posted
Cindy sent me three weeping willow saplings that I need advice with planting. Should they be planted while dormant or wait until buds begin to form? If I wait, should they be potted in soil or left in water? The roots are well developed. Current temperatures here are in the low-mid teens Celcius (50's F). My plan is to plant them next to a creek that runs through the property - how near (or far) from the water is best?
Seeded: 70.66.52.31
posted
You said saplings, so I assume they are well rooted and not simply cuttings which you would have to root yourself.
Where did Cindy have the saplings, were they potted up? inside or outside? If I remember correctly, she lives in Kentucky which has roughly the same climate as Virginia. We've had a couple of nights this winter below zero, so if they've been outside all the time they should be plenty hardy. I would think, with you being in zone 8b, that if the ground isn't frozen and the plants are hardened, it would be best if they were planted out. I have seen them growing right on the edge of water, but one book I have said they like well-drained, moist soil, so maybe on a stream bank as opposed to a flatter marshy area.
If one dies, they are easy to replace. I took some cuttings from my mom's weeping willow and just stuck them in the ground on the north side of my house where the soil doesn't dry out and they rooted and grew.
* * * * Terry
May the force be with you Plants: 1370 | From: Copper Hill, Virginia | Registered: Apr 2004
| Seeded: 4.249.183.215
Cricket
guest
posted
Thanks, Terry! Cindy had the willows rooting in water in her kitchen window - I'm temporarily doing the same. Their root systems are already well developed so I'm thinking they should soon be in soil. The ground here isn't frozen, so it wouldn't be difficult to plant them on the sloping banks of the creek. Can they be planted directly outside from indoors?
Seeded: 70.66.52.31
posted
I had to look this up in my plant propagation textbook. Basically, your cuttings were propagated by the method of "warm temperature callusing". The callus is usually a swollen area that occurs at the base of the cutting where the roots generate from. Anyway, the authors say in mild climates it's okay to plant out, but otherwise hold till spring. Since you're getting temperatures in the teens, I might be leery of planting them out directly, especially if there is any sign of new growth. They recommend cold storage of 35-40 degrees. Do you have an unheated attached garage? I'm not sure when your'e last frost is, (next month?)but you could probably just keep them inside in a cooler area of your house till around that time.
* * * * Terry
May the force be with you Plants: 1370 | From: Copper Hill, Virginia | Registered: Apr 2004
| Seeded: 4.248.224.178
posted
Also Cricket, you're right, they should probably be in soil now. As cool as possible, above freezing though, as you don't want to stimulate too much top growth before they're ready to go outside.
* * * * Terry
May the force be with you Plants: 1370 | From: Copper Hill, Virginia | Registered: Apr 2004
| Seeded: 4.248.224.178
posted
plant now you move a tree before the sap rises. Get it in the ground ASAP!
Hubby's old granny always use to say move a tree when the sap is down, in late fall (after leaves have fallen off and before spring before it makes new leaves
* * * * I try to take one day at a time -- but sometimes several days attack me at once. -Jennifer Unlimited- Plants: 1952 | From: Arkansas | Registered: Aug 2004
| Seeded: 65.68.22.102
posted
I've been trying to find a picture of the willows I sent to Cricket. I thought I took some, but now I think I must have dreamed it (but let's not go there right now!)
They were cut from the tree when it started getting cold outside, maybe had one frost. I rooted them in a jar of water. The roots are plentiful, and there was quite a bit of new growth (green) on them. Just been lettin' them grow in water for two months. So, they've never been outside in the cold yet.
I was thinkin' maybe if they were planted in a pot with potting soil first, the roots could get used to being in soil a little before they got the shock of being put outside in COLD soil. Then, when you set them out, just keep the potting soil around the roots good...maybe line the pot with a paper bag so the soil will stay in place when you take it out of the pot.
Did that make sense? Some stuff I try to say doesn't, you know!
Cindy
* * * * Buckle up! It makes it harder for the aliens to suck you out of your car! Plants: 43285 | Registered: Mar 2004
| Seeded: 69.170.162.6
Amy R.
guest
posted
My mom had a corkscrew willow(she rooted it from a florist bouquet!)that she planted in her yard, only to have to dig it up 5 years later as she found out it was rooting into her septic system over 30 feet away! She found out they were heavy drinkers, and had to move it to a more appropriate spot. I wonder if it is the same for weepers? If so, it's great that you have a creek nearby!!!
Seeded: 24.255.50.223
posted
got mine next to a ditch, they grow wild on the ditches and rivers here.
* * * * I try to take one day at a time -- but sometimes several days attack me at once. -Jennifer Unlimited- Plants: 1952 | From: Arkansas | Registered: Aug 2004
| Seeded: 65.68.22.79
Cricket
guest
posted
Quoted from Terry:
quote: Since you're getting temperatures in the teens, I might be leery of planting them out directly, especially if there is any sign of new growth.
Guess I didn't clarify that: temperatures are in the teens Celcius, which converts to 50's Farenheit.
Quoted from Cindy:
quote:The roots are plentiful, and there was quite a bit of new growth (green) on them
Ummm...Cindy, by the time the SLOW postal service delivered the package, any green that was there was shrivelled up brown. Now I've got rooted sticks in water. Will they recover?
Seeded: 70.66.52.31
posted
So...whatcha gonna do? Plant 'em, leave 'em in water, or pot them?
(my vote...put them babies in some potting soil and let them get a taste of DIRT!)
Cindy
* * * * Buckle up! It makes it harder for the aliens to suck you out of your car! Plants: 43285 | Registered: Mar 2004
| Seeded: 69.170.162.6
Cricket
guest
posted
Thanks for all your advice!
I'm going to pot the willows, set them outside during the day and closely mother them until I see they've recovered, then plant them outside.
Seeded: 70.66.52.31
posted
Question, I was planning on planting 3 Willows. I understand they can grow with a width of about 35'. How far apart should they be planted? Is it better to put them closer together? I plan on placing them in a triangle pattern near a creak to soak up the water when it overflows. It takes forever to drain and when our horses go down there after the rain, the field gets torn up. Suggestions?
Plants: 1 | From: VA | Registered: Feb 2005
| Seeded: 198.179.142.6
login | 
| 
| 
![[lala]](graemlins/lala.gif)
![[nutz]](graemlins/nutz.gif)
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
![[tears]](graemlins/crying.gif)
Will they recover?
![[shocked]](graemlins/shock.gif)
![[dunno]](graemlins/dunno.gif)
Printer-friendly view of this garden