Growing guide
How to grow willow trees
Willow trees have graceful weeping shapes, colourful winter stems and early spring catkins that are a magnet for bees. They often form large, majestic trees for equally large gardens, although there are smaller forms too. They need damp soil and like full sun.
Quick facts
- Fast-growing large trees for spacious gardens
- Thrive in wet and waterlogged soils
- Grow best in full sun
- Colourful catkins, especially on male trees
- Can be pruned (pollarded) annually to control their size
- It's easy to grow new plants from hardwood cuttings
All you need to know
Choosing a willow tree
Willows are often large, vigorous trees, suited to spacious gardens, but they come in various sizes so there also plenty of smaller options too. These robust trees can cope in most growing conditions, but really thrive in full sun and moist soil.
Choose the right willow tree for your garden:
Willow trees by size
Around 20 Salix species and cultivars have been awarded an RHS Award of Garden Merit, which shows they performed well in RHS trials, so are reliable choices.
To browse photos and descriptions of willow trees, go to RHS Find a Plant. You can also search by size, soil type, growing conditions and RHS Award of Garden Merit, to help narrow down your choices.
You may also be able to visit the UK National Willow Collection at Rothamstead Research (Harpenden in Hertfordshire), to see the wide range of species it grows. Its website even lists cultivars for basket-making!
Always check plant labels or Gardeners often use the word variety when referring to a specific plant, but the correct botanical term is 'cultivar'. Whichever word you use, it means a distinctive plant or plants, given a specific cultivar name and usually bred to enhance certain characteristics, such as flower or fruit size, colour, flavour or fragrance, plant size, hardiness, disease resistance, etc. Additionally, it is worth knowing that, botanically, variety has another meaning - it refers to a naturally-occurring distinct plant that only has slight differences in its looks. For example, Malva alcea var. fastigiata differs from typical plants by having an upright habit.
Willow trees are ideal for a wildlife-friendly garden. Their plentiful catkins, which often appear very early in the year, are a valuable source of pollen (on male plants) and nectar for bees, when food may be in short supply. Willow trees also provide shelter and nesting sites for birds.Wildlife-friendly gardening
How and what to buy
Willow trees are widely available all year round in garden centres, nurseries and online by mail order. They are usually sold in containers and range from small saplings to large mature specimens.
Use RHS Find a Plant to find stockists of specific Salix species and cultivars.
How to choose healthy plants Buying: trees and shrubs
When to plant
You can plant willow trees from autumn to early spring, whenever the ground is not frozen. However, autumn planting is recommended, because it allows them to establish their roots over the winter. They will need less watering than if planted at warmer times of the year.
Where to plant
- Choose a planting spot that is large enough for the eventual size of your tree, as many willow trees can grow rapidly to a substantial height and spread
- Plant in full sun, in soil that stays moist in summer
- Willows are tough and fully hardy, so can be planted in frost pockets or on particularly cold sites
- Avoid planting willow trees near building foundations or underground pipes, especially on shrinkable clay soil, as they have an extensive, vigorous root system that can take up a lot of water
Soil types Trees near buildings
How to plant
Willow trees are easy to plant, and should be planted as soon as possible after buying – simply follow our planting guide below.
With willow trees in particular:
- Dig plenty of organic matter, such as garden compost, leafmould or well-rotted manure, into the planting area, to improve the soil’s ability to hold moisture
- Support trees that are more than 90cm (3ft) tall with a sturdy stake for the first few years, to prevent them rocking in strong winds or developing a lean
RHS guide to planting trees
Watering
- Water newly planted willow trees regularly for the first two or three summers, especially if the soil is not reliably moist during hot, dry spells
- To avoid unnecessary watering, check if the soil feels dry at a depth of about 15cm (6in), and if so, water generously, allowing it to soak in well
- Once well established, willows shouldn’t need watering when grown in the type of soil they prefer – moisture-retentive or wet soils, especially during summer
Water: collecting, storing and re-using RHS guide to watering efficiently
Feeding and mulching
- Most willow trees are robust and vigorous and shouldn’t need feeding unless they are showing signs of nutrient deficiencies
- Mulching around the tree with well-rotted organic matter, such as garden compost or farmyard manure, is important to improve the soil’s ability to hold water and will provide nutrients as it rots down
- Apply a 5cm (2in) thick layer of mulch as the soil warms in early to mid-spring. It will help to deter weed germination at the beginning of the growing season too
How to feed plants Nutrient deficiencies
Caring for older plants
Once your willow tree is growing away well, little maintenance is needed, other than to check it is getting enough water, especially in dry summers.
If the tree was staked at planting time, this can usually be removed after a few years, once the tree can stand unsupported without bending or shifting in the ground.
If the tree outgrows its space, it can be pruned or pollarded – see Pruning and Training, below.
Most willow trees benefit from some initial formative pruning after planting, to create a balanced framework of evenly spaced branches.
After that, they shouldn't need further pruning, unless you wish to encourage the production of colourful stems in spring, or to keep your tree smaller by pollarding or coppicing. See our guides below for full instructions.
Any pruning should be done from autumn to early spring, although you can still remove any dead growth at other times. Coppicing or pollarding should be done in April (mid-spring), just before new growth begins.
If any pruning is required on large trees, it is best to let experts carry this out. The Arboricultural Association website contains a directory of qualified tree surgeons.
Pruning for colourful stems or large foliage Coppicing Pollarding
Willows are easy to grow from hardwood cuttings, between November and February – see our guide below.
With willows in particular:
- Select healthy, woody stems from the current year’s growth, about pencil thickness and 20–30cm (8–12in) long
- Insert into deep containers filled with a 50:50 mix of peat-free multi-purpose compost and coarse grit
- Keep in a coldframe or cool greenhouse over winter
- Check from time to time to make sure they haven’t dried out or are sitting in soggy compost
- New shoots will appear from the buds in spring
- They should be ready to plant out in autumn, and can be pruned (coppiced or pollarded) if necessary after two or three years
Cuttings: hardwood
Willows are usually robust, vigorous and healthy trees, if grown in a sunny position in soil that doesn't dry out. They don't grow well in chalky soil.
However, there are a few problems to look out for:
- willow anthracnose, scab and canker
- honey fungus
- tree rusts
- large willow bark aphids
- willow leaf beetles
- scale insects
- caterpillars and sawflies
- slugs and snails, which may damage soft, young, leafy growth
Managing pests and diseases without chemicals
Preventing pest and disease problems
If you’re a member of the RHS, you can use our online Gardening Advice Service, via MyRHS, for any questions or gardening problems.
Discover willow trees
Everything you need to know about choosing the right willow tree for you
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