The Truth About Dappled Willow

[@TracysHomeGarden]

The new growing in this is gorgeous! I love their look in the spring....stunning & breathtaking! ❤️🪴

[@GardenSanity]

Me too, Tracy! I can't wait to cut them all down just to get that gorgeous colorful show back this year! (A ton of work, but it will be so worth it!)

[@BS-j1965]

OMG!!!! This is one of my favorite shrubs and I too have just let it do its thing because I wanted it to be natural, on occasion I have pruned it back just so I could get around it with the garden tractor when I mow!! I never thought to check the inside at the base to see what's going on down there!! The one I have has been in the ground for about 21 years and its just beautiful!! Thank you for the info you've provides on this shrub.......I just may have to start another one soon!!!

[@GardenSanity]

OK, I'm totally impressed with a 21-year old Dappled Willow shrub! I bet it is stunning!! I can't wait for mine to grow large again. I'm limited somewhat with the white vinyl fence behind the shrubs, so they can't grow as "out" as I would love them to do. However, they are growing back nicely and patience is a virtue...supposedly! I'll be finally getting my video on propagating Dappled Willow uploaded here in the next week, so stay tuned for easy ways to create more shrubs!

[@songsgardensbyjenniferlynn3242]

Thanks! I just bought one from Home Depot on clearance and it's gorgeous! It says 4-6 ft. tall, but I had a feeling that it would get taller!

[@GardenSanity]

Indeed it can Jennifer! Cheers to grabbing one on clearance too! These can be expensive!

[@juliemosgrober6552]

Thank you for this information! I actually found your blog today and was working up all the information. This video is an added bonus. I’m planning on planting a dappled willow border between my yard and the neighbor’s. I love them, but a little privacy goes a long way. Do you have any recommendations of plants that I could plant with them. Flowers that look good with them?

[@GardenSanity]

I agree Julie, with a little privacy being a good thing, especially when it’s pretty! As for companion plants, I hesitate to suggest anything because I find that as Dappled Willow grows, the lowest branches arch down and may end up covering whatever you plant with them. My best suggestion is to plant your shrubs and wait at least two or three years to see how the shrubs look. This will give you some time to get used to the shrubs and decide what size and shape you prefer them to be. In the meantime, I’d gather up some containers and plant some flowers you can enjoy while also being able to “move” the flowers around without worrying about digging anything up that gets covered up by the Dappled Willow. If I was ever to plant anything underneath ours, I would choose something that was evergreen but also bloomed, such as Candytuft. You would enjoy low-growing white flowers in the Spring while the shrub was just leafing out. I might also try Lily of the Valley or possibly Ajuga. It all depends on your growing zone, of course. Lower growing shrubs in front of the Dappled Willow would also look nice, to provide some green during the Winter months. Just some ideas! Let me know what you end up doing!

[@lburg3780]

Just bought two of these. Will have to make sure I prune regularly for the space I have planned for it. Great info.

[@GardenSanity]

I hope you enjoy your new Dappled Willow shrubs! Glad the video was helpful! 🌿🙂

[@kennyw871]

In a word, pathos. I too have several dapper willow tress and love them "to the moon and back." I would sacrifice myself before one of these tress. But (big but) they overgrow so quickly I can't keep up. What to do? After watching this video, I now know I need counseling (from an aborist), but it's not covered by my health insurance. Now I know where to start on my road to recovery over my dapper willow tress, and yes, they will be in by last will and testiment.

[@GardenSanity]

🤣 Yes Kenny, I sense your devotion to your Dappled Willow! I share that too... and there IS hope! I'm about to film an updated video on how they look since I cut them down last Spring. Short answer? They look MUCH better and in control! One thing to keep in mind: when bequeathing your dappled willow to others, make sure those you choose can provide for them. Out of control growth included! 😅

[@keeptrying5962]

This is extremely helpful, useful. THANK YOU.

[@GardenSanity]

My pleasure! It's the video I wish existed before I started on my own journey with Dappled Willow!

[@TacoRios]

Great video. The right information from experience!

[@GardenSanity]

Glad to help!

