How to Care for Your Silky Willow Tree for Optimal Growth

The Silky Willow Tree, Salix Sericea, is also known as a shrub since it only grows between 6 and 10 feet. It has a wide canopy and thick vegetation, making it look more bush-like. The leaves also look like a shrub, with a long, narrow structure covered in white residue and silk-like threads. However, the trunk is usually narrow and smooth, growing straight. Extending from the trunk are skinny light-brown branches and green stems, both flexible and fragile.

Only one leaf grows out of each node, creating one bud in May. The bloom is high-pollen, small yellow flowers with green leaves. Although this creates allergy issues, it attracts bees and other pollinators. It helps save millions of pollinators a year, which is very important today.

Benefits of Planting a Silky Willow Tree in Your Garden

Silky Willow Tree is found on the east coast near wetlands north of Georgia; animals also enjoy their coverage for protection and habitat. Since they grow exceedingly fast, they have been used in park conservation in Indiana and other mid-west states. After trial studies, the Rose Lake Plant Materials Center (P.M.C.) decided they were ideal for trail enhancements. They used it along riverbanks to provide protection, shade, and homes for wildlife and buffers for hikers.

The plant can also be used at home as it is small and has a short lifespan. It does not contain thorns or other armor and offers shade and decoration to your lakeside or pond landscaping. Cuttings can be purchased or cultivated by cutting 12- to 18-inch pieces after the fall leaves either retire or shrink on them. Use moist clay-like soil or sand to bury the cutting so that 2/3 of the branch is underground.

Why the Silky Willow Tree is Perfect for Your Landscape Design

The plant requires partial sunlight and moderate watering. It remains pest-free except for seasonal caterpillars. It could be the perfect addition if you live in a moisture-rich environment and would like a small type that provides an abundance of shade.

The silky willow tree is incredibly low-maintenance and adaptable to a multitude of light conditions. This plant demands a lot of watering and requires the occasional pruning, but it is happy to grow without too much guidance and care from the gardener, which helps it to be a very stress-free plant.

This Is How Your Plants Will Look upon Delivery

Plant bare root trees during the dormant season in early spring or late fall (November through April). Dig the hole twice as wide as the roots so the soil is well-drained. Position the tree so the root flare is at or just above ground level. Fill the hole back with the soil you dug from and water. Maintain soil moisture, especially in the tree's early years, by providing deep, regular watering. Apply a 2-4 inch mulch away from the trunk at the base to retain moisture and suppress weeds. Prune trees during the first few seasons to establish strength and resilience, remove damaged branches, and continue maintenance pruning as the tree matures. Regularly inspect for pests and diseases and apply integrated pest management practices. Protect young trees from mechanical damage and extreme temperatures with tree guards, and stake them if necessary for support, removing the stakes after one or two years.

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