to determine the central leader, trim back the largest branch of the trunk.