[@willaerley7140]

Currently, I have a cardinal attacking his reflection in the window. He’s never learns. If you like to birdwatch, get a large bird bath you can see from the house. They have a great time in mine.

[@GardenSanity]

Great cardinal story! I'd love to get a bird bath, and am still considering it. The problem is that mosquitoes are our NJ state bird and we have to do everything possible to avoid having any standing water. An option might be a larger fountain so the water moves while birds can still enjoy it.

[@willaerley7140]

@@GardenSanity The thing about bird baths is you have to change the water weekly during cooler months and daily in summer because they drink it. Mosquitoes don’t have time to breed, but it’s a pain. A fountain connected to the irrigation is probably a good idea.

[@townshipbs2335]

My concern is water lines, septic, sewage, etc. Do they have invasive/aggressive root systems?

[@Jade_902]

Yes

[@GardenSanity]

Yes they do! You can read the free Guide to Dappled Willows I wrote for more information. It's linked in the description area above these comments. (And apologies again for my awful delay in responding!)

[@nikkireigns]

I have one of these as a centerpiece in my garden. She’s on year two and has many long stick-straight branches about pencil thickness. I’m guessing these will get out of control rather quickly? Wondering if I could propagate a bunch left long (like 4 feet) or if propagating is best done in shorter sticks (maybe a foot long?) 🤔

[@GardenSanity]

You're in luck Nikki, as I have a video all about propagating Dappled Willow! Go to my homepage and click on Playlists, and there you'll find my Dappled Willow playlist...which includes the propagating video. 👍

[@gardenerdforlife163]

Such great tips! Thank you for this! I needed this to know what I'll be getting into bec I'm planning to buy this plant soon for spring planting. It has been in one of my plant wish list for so long so I'm not giving up despite the challenges I've read about it. Thanks to your video I'll know what to do now and is not too worried about it. I'll be sure to follow all the tips that you provided! Keep up the good work! Can't wait to see your follow-up video of this gorgeous plant👍 Also, what is the difference between the Dappled willow vs. Flamingo Dappled Willow? I'm guessing the Flamingo is more pinkish tips? But when I google the Dappled Willow it's showing almost the same pinkish white colour😔 do they have the same growth habits?

[@GardenSanity]

Thanks for your feedback, and I think you’ll enjoy Dappled Willow very much, knowing ahead of time what is involved in keeping the shrub - and you - happy! 🙂 I have a Dappled Willow Playlist here on my KZbin channel, so you can see more of these shrubs and how they’re doing. As for your question about Dappled Willow versus Flamingo Willow - the answers seem to vary. I’ve read that Flamingo Willow is a “sport” of the original Dappled Willow but has the exact same growing characteristics. I’ve also read that Flamingo Willow is just an interchangeable name for Dappled Willow. I have not yet found any definitive consensus on this question, as it almost feels like the answer is, “It depends who you ask!” I wish I had a better answer for you! But yes, assume they have the same growth habits and same gorgeous coloring. 🌿

[@taramellow3016]

Love all your videos! Thank you!!!! Three feet apart for a hedge? Should I just start with three and propagate the rest? 😊

[@GardenSanity]

Thank you Tara! 😊 Dappled Willow should be planted six feet apart from each other, whether you are planting a row of them or planting them within a garden near other shrubs or perennials. The first three I planted were closer than six feet, and that's presented some ongoing difficulties when the width of these becomes overwhelming, growing into each other a bit too much. Rookie mistake and lesson learned! So even if they look small when you first plant them, trust me they can grow very tall and wide! As for propagating, it is a fun project to do and very satisfying…not to mention a money-saver too! 🙂

[@taramellow3016]

@@GardenSanity ohhh thank you!!! Yikes I’ll be spacing mine six feet this weekend… I wanted an instant hedge. I will listen to you as your videos are fantastic plus your style is easy to listen to. Thank you!!!

[@TheNotoriousNemo]

thanks for this video, looks like you really got to know how to prune them every year.

