Due to their beautiful appearance, weeping willows are very appealing to gardeners to have the deciduous tree in their own garden. Have you also had this wish for a long time? It is not necessary to purchase a young plant from the nursery. Use the tips on this page to grow your own weeping willow from cuttings. The process is easier than you think.
How to propagate a weeping willow?
Weeping willows can be propagated by cuttings. In winter, cut off 35 cm long shoots at an angle and either plant them directly in the ground or place them in a glass of water. As soon as roots have formed, they can be planted outdoors or in a container.
Appropriate time
The best time to propagate a weeping willow is winter. Between October and February you don't have to worry about disturbing birds while they are breeding when you take the cuttings. In addition, the willows will sprout next spring.
Tip
The varieties Salix pupurea (purple willow) and Salix alba (white willow) prove to be particularly fast-growing.
Variants for propagation
The following two methods are similar in both execution and simplicity. Which variant you prefer is up to you.
Planting cuttings in the soil
- On a frost-free day, cut approximately 35 cm long shoots from an existing weeping willow.
- Make sure you cut at an angle or, if necessary, do it at home.
- Place the cuttings in the soil at the desired location.
- Keep the substrate moist at all times.
Cuttings in a water glass
- Obtain the cuttings in the above manner.
- Place the cuttings in a container with water.
- If the root runners are long enough, plant the shoots outdoors.
Propagate hanging willows
Of course, you can also plant your cuttings in a pot instead of outdoors. However, for hanging willows, which also includes the weeping willow, propagation in this way is somewhat more time-consuming. In order to keep the rapid growth in check, cultivation requires annual radical pruning. So you have to be patient for a few years before the tree has achieved a satisfactory growth habit.
