Care guide to your willow tree
This care guide gives you all information about planting and care of your willow tree.
Should you have questions that are not answered in this guide, please search in the Frequently Asked Questions section. You can also find inspiration in the gallery.
The Willow Wand® is for outdoor planting only.
It is suitable for growing in partial shade to full sun and must be kept outside all year. The Willow Wand® is a winter hardy plant and withstands severe frost. It requires plenty of water and MUST NOT dry out.
You must plant The Willow Wand® immediately after purchase. If this is not possible you must keep The Willow Wand® in approximately 10 cm of water for a maximum of 7-10 days. It must be planted before the roots are more than 2 cm long. Do not remove the plastic tie at the bottom of the wand as the stem will unfold.
Underneath the dried willow band you will find a plastic tie. Do not remove this tie until the individual stems have fully grafted together.
Planted in the garden
You can plant The Willow Wand® directly in your garden in normal garden soil or turf approximately 15 cm deep. The willow tree must be watered daily for the first 3-4 weeks and then as necessary in dry weather. Please keep minimum 1 meter distance to walls or eaves to ensure that the crown gets enough daylight.
Planted in troughs
The Willow Wand® is ideal for growing in pots and the rule of thumb is the bigger pot the better as the root system can develop. However, it is essential that the compost always remains moist – even in the winter. You can start feeding with general purpose fertilizer when The Willow Wand® is 2-3 months old and has an established root system.
Growth
The buds which grow on the woven stem must be rubbed off regularly to maintain the twisted design. The buds which develop above the dried decorative willow band should be allowed to develop into crown growth.
You should trim the top branches at least twice each summer in the growing season. If you want a denser crown you must prune the new branches down to 8-10 cm length. If you want a looser and more transparent crown you must cut the branches to 15-20 cm length. Do not cut into the willow rods that form the twisted stem but only the branches which grow out of the stem. If The Willow Wand® is exposed to heavy wind the crown must be trimmed more often for the first couple of seasons until the main stem has grafted together.
In August you trim The Willow Wand® for the last time before winter. You may trim again in early spring before the buds burst to encourage new growth.