[@GardenSanity]

You're welcome! Yes, I couldn't help but get to know them really well -- after living in a bit of a naive state of mind, thinking they looked massive and beautiful so all must be well deep inside the shrub. Little did I realize! 😃

[@lisacatherine8852]

A wonderful video thank you sooo much! Quick question, and a little longer one. First, is this variety related to the willow tree that we get aspirin from? Second, I just purchased a little 10inch sapling and plan to plant it in a huge pot for my patio garden until I move to a permanent home. Any recommendations for keeping it in a container for a couple of years? I am grateful for any help you can offer. ❤️

[@GardenSanity]

Hi Lisa, For your 10-inch sapling, yes it can go into a pot for a few years. Make sure to provide it with lots of water as it grows, and you should be just fine. In the Winter season - not sure where you are located - you can keep it outside, but just move it nearest to your house, preferably in a sheltered area. The plant will go dormant, but you don’t want it to die out either. Periodically give it water during the dormant months IF there is a long drought without any rain or snow. It should be fine. Remember, even if the plant gets pruned back (while in a pot), the roots continue to grow. You want to be extra careful that the plant doesn't become "root bound" while in the pot. Planting your sapling into a larger container to begin with should prevent any worry. I hope this helps! (As for your aspirin question, I don't know but will probably look this up as it sounds interesting! I like to geek out on plant trivia, so thanks for the question!)

[@lisacatherine8852]

@@GardenSanity thank you so much for your reply! This information is extremely helpful. I am excited to get it planted. Please let me know if you find out anything regarding the aspirin question. It comes from willow bark. Would be fun to know if this is from the same family. Again, thank you for your video, it inspired and excited me... I’ll keep you posted on how mine does. 🥰

[@GardenSanity]

You’re welcome Lisa!

[@angelaa7616]

It's very informative! If I trim the guy very often to make it looks like a boxwood topiary, does it mean that any tree will still keep compact and not stretching its roots wider than the dripping line?

[@GardenSanity]

Yes, you can trim your Dappled Willow into a topiary or a small boxwood shape, however the roots will still develop underground and will spread beyond the drip line. Since it is in the Willow family, Dappled Willow’s roots love to spread. To keep the shrub or tree compact you will need to occasionally prune it to keep its shape. I hope this helps!

[@angelaa7616]

@@GardenSanity thank you so much!

[@GardenSanity]

You’re welcome Angela!

[@DianaS-eo7nc]

I’m on my second Salix. My first was a standard hakuro nishiki. After a few years it started reverting to the large green leaves. Every time I cut it back the large green leaves came back. It’s now at least 40 feet tall, 30 feet wide! It is all solid green. I just planted a salix pink flamingo a month ago in spring. It’s showing leaves that are already reverting to plain green! When I told the nursery owner he said that was the normal spring growth. Big fat lie to avoid refunding my $50! I’m done with this plant.

[@GardenSanity]

Well, the nursery owner was flat out wrong, because the Spring growth is a beautiful pink-cream-light green combination. However, green leaves will begin showing up during the Summer. In most cases, these leaves eventually develop the lovely variegated cream and green coloring. If you look very closely at the green leaves, the ones closest to the main stem(s) will develop the color first, eventually going all the way to the end of the stem. In some cases where they do not change color at all, you can cut those stems out. It is a study in patience, with watching for the color change on the green leaves. Also, I don't think I've ever seen a Dappled Willow that is 40 feet tall and 30 feet wide. That's an incredible size. 😮 Wow!!!!! How long did it take to grow to that massive size? And this was with yearly pruning too? (Pruning definitely helps keep older stems in check and pushes out fresh new colorful growth.)

[@TSD0416]

Thank you for this video, it was very informative and helpful. I bought a Flamingo Dappled Willow 4 years ago and in the first year it produced those beautiful pink new shoots but every year after that the new shoots were white or creamy coloured and not pink. Then last year I bought another Flamingo Dappled Willow and planted it in my backyard , on the opposite side of the first one. Again the first year the leaves were pink in spring but this year the new shoots are white or creamy coloured. Do you know why both my willows are not producing pink coloured leaves? They get plenty of sunlight and I water them regularly. Kindly advise. I'd really appreciate your help. 🙏🙏

[@GardenSanity]

Hello and apologies for my delay in responding! Your Dappled Willows should be putting out the pink-colored leaves in the Spring, which then turn into the creamy color with green variegation on them. Are they getting full sun (more than 6 hours each day)? The best coloring - especially in the Spring - occurs with these shrubs planted in full sun in a very moist area. How did they do this Summer?

