Staking is not necessary unless you plant the tree in a windy spot. But, if you choose wisely, you can find trees that not only grow in wet, swampy area, but will thrive and may even help correct the poor drainage in that area. We have a high water table, and I am looking for a natural way to make the lawn drier so the kids can play on it. The branches seem to cascade down the tree with a waterfall-like appearance. A: It sounds like you have a good site for weeping willow. Here are plants that I have seen with my own eyes growing in standing water (<3′) for weeks at a time and surviving well. Fill in around the roots, firming the soil to remove air pockets and ensure that the tree is secure. Afterwards, you only need to water it enough so that the soil doesn’t dry out. You can test the pH balance of your soil with a kit purchased from a gardening center, or you can send it … Try and use something no smaller than a three gallon bucket for a single cutting. Their width can equal their height, so they can wind up as very large trees. This tree is a fast grower to about 40 feet with a very wide canopy. A withy is a single willow stem. This applies to cuttings, whips, rods and trees, especially the more vigorous varieties. Just avoid planting a weeping willow anywhere near water or sewer lines (or septic tank drain fields). The list is Midwestern and Eastern North America centered, pretty much east of the 100th meridian. After soaking, you can take them out and place them in pots of soil or plant them directly into the garden (preferably a shadier location first and then transplant once established). Cover the planting hole halfway with soil and firm up around the base of the plant. My first weeping willow sapling freshly planted in the swamp . The branches bear long narrow leaves that may have white or silky ventral surfaces. Within a few months, you will have a new willow tree. Let me be blunt (I'm known for this) -- if you plant a weeping willow in the burbs, the best you can hope for is that it will die quickly. The largest of the varieties, Salix cinerea can grow to heights of up to 49 feet as an older tree. I’ve seen some grow to a ripe old age but many succumb to insect pests, drought and winter damage within the first ten years. You can make garden rooms, create childrens' play areas and provide privacy more quickly than with a more traditional hedge The graceful weeping willow is an attention-getter in any landscape. Do you have any other suggestions? Caution: Weeping willows should be planted carefully, because older trees can no longer be transplanted. Weeping willow (Salix babylonica) is a beautiful tree when seen along the shoreline, but it’s much too big and messy for the typical home landscape.Add in the fact that the roots go everywhere in search of water (particularly problematic near septic systems and sewer pipes), and you can see why this one needs to stay by the water — and away from your yard. If you plan on planting a willow tree and want it to grow faster, then you’re in the right place. Varieties - Willows can be either trees or shrubs, depending upon the plant. Try it out if you want to add some unique beauty to your garden! Plant specs. They are bottomland trees and will seek out water, whether it is in the ground, the septic system or sewer, moisture on the foundation on a house, water pipes. Water the root ball before placing the weeping willow in its new planting site. Salix cinerea, ‘Grey Willow’, ‘Large Grey Willow’, ‘Grey Sallow’ Salix cinerea. While it's true some plants are thirstier than others and can draw a good deal of moisture out of the ground, there is a limit to how much water they will take up - only as much as they need, no more. I know weeping willows love water, but I am not sure if they can tolerate this much! How to plant willows. If you’d like to grow this beautiful tree, make sure you: Plant weeping willow trees by digging a hole as deep as the ro ot ball and twice as wide. The weeping willow is a shallow root, which forms a densely branched root system. Look for the ones with "HT" on them, for "heat treated"; the "MT" ones were treated with Methyl Bromide - very toxic. Fertilizing. Water regularly in dry weather and feed a couple of times a week. You could put down some pallets to walk on, make a "bridge" across the area that way, which would keep from compressing the soil to keep it absorbent. Weeping Willow. 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