Weeping pussy willow

Can anyone tell me about the salix caprea pendula...I got one at Home Depot yesterday (tiny) and it is supposed to be hardy here and also is it deer resistant? How big does it get and how long does it live?

If it was in the florist section, to force catkins, it may need protection until the last frost, then it can be planted out.
Most people will grow them as small standard trees. You will have to stake the leader to the height that you want your tree to be, this can be done in stages as a 5ft stick next to a 1ft plant doesn't look to aesthetic. If you do not stake it will just becoming a rambling bulging mound.
Deer resistant, use some means of protectin until plant is established as they will certainly try it out. probably ok but not in the first order.
Chris.

In other words...what you are saying is to put a tall stake next to the main trunk and this will help it grow to that height? if I do not do this it will not grow straight? many thanks...because I would never have thought of doing this.

Wow, levilyla! Sorry to go OT, but I want to push the willow out of the way and just sit and gaze off the deck in your pic!

OK, I've overcome the distraction. You obviously have a top-grafted plant (note the distinct difference in bark character from the main stem and the area where all the weeping branches emerge), so you will want to "train" one of these branches vertically if you want a taller plant, as seamusandclareandChris notes.

Process:

After you plant your willow, insert the stake next to the main trunk of the plant. Secure one of the branches (the one coming right out of the top would be easiest, and it's pretty long already) to your stake using something soft, like florist tape or some such, just not wire or anything that could cut into the stem/branch. You'll want to secure it in several places till it gains "memory" to the new vertical condition. With a vigorous plant like willow, that won't be very long after growing season starts. Do this carefully, so you don't break the branch. It is now curving downward, and you'll want to get it as close to straight up so that you're "new" trunk will be straight as it continues to grow. This may take a couple of tries to get right, but willow is so vigorous that it will make up for any error you may commit.

That looks like a tiny pot for that size and vigor of plant. About a 2G, maybe? You're probably going to need to loosen/spread out the roots of that one when you plant it.

Oh my...many thanks VV..I did NOT understand it the way I thought. so now I will take a "hanging" branch and make it grow up. Otherwise it would just stay this size right? I mean the main trunk will not grow up correct? P.S. Here is my view of the lake however in summer you can hardly see it ~~~~~ my DH does not like to cut down trees!

It looks like quite a big plant, already, bigger than I anticipated. You might leave it the way it is, plant on a bank , so it droops over. The more thorough flying v answer combined with mine will give you a taller weeping standard.

It is 20 inches tall...should I leave it this way?

levilyla:

Stop distracting me with your version of paradise!

It is up to you and your preference for what you want/expect the final effect to be from your willow. If the present height appears to be too short, or shorter than what you'd like, then train it upward. You can always shorten it by pruning if you train it too high.

If you leave it in the current condition, it will continue to "layer" on itself making "...a rambling bulging mound..." as stated above.

There really isn't a wrong answer or choice, only your own.

Oh

zay kan u zee.....

I zee said the blind man

Hiya! beautiful piece of heaven you have there!,,,,,,,,,,,,Dave.......

Anyone ever grown a "Weeping Sally" pussy willow? I am thinking I could still grow full sun flowers beneath it because the branches are not very dense. Am I right?

'Weeping Sally' looks just like mine and I am wondering what the difference is also (except the price of course) Mine was 15.00 Waysides' Weeping Sally is 80...used to be 125.00.

Should be called Wayexpensive.

levilyla

Oh my gosh, Wayside is where I saw it!!! But I know to shop around anyways, but 80 bucks??? Yikes. Once it reaches full height can you still plant full sun plants under it, if in an area that gets full sun?

kandlmidd,

Waysides catalogs are beautiful!!! That's where I've taken my ideas, but I've only heard bad things about ordering from them so I won't. But I haven't seen a better catalog.