[@chantalc5012]

Thank you so much! So helpful and very informative… I really needed help with mine 😉👍

[@GardenSanity]

You're welcome Chantal! How many do you have? 🌿

[@chantalc5012]

@@GardenSanity Only one… It was planted in the middle of the garden by the owner, before we bought the property. It was getting big so I did a little haircut.

[@GardenSanity]

@@chantalc5012 Glad I could help! It sounds pretty to have it in the middle of a garden! 🌿🙂💚

[@Tyrone-db8mo]

Thanks for info, if im understanding you correct this hedge requires maintenance? Was considering this.

[@GardenSanity]

Apologies for my horrible delay in responding! Yes, Dappled Willow definitely requires yearly pruning to keep it from getting crazy like mine did! (I have an entire video playlist all about Dappled Willow here on my channel, if you're interested in learning more about these shrubs. There is also a free Guide to Dappled Willow linked above these comments in the description area.) The main things to keep in mind are: A) you don't want to plant these near any sewer lines or septic tanks, etc., as these roots grow large and continue to seek out water; and B) they need a lot of water as well as full sun to have the best color. Ours was planted in a wet area of our yard which was perfect, but now they are competing for water with evergreens planted on the other side of the fence . . . which means we have to water them frequently in the Summer if no rain. I hope this helps!

[@YiLi0206]

thank you for sharing! very useful info.

[@GardenSanity]

You’re welcome!

[@SuzanneKlima]

Happy April Can you please advise what fertilizer I should use for the first spring for dappled willows. Your help is really appreciated.

[@GardenSanity]

Hi Suzanne, and apologies for my delay in responding to you. The first Spring your Dappled Willows are planted, they won't need fertilizer since they've been provided with a lot of fertilizer at whatever wholesale nursery was growing them prior to them arriving at the garden center/nursery where you purchased them. After that, you can fertilize once a year with Espoma Plant-tone, following package directions. That's really all they need. I hope this helps and again, my apologies for the delay!

[@joycezhang2642]

Hello, your video is very informative. If I plant a dappled willow near my driveway, do you think its root will damage my driveway. Thanks!

[@GardenSanity]

Thanks Joyce! 😊 As Dappled Willows grow quite large, I wouldn’t plant it next to your driveway - but - “near” your driveway is probably ok IF you plant it about 8 feet away from the driveway. Even if you keep the shrub pruned, the roots continue to grow underground and trust me: they are large roots! Without knowing what kind of driveway you have - and not being a driveway expert 🤣 - the best I can advise is this shrub is not a smaller shrub that will keep its space next to a driveway like a boxwood, for example. If it was me, I’d choose something else to put near my driveway. I hope this helps!

[@courtneystallworth4664]

I’m still not understanding what should you have done to prevent this??

[@GardenSanity]

Thanks for your question, Courtney. If I would have regularly pruned the shrubs, I could have avoided the dead stems that died out inside the shrub toward the main stems. The pruning also would gave encouraged new growth so there would have been better stem color and better leaf color. A lot of the leaves reverted to all green, with no dappled color. Although it looked great having the shrubs grow wild, it ultimately led to drastic measures being necessary.

[@townshipbs2335]

hi,i live in zone 8a, Belgium, i have a dappled willow and i want to move it to a new location in the garden.when is the best time to do it?the plant right now just have some leaves fall off since the weather is cold right now. can i do it now?or shall i do it in early spring?

[@GardenSanity]

I owe you a huge apology for not responding in a timely manner. I'm sorry! The only time it isn't good to move shrubs - including Dappled Willow - is in the heat of the Summer when temperatures are extremely hot, or in the middle of Winter. Otherwise, transplanting shrubs is fine. My apologies again, and I hope your Dappled Willow is doing well.

