If you want an undemanding and robust plant for your garden, you are well advised to choose a harlequin willow. The Japanese ornamental tree requires little attention when it comes to care, but in contrast it attracts everyone's attention. In order to maintain longevity and a certain aesthetic, you should still consider the tips in the following guide.
How do I care for a harlequin willow?
Caring for a harlequin willow includes regular watering, annual fertilization, pruning, overwintering outdoors, and pest control. The plant requires a high supply of water, a mild fertilizer before new growth and a topiary to grow bushy and attractive.
Important care measures
- Pouring
- Fertilize
- Cutting
- Wintering
- Pest Control
Watering behavior
Keep the harlequin willow substrate constantly moist. The ornamental tree requires a high supply of water. Especially if you have freshly planted your harlequin willow in the ground, you need to water the plant regularly. However, if you give the plant too much water, this will result in brown shoot tips. If you adjust the watering to the appropriate amount, this feature regulates itself.
Fertilizer application
Fertilize your harlequin willow once a year. The right date is the time before new growth. Here too, you should pay attention to a rather mild dosage. Depending on the growth condition, a second fertilization is possible during the year.
pruning
Pruning is essential when caring for the harlequin willow.
- They avoid complete rewilding
- The plant retains its attractive crown shape
- They prevent the branches from becoming woody
- The crown grows denser and bushier
The latter point is particularly important when pruning in spring. You must consider the following aspects when cutting the harlequin willow:
- No sunlight
- No Frost
- Remove brown shoots and diseased branches
- It's better to shorten the branches radically than too little
- Prune he althy branches by two-thirds of the length
- Lighten the crown
- Shape the crown into the desired shape
- Never cut into the grafted trunk
Wintering
A planted harlequin willow does not need any frost protection. You should only cover the pot with a layer of mulch when keeping it in a pot. It is not advisable to overwinter indoors.
Pest Control
You can prevent an infestation by regularly checking the leaves of the harlequin willow for symptoms of disease. As a rule, the plant is very robust against pests.
