Curly willow

Someone is giving me a sprouted curly willow (corkscrew willow) branch. How far do the roots spread? I want to put it in an area that is sort of near our septic drainfield. I'm going to put it in a spot that I recently removed a large ugly shrub. My friend suggested I find out about the roots as they may spread really far (further than the shrub which did not bother the drainfield).

I could also put it behind the pond but the pond is manmade and has a liner and so I would also be concerned about the roots going thru the liner, depending on how the roots grow.

Thanks,
Gwendalou

This is a large and fast-growing tree, with the roots spreading up to 40 metres. You don't want it closer than that to your septic field.

Resin

Roots invade via leaks. They won't puncture a liner that's not already leaking. And they can be controlled from blocking your septic laterals with an annual application of a copper based root killer like Roebic, as long as you don't forget to do that. But willows in general have very notorious root systems, so you might be ahead to plant it elsewhere.

Also keep in mind that corkscrew willows are very prone to cankers and storm damage, and they look freakish in natural settings. It might not be a tree worth having unless you cut it to the ground annually in the dormant season and treat it like a perennial. If you don't have a large estate or ranch with unlimited growing space, you probably should consider planting better trees first.

Guy S.

Having said all that, it might make a great potted tree, the branches are harvested and used extensively in floral arrangements.

Excellent point!

Guy S.

Guy, good points, I do grow this and it's 3 years old and over 10 feet tall here for me, I love mine, but then I have lots of space for it to do what it pleases, but if you are limited on space, yes I agree totally that it would not be the best tree to plant LOL

I don't know that I'd call it an estate but we do have a lot of room for growing stuff, so space isn't a problem.

If I was going to use that Roebic root killer stuff, where would I put it and how?

Gwendalou

Very odd, Gwendalou. Just yesterday someone offered me a curly willow that's all potted up because she doesn't have room for it. I think I may go for it, though, because the price is right (free) and we're desperate for more trees.

Thanks for all the info about septic drains and so forth. How far from power lines does it need to be for safety purposes?

.oh darn that i don't have a picture! i have a 29 year old green cork screw willow.......to die for. this year we are putting a 1940's chandelier in it! you just need to keep them pruned well so the branches as they get larger can develop that wavy look to them. we "lifted" it last spring by removing many of the lower branches. now you can see the old branches curling all about.

we have had no problems with the roots for some odd reason and we have clay soil here where usually roots are such a problem. it has been about 15 feet from our leach field and approx 25 feet from our septic system. so i can report...to this point after 29 years so far so good...and i probably shouldn't have said it!! i just wouldn't put it near a well or septic tank! for that matter really no trees should go in those areas unless they have very small root systems.

I planted one last year by the ditch in a low area where it stays damp. Should grow like a weed there! Looking forward to seeing it take off.

tobee43, are you saying the willow is 15 feet from your leach (drain) field?

Thanks,
Gwendalou

gwendalou...yes, exactly..it is. perhaps closer and we have never had a problem with it's roots as yet. which ....once again i BETTER not say too loud or those roots might hear me!

I prefer Scarlet Curls™ willow.
Salix x 'Scarcuzam' (on the left)

And this is its not so good side:

And early spring. It's about 14 years old here in Minnesota.

Excellent Photos Leftwood.

We use the root treatment every spring. It comes in a quart-size plastic bottle, more or less. Just dump and flush, 1/3 bottle per flush.

Guy S.

Gwendalou, I am in Battle Ground, WA, and we have some curly willows, a classic weeping willow, and a scarlet curls in our meadow and they are lovely! I especially like what the scarlet curls does year round. In the winter it is absolutely smashing! And although I haven't done so, lots of folks around here use the branches in flower arrangements. Then again, they are standing far from one another in several acres of meadow!