Bulbs
Flower Basics
Flower Beds & Specialty Gardens
Flower Garden
Garden Furniture
Garden Gnomes
Garden Seeds
Garden Sheds
Garden Statues
Garden Tools & Supplies
Gardening Basics
Green & Organic
Groundcovers & Vines
Growing Annuals
Growing Basil
Growing Beans
Growing Berries
Growing Blueberries
Growing Cactus
Growing Corn
Growing Cotton
Growing Edibles
Growing Flowers
Growing Garlic
Growing Grapes
Growing Grass
Growing Herbs
Growing Jasmine
Growing Mint
Growing Mushrooms
Orchids
Growing Peanuts
Growing Perennials
Growing Plants
Growing Rosemary
Growing Roses
Growing Strawberries
Growing Sunflowers
Growing Thyme
Growing Tomatoes
Growing Tulips
Growing Vegetables
Herb Basics
Herb Garden
Indoor Growing
Landscaping Basics
Landscaping Patios
Landscaping Plants
Landscaping Shrubs
Landscaping Trees
Landscaping Walks & Pathways
Lawn Basics
Lawn Maintenance
Lawn Mowers
Lawn Ornaments
Lawn Planting
Lawn Tools
Outdoor Growing
Overall Landscape Planning
Pests, Weeds & Problems
Plant Basics
Rock Garden
Rose Garden
Shrubs
Soil
Specialty Gardens
Trees
Vegetable Garden
Yard Maintenance
When Is the Best Time to Prune a Willow Tree?
When Is the Best Time to Prune a Willow Tree?. Most willow trees thrive in damp, well-drained soils. Like other trees, willows require occasional pruning to help them retain their shape, provide starts for propagation and remove diseased growth.
Most willow trees thrive in damp, well-drained soils. Like other trees, willows require occasional pruning to help them retain their shape, provide starts for propagation and remove diseased growth.
Shaping
The best time to perform heavy pruning on your willow tree is after it loses its leaves in the late fall or winter. The bare branches allow a clear view of the tree's form, enabling you to cut the overgrowth away quickly and easily. Avoid heavy pruning for shaping purposes during the summer months, when the presence of disease pathogens increases the risk of damage.
Removing Damage
The best time to prune off damaged or diseased branches is as soon as they appear, regardless of the season. Disinfect your pruning shears with a solution of 1 part household bleach to 9 parts water, dipping the shears after each cut. Remove damaged growth about 2 inches above the affected portions.
Cuttings
Many types of willows propagate readily from vegetative cuttings. The best time to prune sections for propagation purposes is in the spring. Select just a few branches from each willow tree, removing just the top 10 to 15 inches of pliable branches containing numerous leaf buds. Inserted in a solution of water and rooting compound, these branches often form new roots.