[@thestrawberryaniahomegarde7228]

Great information. Thank you

[@GardenSanity]

You’re very welcome! 🌿🌱

[@jennygater7775]

My neighbor planted these inches from my fence. Now a few years later they are out of control. 20' tall with thick trunk and branches pressing against my fence and hanging over my Japanese Maple and Magnolia. The space they planted on is a 5' wide side yard. What can I do?

[@GardenSanity]

Well Jenny, they say that fences make good neighbors, but it sounds like this is a problem. Is talking to your neighbor a possibility? At the very least, they should understand that you want to cut the parts of the Dappled Willow that are hanging into your property and covering up your Japanese Maple and Magnolia. Ours are small now - obviously since we cut them - but when they were large, we would trim them from our neighbor’s yard at least once a year. It’s just part of being good neighbors. I hope they will do that for you. It sounds like they planted these shrubs not realizing how huge they get. Yes, they make great privacy hedges, but it’s not good if it starts impacting other people’s trees and landscapes. Perhaps start by letting them know you’d like to cut off the parts of the Dappled Willow affecting your trees. It’s possible that they can’t see what it looks like from their side, so they might not even realize how bad it is on your side. Hopefully they will say yes, or even offer to do it themselves. Let me know how it goes.

[@jennygater7775]

@@GardenSanity Thank you for your reply. I feel better asking knowing I'm not being unreasonable. They are a family with two young ones and the bushes/trees came with the house from previous owner. They likely have no clue. I am mostly concerned with any damages to the fence that may occur from the thickness of the trunk and branches. Thanks again 👍

[@GardenSanity]

I bet you’re right: if the shrubs came with the house, they may not even realize what’s going on with them. And I know personally it isn’t easy to see exactly what the shrubs are doing on the other side of a fence unless you walk over and look. Let’s hope that’s all it is, and yes, damage to your fence is not something you want. Here’s hoping your Japanese Maple and your Magnolia get more breathing room and sun soon! Keep me posted!

[@blahblahblah7551]

Thank you for your video. Glad I didn't buy a lot because I want privacy all year round. Very good video.

[@GardenSanity]

You're welcome -- glad you liked the video! You're right -- you won't get year-round privacy with Dappled Willow. That's where evergreens are your friend! 😄

[@kfossi1986]

Oh my.. I put a willow shrub outside the side porch on the well side. Do i need to move it in early spring or late fall?

[@GardenSanity]

Hi Kathy -- if it was me, I would move it just to be on the safe side. If moving in the Fall -- again, if it was me -- if doing it in the Fall I would do it once the temperatures were moderate, yet not wait until late Fall. You want the roots to have time to get established in their new spot before the dormant season kicks in. Otherwise, my preferred time to move shrubs is early Spring. It's a perfect time since you can transplant the shrub, then let it get situated for a few weeks....then do any pruning you might need to do and give it a good amount of fertilizer after pruning. And then still be able to enjoy the late Spring wonderful pink coloring! I hope this helps! 😀

[@terrencegibbons3351]

How tall will they grow if u did not prune it???

[@GardenSanity]

Hi Terrence -- If left unpruned, Dappled Willow could grow possibly 15 to 20 feet tall. Ours had grown between 10 and 15 feet tall. The width was always hard to measure as we grew ours as a living wall. Of course the difficult part about just letting it grow is that the insides of the plant eventually die out and the plant starts to look bad, unless I suppose other plantings were placed in front of it so that the top-most growth was highlighted. If the insides hadn't died out, we would have loved to keep it tall! This time around, once it grows back, we plan on keeping it tall, but will prune more often, hopefully avoiding the dreaded empty inside! I hope this helps!

[@bobbyjett7047]

I planted a row of 10 willows on the inside of a fence for privacy. Now 4-5 years later they are quite large and FULL. In fact they are leaning so far over the outside of the fence that they are staring to shade the flowers and shrubs on the outside of the fence. The color is still great though. Last year i just cut off strategic branches that were hanging to low over areas i didnt want them to be. Is this not a good idea? Im in zone 5. Can I prune them this fall before it gets cold or should I wait for spring?

