Hybrid willow as a privacy barrier?

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KaylyRed Watertown, WI(Zone 5a) Apr 08, 2008

Does anyone have experience with hybrid willow? I've checked PlantFiles, but there are no comments on this tree: http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/151654/

Our neighbor's driveway wraps around and passes behind our house. We'd like to block it somewhat with something fast-growing and not too fussy. I'm not fond of poplars because they're so short-lived, and I'm not really looking for a hedge. Aesthetically, arborvitae isn't a favorite of mine, either, although it would probably be a good choice for that location. I'm leaning toward the willow.

A few questions:

- How much moisture will a hybrid willow crave? This spot is not exceptionally moist. (Though there was an enormous weeping willow near this area before we were forced to cut it down to make room for a new septic system. Do they have similar needs?)

- Are hybrid willows as messy as weeping willows with lots of sticks to clean up?

- How long is their lifespan?

Thanks for any help or feedback anyone can give!

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ecrane3 Dublin, CA(Zone 9a) Apr 08, 2008

I don't know anything about this particular willow, but willows in general are not good planted right up near houses, and I suspect based on your post that this area may be a little too close to your house. You also mentioned a new septic, and I don't know how far away that would be, but you also wouldn't want to plant it where the root zone would extend into the septic field.

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allanme79 Columbia, MO(Zone 5b) Apr 08, 2008

Willows are messy I wouldn't grow them near a house and they will require a more than average amount of water. They do have a long lifespan though.

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KaylyRed Watertown, WI(Zone 5a) Apr 08, 2008

The area is actually quite far from our house. We sit in the center of a .85 acre lot and the willows would be on the edge of it. They also would be a fair distance from the septic field (I'm guessing a good 50 feet).

The water might be a problem, though. :(

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