Weeping Willow Tree

With its classic curved branches, Weeping Willow adds texture, height, shade, and movement to landscapes. The feather-veined, tapered foliage turns a lovely golden yellow during autumn and is offset by silvery gray bark. Chartreuse catkins dangle in springtime. While ideally suited for locations close to water, such as ponds, lakes, and streams, this beautiful deciduous tree can grow almost anywhere. Also known as Salix babylonica, this tree is cold hardy in zones 4 to 9 and supports pollinators, including bees.  

Highly adaptable, weeping willow tolerates various soils and is drought and humidity tolerant. Its roots grow long in search of more water, helping to prevent soil erosion. Once it reaches 10 feet high, this showy tree displays its traditional rounded canopy, providing shade for plants and animals below. Luckily, local deer tend to ignore it. Its lovely foliage will remain throughout spring, summer, and fall on its arched branches. 

Weeping Willow Care

Select a planting site in full to partial sun. Plant weeping willow in well-drained, moist soil. Apply a 2-3-inch ring of organic mulch. Water two times per week until established, but only when the top 2-3 inches of soil are dry. Apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring. A 10-10-10 formula will work well.

Prune during late winter or early spring. Train seedlings and saplings to develop one main stem or leader. Thin the crown by making cuts back to a main branch. Remove dead, diseased, damaged, crossed, and dragging branches and suckers to improve aeration and support the overall health of the tree. Mulch the root zone to prepare for overwintering.

Weeping Willow Spacing

Weeping Willow grows 6 to 8 feet annually, reaching a maximum of 30 to 50 feet in size. These trees are known for their long roots; therefore, choose a spot at least 50 feet away from foundations, water lines, sewers, sidewalks, patios, and driveways to avoid future headaches. Space each tree 30 to 50 feet apart to give ample space for the roots to grow. Underplant Weeping Willow with shade and moisture-loving plants with shallow roots. Examples include ferns, hosta, bleeding heart, and creeping Jenny.

Weeping Willow Tree Information