Willow tree
Willow Tree
Willow trees

Willow Tree Care

Willow tree care: Cuttings

Propagating willow trees from cuttings, or even from torn off twigs and branches, is usually very easy. Cut f a healthy piece of stem and place it in a moist media. Roots will typically form very quickly, since willows have so called preformed root initials along their stems.

There is however a few types of willow tree that will not readily propagate in this manner and that needs to be grown from seed.

Before you try to propagate your willow tree using cuttings it is therefore a good idea to check if your particular type of willow tree is one of theses exceptions.

Willow tree care: Cysts

Willow trees can sometimes start showing round bulges of varying sizes. In most cases, such bulges are cysts caused by egg laying insects. They deposit their eggs in the willow tree and the eggs manage to cause cell proliferation around them, so called cysts. This cell proliferation is a way for the insect to ensure a protective shelter for the developing larvae. Cysts will typically call for no particular willow tree care, since a healthy willow tree can cope with them. If you want to, you can cut open a cyststo find out more about which insect that has occupied your tree.

Willow tree care: Honey dew
Beneath a willow tree, you can sometimes experience a form of “rain”. Opaque, sappy drops fall from the tree without any apparent reason. This type of “rain” is called honey dew and is actually urine/faeces from insects or mites. Insects and mites likes to feed on willow leaves. They have stylet shaped mouth parts that they insert into the foliage of the willow tree and suck out a sweet juice. The juice will then serve as nutrition for the insect or mite, and waste products will be excreted in the form of honey dew. Willow tree care can involve spraying the tree to keep the number of insects and pests at a manageable level. It is really important to hire someone who knows what he or she is doing, since improper bug spraying can cause a lot of harm to the surrounding ecosystem as well as to the willow tree.

Willow tree care: Borers

Borers constitute a problem for many willow keepers and it can be hard to carry out the proper willow tree care and successfully combat these insects. Small shavings of wood, usually around ¼ inch long, is one common borer symptom. You may not see any insects, but they are there. Topical remedies, such as bug sprays, will usually be insufficient willow tree care during a borer attack. It is often necessary to inject insecticides into the willow three to get to the borers. In many parts of the world, you are not allowed to do this on your own and even if you are, it can still be a good idea to hire a licensed tree expert (arborist) to perform the injections. Improperly selected insecticides can cause a lot of harm to the surrounding ecosystem

 

Willow tree flower
Willow tree flower

Copyright 2005 willowtrees.info
Other network sites: Mammals, Birds & Reptiles - Insects & Fish - Plants - Sponsors
willow tree care