Weeping Willow

I purchased a Weeping Willow that is in a 15 gallon container presently. My problem is the place where I planned to plant it is near the septic system. Is it possible to plant the Willow in a very large pot, (150 gal.) to keep the roots contained?

Yes, but the tree will outgrow the pot very quickly.

Guy S.

Speaking of which... How far would one need to be away from a septic system and/or well? Our well and septic field are about 250 feet apart and we were thinking of putting one in between - so it would be about 125 ft from either. Is that far enough away once it gets big?

Weeping willows can have a spread of 30-40 feet - or more - and their roots can grow 1½ to 3 times that distance.... maybe more if they aren't getting adequate water. They prefer constantly moist soil - which is why they grow best along streams, rivers and lakes. 125' would PROBABLY be a safe distance but I wouldn't guarantee it. You can always have a competent landscape contractor install a root barrier to keep the roots in place, but that wouldn't be cheap. They are famous for clogging up drains - and for their proneness to disease and pests (they are a favored host for the gypsy moth).

Well, I could put one "out back" which would put it 300 ft from both ours and our neighbors' septics and wells... but I was hoping to sink it in a pond that we were going to build a little nearer the house (125 ft or so away)... hmmm, going to have to rethink the willow thing, now. Thanks for the info - you may have helped us avert a costly root invasion!

Maybe you could use Taxodium instead?

I hesitate to offer this cultivar for three reasons. First it requires aggressive pruning to maintain form. Secondly it is always best to look for a native plant whenever possible. Thirdly, I deplore the recent trend of growers grafting anything unto a standard. The "shrub on a stick" fad (which is what this plant is) has produced some ugly stuff. However Hakuro Nishiki, S. integra 'Hakuro Nishiki' does have a nice look to it ( when pruned) and works in smaller spaces. Don't get it though if you don't want to spend some time every spring whacking off anything that doesn't weep. You can't abuse this oddly attractive shrub on a stick.

Although tough plants that can take abuse are the only kind that survive me, aggressive pruning - not me :-) I limitted my "orchard" to 4 semi-dwarf trees because I'm not really a pruner - I'm too short, it's too windy and I'll topple on a ladder, and I am only allowed to use sharp instruments under close supervision...If I want something more "native", I have several acres of sage brush, rabbit brush, tumble weed and sand (it seems to grow the best). I'm looking for something taller than me (I'm only 5 ft 1 in, so it shouldn't be too difficult... I have one pond for next year planned out to be like a high desert oasis - add water and the jack rabbits and flora will come... but I also want one out back that totally does NOT look like the high desert. Something full of bright and dark greens and nothing with silver grey-green leaves. The high desert is a wonderful place to live, but I'm a Southern Girl at heart (yes, trying to figure out how magnolias will survive...was thrilled to learn that I could probably cover 100s of feet of chainlink with wisteria... all I have to do is water, water, water, water, water, water...). Cottage garden, anyone?

Thanks for the input. Sorry about high jacking the thread... looking like a pass on the willows for me...