[@GardenSanity]

Hi Bobby, I bet your Dappled Willows look wonderful. It’s fine to cut off any growth that is leaning and shading areas you don’t want covered. When ours were large, we did that at least once a year. You can prune them in late Fall if you want, but waiting until late Winter or early Spring is better, as the new buds will already begin to be visible. If you cut just above a set of buds, the new growth will then hide that pruning cut. But as you already know, these plants grow fast, so any pruning cuts won’t be visible for long! I hope this helps?

[@bobbyjett7047]

@@GardenSanity Yes this helps very much! Thanks for taking the time to answer. I love your videos and clear concise explanations.

[@GardenSanity]

I’m glad I could help! And thanks so much for your feedback too. I really appreciate it!

[@marylandsharona]

How is there root system?

[@GardenSanity]

The roots grow quite large and travel far, seeking out water. You can read more about Dappled Willows in my free guide linked above these comments in the Description Box. 🙂

[@michaelwas8549]

how far apart did you plant these

[@GardenSanity]

Hi Michael, Dappled Willow should be planted six feet apart from each other, whether you are planting a row of them or planting them within a garden near other shrubs or perennials. The first three I planted were closer than six feet, and that's presented some ongoing difficulties when the width of these becomes overwhelming, growing into each other a bit too much. Rookie mistake and lesson learned!

[@michaelwas8549]

@@GardenSanity Hey thanks for the tip! I actually dug all the holes today (20 to be exact) and 6 ft. apart. I"m planting them near the front of our property where its kind of low and wet so they should do well.

[@GardenSanity]

@@michaelwas8549 Wow! 20 of them! They will look stunning! Keep me posted on how they look.

[@minisinthehallshorts]

Hello! thank you for your video. Your dappled willows are beautiful and seem to provide perfect screening. I would like to plant some in my yard this spring and have a question. How far apart did you plant them to provide the ultimate screening?

[@GardenSanity]

Hi Michael -- they do indeed provide great screening! Dappled Willow should be planted six feet apart from each other, whether you are planting a row of them or planting them within a garden near other shrubs or perennials. The first three I planted were closer than six feet, and that's presented some ongoing difficulties when the width of these becomes overwhelming, growing into each other a bit too much. Rookie mistake and lesson learned! So even if they look small when you first plant them, trust me they can grow very tall and wide! I hope this helps!

[@minisinthehallshorts]

@@GardenSanity thankyou. thank is very helpful.

[@GardenSanity]

You’re welcome! Keep me posted on how they’re doing once you plant them. 🌿

[@sunshine-db2zm]

How tall are they now? 15feet?

[@GardenSanity]

They are between 10 and 15 feet tall, with some branches reaching higher than others.

[@pegasis0066]

Purchased 3 willows last spring: full sun and decent soil. They grew very spindly throughout the season - they never filled in. Any ideas on what may be going on?

[@GardenSanity]

My first guess is water. Dappled Willow love water. Lots of water -- especially in their first year or two in your garden. The second guess is fertilizer. They love fertile soil. I just published a new video here on my KZbin channel about pruning Dappled Willow, and cover fertilizer in the video. Let me know if water or fertilizer was possibly lacking at times last season. (The weather can wreak havoc on our best intentions to keep shrubs moist sometimes!)

[@pegasis0066]

@@GardenSanity Ok will double check these two things - thank you.

[@GardenSanity]

Keep me posted!

[@sammysworld5485]

Can I easily transplant a dapple willow? I have one that’s Already outgrowing it’s space.

[@GardenSanity]

Yes you can, Sammy! I did exactly that, as the very first Dappled Willow shrub I purchased, I planted it in the wrong spot where it didn't have enough room to grow. If you look in the Description area on this page for this video, you'll see a link to my Dappled Willow Guide which is on my website. There you'll find photos and the background story on this particular Dappled Willow and how I ended up transplanting it to the back yard. You can do this any time in early Spring or Springtime into early Summer. Just avoid transplanting it during the heat of mid-Summer -- like I did -- because the shrub will suffer transplant shock and not be happy for about a month! 😂 I hope this helps you!

[@Notmyhandler]

I just bought a salix dappled willow TREE from Home Depot, it’s def one of my new favorite trees. Is the growth always upright?

