How to Replant a Weeping Willow

Weeping willows are beautiful and unique trees that add presence to any landscape. You can purchase weeping willows bare-root or planted in a bucket from a nursery. If you already have a weeping willow tree, you may have sprouts of new weeping willows growing under the parent tree. Planting it is the same for sprouts or bucket grown trees; bare-root trees require different steps. Prior to planting, soak bare-root plants in water for at least eight hours to ensure proper hydration.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Shovel
• Pitchfork
• Pulverized bark or mulch

1. Dig a planting hole that is three times as wide as the root ball and as deep as the root ball. If the weeping willow is bare-root, dig the hole as wide as the spread out roots. Scarify the sides of the planting hole with a pitchfork or shovel.

2. Fill the planting hole with water, then set the weeping willow in the planting hole. Backfill the planting hole with soil.

3. Create a water ring around the perimeter of the planting hole by piling soil up to a height of 3 to 4 inches. The water ring helps divert water to the outermost roots and helps keep the area near the trunk of the tree moist.

4. Mulch the weeping willow with at least 3 inches of pulverized bark or mulch. Water the weeping willow with at least an inch of water. Be sure to water the weeping willow once a week with an inch of water.

5. After six weeks, fertilize the weeping willow with a good shrub and tree fertilizer. Fertilize the weeping willow every three years. The best time to fertilize is in mid-spring.

Tips & Warnings

• The weeping willow is tolerant to deer, though deer will eat it if there is nothing else available. It is also tolerant to heat and humidity, but does not grow well outside zones six through eight.
• If you live in a particularly windy location, you may want to stake the weeping willow until it becomes established.
• Do not plant the weeping willow near any septic tanks or septic lines; the roots will invade the system and clog the underground pipes.

References

• Backyardgardener