Garden Care Guide

Willow Care

Salix spp.

A very fast-growing tree/shrub that likes moist to wet soil and full sun. It is ideal for waterside sites but is not drought tolerant, and its water-seeking roots can damage pipes.

Hardy · -35 °C / -31 °F

Monthly care calendar

Timings are for a temperate Northern Hemisphere climate. In warmer areas tasks start earlier, in colder areas later; in the Southern Hemisphere shift them by six months.

January
  • Fertilizing: Well-rotted manure or compost can be added to the soil; do not overapply.
  • Pruning: Main pruning time. Remove dry, diseased, weak and crossing branches. Shrub willows grown for their colored stems are now cut back to the base (coppicing).
  • Plant protection: Apply dormant oil (mineral oil) against scale insect and aphid eggs.
  • General care: Pruned branches can easily be rooted by inserting them into the soil (cuttings).
  • Pests & diseases: Look for signs of canker (sunken, discolored areas) on the trunk and branches.
February
  • Fertilizing: To encourage growth, a balanced NPK fertilizer can be applied; do not overfeed.
  • Pruning: While dormant, remove dry, broken, crossing and inward-growing branches so that air and light reach the inside of the crown. Willow species are pruned during dormancy. Most species grow vigorously; remove diseased and dead branches immediately. The branches are brittle in rain, with a high risk of drooping.
  • Plant protection: Before the buds wake up, apply a copper-based preparation against fungal diseases (rust, anthracnose).
  • General care: Propagation by cuttings can continue.
  • Frost risk: Protect newly planted seedlings from severe frosts.
March
  • Watering: Water a newly planted specimen more often than established plants during its first year, as its root system is still shallow.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: Suitable period for planting and transplanting. Flowering begins.
  • Pests & diseases: Check the branches and trunk for brown, fixed bumps (scale insects).
April
  • Watering: If there is no rainfall, water 1-2 times a week. Water newly planted plants more often than established plants during the first year; the root system is still shallow.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: Suitable period for planting and transplanting. Flowering continues.
  • Pests & diseases: Look for aphids (green or black clusters of small insects) on fresh shoot tips. If there are only a few, you can knock them off with a strong jet of water.
May
  • Watering: Water 2-3 times a week. The root zone should be wetted to a depth of 30-40 cm.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: Spread a 5-7 cm layer of mulch over the root zone; it retains soil moisture and suppresses weeds. Do not pile mulch against the trunk.
  • Pests & diseases: Check branches and trunk for brown, fixed bumps (scale insects). If you see black spots with yellow halos on leaves (leaf spot), collect the diseased leaves and remove them from the garden; the disease overwinters in fallen leaves. Check fresh shoot tips for aphids (clusters of small green or black insects). If there are only a few, you can knock them off with a strong spray of water.
June
  • Watering: Water deeply 3-4 times a week, early in the morning. The root zone should be wetted to a depth of 30-40 cm. Frequent shallow watering pulls the roots to the surface.
  • Pruning: Do not prune, except for branches damaged by storms.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: Keep the soil cool and moist by covering the root zone with a thick layer of mulch.
  • Pests & diseases: If you see black spots with yellow halos on the leaves (black spot), collect the diseased leaves and remove them from the garden; the disease overwinters in fallen leaves. Check the fresh shoot tips for aphids (small clusters of green or black insects). If there are few, you can knock them off with a strong spray of water.
July
  • Watering: Water deeply 3-4 times a week, early in the morning. The root zone should be wetted to a depth of 30-40 cm. Frequent shallow watering pulls the roots to the surface.
  • Plant protection: Continue pest control.
  • General care: Check the soil moisture constantly.
  • Pests & diseases: Water stress weakens the plant and makes it open to diseases.
August
  • Watering: Water deeply 3-4 times a week, early in the morning. The root zone should be wetted to a depth of 30-40 cm. Frequent shallow watering pulls the roots to the surface.
  • Plant protection: Continue pest control.
  • General care: Maintain the mulch to keep the roots cool.
  • Pests & diseases: Keep watching for signs of water stress.
September
  • Watering: Water 2-3 times a week. The root zone should be wetted to a depth of 30-40 cm.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: Allow the plant to prepare for dormancy.
  • Pests & diseases: If you see black spots with yellow halos on the leaves (black spot), collect the diseased leaves and remove them from the garden; the disease overwinters in fallen leaves.
October
  • Watering: If there is no rainfall, water 1-2 times a week. Water newly planted plants more often than established plants during the first year; the root system is still shallow.
  • General care: Good time for planting and transplanting.
November
  • Watering: Water a newly planted specimen more often than established plants during its first year, as its root system is still shallow.
  • Plant protection: Apply a copper-based preparation after leaf fall to prevent diseases.
  • General care: Good time for planting and transplanting. Collect fallen leaves; many disease agents and pests overwinter under them.
  • Frost risk: Protect newly planted seedlings during the first winter.
December
  • Pruning: The main pruning period can begin.

The care advice on this page is general and for information only; it is not professional advice. Plant age, soil and your garden’s microclimate can change the outcome. Plant protection products are mentioned only as general information; they are regulated, and the choice, dose and timing must be decided by a qualified professional under local rules. Consult a landscape architect or agronomist before applying.

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