[@GardenSanity]

Yes, the growth is upright but also there will be branches that will grow "up and outward" as well. Those stems can develop an arching look to them, which you can either enjoy -- or -- if it is too big you can prune those stems back to keep the tree more like it looked when you purchased it, shape-wise. I hope this helps!

[@Notmyhandler]

@@GardenSanity thank you 🙏

[@GardenSanity]

No problem!

[@emilydionne2242]

I love my dappled willows ,they screen my horse paddock because they are not poinsnous to my animals . Last year the leaves started drying and shriveling up . Local nursery said add water . So we added a water hose with a timer . I have lost 2 already this spring . Could this be a fungus ? Any ideas ? Thanks

[@GardenSanity]

Hi Emily, Yes, when the Dappled Willow leaves get dry and shrivel up, they simply need more water. And lots of water. Dappled Willow love water! Please watch my latest Dappled Willow video, where I actually mention about giving too much water (seeing small yellow leaves) versus not enough water (edges of leaves begin turning brown and shriveling up.) Don't worry about cutting any of the drying leaves off -- they will fall off on their own. A lot of water will do wonders for your Dappled Willow plants. And don't throw those two Dappled Willow away. Unless they never sprouted any green at all, they aren't dead. Probably just need more water, and then they'll begin to produce new leaves. When in doubt -- with Dappled Willow -- err on the side of more water! That's great you added a hose and timer, but it sounds like you may need to increase the frequency of water as well as how much water each shrub gets. I hope this helps! Please keep me posted! 🌱

[@emilydionne2242]

@@GardenSanity Thankyou so much for answering . I am trying to keep my remaining 2 alive . I’m not giving up

[@GardenSanity]

@@emilydionne2242 Water, water, water without drowning and I think they will rebound nicely for you!

[@lisawilson1589]

Hi I’ve just moved in to my new house & there is an poorly kept Dappled tree when is best to cut it back as it didn’t really do much this spring, thank you

[@GardenSanity]

Hi Lisa, the best time to cut back your Dappled Willow is in late Winter or early Spring, depending on where you’re located/what gardening zone you’re in. You want to be past any snow or freezing temperatures before you prune. I have several videos about pruning that you can see here on my KZbin channel - including one where I cut down our Dappled Willow all the way to the ground. I hope the videos help! (And congratulations on your new home!) 🙂

[@moesawad]

How is the fall leaf cleanup with these?

[@DianaS-eo7nc]

Tons of leaves everywhere!

[@GardenSanity]

Lots of little leaves everywhere, but they are easy to round up with a lightweight leaf blower and use as a leaf mulch in the garden for Winter.

[@4womanway]

Bought to 3ft willows to replace 2 that I planted 3 yrs ago right along a busy road & under electric wires....as a wall of protection from all the road hubub... Theyve been sitting in the 10 gal bucket x 1 wk & kept watered ( ugh except 1 hot day yesterday) & now im about to get them in....& they both look dead. Im suspecting that I should prune them down before getting them in....and keep well watered. What do you think?

[@GardenSanity]

Jennifer, please forgive me for my horrible delay in responding to you. (I receive many questions, but I want to answer each one, so this isn't an excuse. So sorry!) How are your Dappled Willows doing?

[@ceciliaeastwood8947]

Can this be done with a grafted salix flamingo?

[@GardenSanity]

Hi Cecilia, I'm pretty sure -- although I could be proven wrong, as that's always a possibility 😂 -- that grafted forms of Dappled Willow are usually the tree forms, not the shrub forms. The reason for this is because it is easier to grow a "tree" of Dappled Willow using a sturdier stem of a similar tree. (Although people have successfully grown Dappled Willow trees from plant cuttings not grafted as well.) The shrub forms of Dappled Willow aren't grafted to anything at all. I don't think there would ever be a need to cut back a Dappled Willow tree severely like this, as these tree forms -- often looking like a single stem with a rounded shrub on the top -- are much easier to maintain. I hope this helps?

[@Anonymously4051]

Did you make a video of how to propagate the dappled willow?

[@GardenSanity]

Hi Rachel, thanks for asking! Yes I did, and I show how to propagate in both soil and in water. You can find it in my Dappled Willow Playlist here on this channel. I hope you like it! 🌿🪴