Gardening with Gary

Gardening Advice from an Expert

Pussy Willows

Member Dnardone writes~ A friend of mine gave me 5 pussy willow bushes that he had started in pots. I'm not sure where to plant them or how to care for them. They seem to be doing really well in the pots right now. I live in New Jersey. I'd like to get them in the ground soon. I can't find much about pussy willows on the Internet. I'm not even sure how big they will get. Is it OK if I put them at the corner of a property that is a little low where the rain collects? Also, how far apart should I plant these bushes? Should I cut these back each year?

A. Pussy willows (Salix discolor) do well in almost any soil but it is a good idea to supplement it with peat moss, leaf mold or compost. They require full sun to thrive, but will survive in the shade as well. As with most willows, they do best when given lots of water. Therefore, that spot of yours should work well. Although they can be allowed to grow unpruned, reaching up to 6-8', the plant will benefit from regular pruning after blooming. Prune the lowest branches back to the trunk, and prune for shape. You can even cut the tree back to a six inch stump every 2-3 years (severe pruning results in the longer stems and larger catkins). Flowers form on the previous season's growth, not on new growth so do not prune until after the flowers have faded.

For early bloom, cut branches of Pussy willows may be brought in and set in a water filled vase in a sunny window anytime after the middle of January. The catkins will develop and make a nice display for a considerable time.

Pussy willows are extremely easy to multiply. They root so easily that stems of almost any size can simply be stuck into moist soil in the spring, and they will take hold within a few weeks. The cutting must be set the right end up (as it originally grew). Cuttings should be from new growth, at least as thick as a pencil, and a foot or more long for direct sticking. At least one or two buds must be above ground when the cutting is set. I recommend that you space the plants out in the garden to about 4', as this way they can grow together and look natural. They are quite delightful. Also, please give them a 2" mulch for winter protection.

Assistance credited to The Garden Helper

Joe writes~ Can you please let me know what time of year to start new pussy willows, and also, how to propagate them?

A. I do not know your zone, so I will recommend that you do your propagating in the Spring. The temps will be rising, the hormones flowing, the light getting stronger, and days longer. Success is more assured at this time. This is true for so many of our garden and house plants!

Willows are not fussy plants. All prefer full sun, but most tolerate some shade. They uniformly prefer wet, even soggy soils, but most adapt just fine to dry soils, though supplemental irrigation may be required. Some, such as S. caprea, thrive in relatively barren soil and also tolerate salty seaside conditions. All willows are fast growing and short-lived, and their wood is notably weak and prone to breaking.

Occasionally, aphids, scale, and Japanese beetles are a problem, and powdery mildew and rust diseases also sometimes appear. In every case but the Japanese beetles, pruning to the ground in spring after flowering reduces or eliminates the pest. Even normal pruning will usually rejuvenate the plant. "Willows are so vigorous that these [pests and diseases] will rarely kill the plant," says Ray Prag.

Most willows need pruning for two reasons: to maintain a convenient size and to stimulate growth of long stems for cutting. Heavy pruning (all the way to the ground) also stimulates more vigorous growth, which results in larger catkins. However desirable for the above reasons, heavy annual pruning may also produce a somewhat rangy-looking plant. If your willow is positioned in a prominent location, so that appearance is important, prune out a third of the oldest wood each year. Older wood is more susceptible to disease and pest problems. Prune just before the leaves come out, in late winter or early spring.

It's easy to propagate willows by cuttings. Start with an 8-inch leafless section of stem in spring. Plant it in a 4-inch pot filled with moist potting soil, then place it in a cool, shaded location. As soon as roots emerge from the pot's drainage hole, plant it in a permanent location or transplant to a larger container. Alternatively, you can plant willow cuttings directly in the ground in spring.

Assistance from: The National Gardening Association.