Corkscrew Willow Tree

1. Planting: When planting Corkscrew Willows, find a site that offers full to partial sun (4 to 8 hours). Plant in a moist location away from underground utilities, sidewalks, driveways and patios for best results.

Dig your hole three times the width and slightly shallower than the root ball. Use your fingers to separate the roots of your Corkscrew Willow and gently position downward in the hole. The top of the root flare (where the roots end and the trunk begins) should be about an inch above the surrounding soil. Hold the tree straight as you begin to backfill the site tamping down the soil as you go. Apply water to settle the soil and remove the air pockets then mulch to retain soil moisture.

Finally, protect the roots in winter against the chill by applying a thick layer of pine needles, bark or wood mulch.

2. Watering: Water your Corkscrew Willow weekly, 2 to 3 times a week, so the soil stays moist during the first growing season. After the first year, you will only need to water once weekly unless during times of extreme heat or drought.

3. Fertilizing: This tree doesn’t normally require fertilizing but if the leaves are pale and the growth is slow, you can fertilize in spring with a well-balanced fertilizer using a 10-10-10 formula.

4. Pruning: Prune your Corkscrew Willow regularly during the growing season to remove dead branches.