No More Willow Woes: A Trusty Tree Services Guide to Learning About Willow Tree Care
Edmonton has a wide variety of willow trees. They are very decorative, but they also offer a wide range of benefits, including shade and privacy for you and your family, improved soil and air quality, erosion control, and water filtration. It is why it is so important to practice proper willow tree care. Edmonton arborists from Trusty Tree Services are here with your guide to identifying and caring for these fast-growing, ornamental, functional beauties.
Willows are great for the environment, allowing pollinators to flourish, so be sure to keep reading our guide to willow tree care. Edmonton homeowners can even enjoy medicinal benefits from willow bark’s anti-inflammatory properties.
Do You Have a Willow Tree on Your Property?
This is a good question because willow trees come in a variety of shapes and sizes, ranging from shrubs and small trees to tall trees that reach up to 25 meters or more. Edmonton is home to many willow trees, such as the rose-gold pussy willow, goat willow, and beaked willow. However, they do have some things in common. These include:
- Willow trees typically have slender, flexible branches with a graceful, drooping appearance.
- Willow leaves are usually narrow, elongated, and smooth-edged, and sometimes they have a silvery underside or slight sheen.
- Their bark is often rough, ridged, and deeply furrowed, usually grey-brown in colour.
- In the spring, willows produce cylindrical catkins (flower clusters) which are fuzzy and range in color from yellow-grey and bluish-grey to silvery and pinkish-grey catkins.
- Some willow species in Alberta are smaller, with reddish-brown, slender branches and short leaves that are 2 to 5 cm long.
- Willows range in size from small shrubs to tall trees, with some having upswept or twisted branches.
Proper Willow Tree Care in Edmonton
Now that you know more about the different willow varieties, and hopefully you know the answer to your question, “Do I have a willow tree?” We can get started on making the most of the planting and growing season. Willow trees and shrubs will both benefit our guide on willow care. We’ll help you learn how to grow young trees and how to plant them properly.
Selecting and Planting
Planting willow trees takes great care, but it all starts with which willow tree you select. Our Edmonton arborists recommend choosing a willow species suited to the local climate, such as the beaked willow. Beaked willows tolerate both wet and moderately dry soil and grow well in both partial and full sun.
The best time to plant a willow tree or shrub in Edmonton is in the early spring or early fall. This early-season planting is key because the temperature is cool and the soil is naturally moist, allowing young trees to thrive and reducing their stress.
Willows prefer well-drained, moist soil, including clay, loam, or sandy textures. To plant them, dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball. Remove weeds and grass around the planting bed before planting. Willow varieties also naturally grow in wet conditions near water, which makes planting them near a pond, river, or moist area can support their water needs and root system growth.
Think about planting away from structures like patios and ensure they are near water to allow their extensive root system to grow quickly during the first growing season. You’ll be certain to end up with a willow that is the focal point of your garden design and landscape.
Watering and Mulching
Willows require regular watering, especially new growth and during periods of drought. Keep soil moist but not waterlogged. Water the plant at the root zone and around the base, but avoid watering the foliage to prevent disease.
For mulching, apply a 2-3-inch-thick layer of organic mulch around the base of the tree to retain moisture, regulate temperature, and suppress weeds. Keep mulch away from the base to improve air circulation and avoid rotting.
Pruning and Maintenance
You should prune in late winter or early spring, before the new top growth starts. Thin out crowded leaves, as well as dead, diseased, or crossing or overcrowded branches, to improve the health and appearance of your tree. Regular pruning helps these fast-growing trees control their size and graceful shape. Shrub willows benefit from cutting back stems and lower leaves, and reducing size by one-third to a half in early spring to encourage growth. Our professionals can enhance the ornamental value of your tree through our tree pruning services.
Pest and Disease Management
While there are some beneficial insects, for the most part, you need to watch for certain pests and diseases such as aphids, caterpillars, and willow beetles. Take the time to regularly inspect your tree, and use organic insecticide soap, such as neem oil, if infestations occur. Willow trees in Edmonton may suffer from willow scab or black canker, which are characterized by dark lesions or wilting leaves. Cutting back affected areas will improve air circulation. Fungicides can be introduced if the problem persists.
Winter Care
With Edmonton’s harsh winters, it is important to protect these fast-growing trees, especially for less hardy willow varieties such as pussy willows. Mulch and wrapping young trees are often used to protect willows from severe wind and frost.
Special Edmonton Considerations
Edmonton has a variety of soil types, with common clay, which benefits from mulching and fertilizer amendments to improve drainage and nutrient levels. This helps these fast-growing beauties reach their full potential, creating quick shade or privacy screens. Avoid planting your willow too close to sidewalks or underground utilities, as its extensive root system can be invasive and disrupt structures.
Need Help Pruning Your Willow Tree? Call Trusty Tree Services and their Professional Edmonton Arborists Today!
Thank you for reading our guide to willow tree care. We hope you enjoyed it as much as we enjoy the leaves turning yellow and gold in the fall. While we all know willow catkins, decorative stems, and side shoots are often used in floral arrangements, and that their dark green leaves, sap, pollen, and nectar all help insects, not all of us know how to care for our willows. That is where our local Edmonton arborist comes in. We offer a wide range of services, whether you need help at planting time for your pussy willows or the leaves have dropped and you need help with tree removal, we have you covered.
Contact us today to experience the beauty of a willow tree for yourself.