Like other willows, the sal willow can be propagated using cuttings. These do not always root reliably, so it is better to use several cuttings. You usually get female plants. The male willows (Salix caprea mas) are refined.
How to propagate willows?
To propagate the willow, cut off several annual branches at the end of February, place up to a third of their length in loose, humus-rich soil in a partially shaded, wind-protected location and keep the substrate moist. Male sal willows are propagated through grafting.
The willow is a robust, hardy tree that grows wild in our latitudes as a large shrub or small tree or is cultivated in parks and large gardens. In spring, the willow is the first harbinger of spring with its distinctive catkin flowers and is very popular with bees and people.
Salix caprea is characterized by strong growth of up to 100 cm per year. However, it is an extremely pruning-tolerant plant, so its growth rate can be kept within limits through targeted annual care pruning. The cut branches can be used for propagation, for example to grow new hedge plants.
Cuttings propagation step by step
This type of propagation only produces female plants. The following points are important:
- use several annual branches for propagation due to unreliable rooting,
- Cut cuttings (branch ends) at the end of February, before the leaves emerge,
- The location should be partially shaded and protected from the wind,
- Place the cuttings up to a third of the length of the branch into the loose, humus-rich soil,
- Press the soil down well and water,
- Keep the substrate evenly moist, do not let it dry out!
Once the cuttings have developed roots, they are placed in their final location with a ball of soil at the end of September or next spring. Depending on the purpose of propagation, the cutting is allowed to grow into a small or large willow bush or tree through training pruning.
Refining
The commercially available male sage willow varieties (Salix caprea mas) are the refined plants. In this propagation process, individual shoots or buds of one type of tree are placed on the so-called base of the other type of tree. This is done by seeding or grafting and requires gardening experience.
Tip
Other Salix species are easier to propagate from cuttings: osier (Salix viminalis), purple willow (Salix purpurea), weeping willow (Salix alba Tristis) or corkscrew willow (Salix matsudana Tortuosa).
