Willows, The Easiest Plant to Root! Plant Propagation for Willows (Salix)

Willows of all kinds tend to be extremely easy to root. They have a high amount of natural rooting hormone (auxins) which enable this amazing rooting ability. Willows can be rooted in water or in soil with a lot of success. Here in this video I show you the basic rooting techniques I use to grow willows from cuttings. In this case it is my Salix integra (Japanese Dappled Willow) that I use as an example but this technique can be used for all kinds of willows.
More on Dappled Willow: • Japanese Dappled willo...
Severely pruning a dappled willow/coppicing: • Pruning a Japanese Dap...
The results after coppicing: • Dappled Willow 3 Month...
growingthehomegarden.com/2008...

[@my4sons88]

Thank you for showing the cutting from the tree. I couldn’t find that info on other channels or the timeframe to do this. Great video! I found what I needed to know

[@sagemountainspirit8592]

Thank you so much!! We have a gorgeous white willow out in front of our place and I can't wait to propagate it!

[@roblena7977]

Thankyou, not sure if you're the one who I first learned about this from but I just went from a couple trees to nearly a hundred. This really is so easy it seems like magic.

[@Growingthehomegarden]

Glad to hear about your success! That is awesome!

[@nataliedodson1637]

Hi Dave your video is brilliant. Thank you kindly. Natalie

[@B30pt87]

You are very eay to listen to and understand.

[@chickadeeacres3864]

I have a 7 foot weeping willow I started from cutting. The deer ate my previous tries in situ. This time, I rooted it in containers until they were big enough to plant out. I’m so pleased!

[@mwngw]

Kool. I'm a big fan of Blue Arctic Ice Willow...hard to find retail, but I have an established 2-plant shrub now 5 years old. It's grown to 10' in height, and I have to trim it back a few times a year. Just this past Fall I tried propagating it with about a 50% success. I now know what I did wrong, thanks to your tips.

[@laurascheetz398]

My favorite, too! I just printed today and now I have a bunch of babies brewing 😉

[@reneeadolph1309]

Definitely trying this with my weeping willow!

[@Growingthehomegarden]

It should work great with a weeping willow!

[@jlnriddick]

I'm so envious! I love the dappled willow shrub, but don't see any around my area yards to ask permission for some cuttings. I may have to wait to purchase a decent size plant to get my own cuttings. It's always fun to root something "easy", even just for the positive boost! This video is marked for when I finally get some cuttings! As always, thanks for sharing your projects!

[@jarnevanbec2886]

I just drove around the fields until i saw one I liked. No one will blame you for cutting one or two of the thousands new branches

[@blacksinglemomhomesteadont6454]

Hey Dave. First time watcher. The weeping willow has always been a fav of mine. I bought my first and only tree in 2005 and list it under water to hurricane Katrina. I hope I can find another to plant at my current place.

[@Growingthehomegarden]

Thanks for watching! I'm sure you could find someone who wouldn't mind giving you a branch of a weeping willow you could propagate with. I'm sorry you lost the one in Katrina!

[@gray_f]

Great video! Super informative, so excited to try this, I thought I could only do it on new growth while it's still red.

[@Growingthehomegarden]

Thanks for the feedback! Willow is so easy to root you can use nearly any type of first year growth. You can take cuttings in the fall and just stick them where you want the plant to grow and it will root great!

[@dr.melodyschumann-herb6999]

Thanks Dave!!

[@Growingthehomegarden]

You're welcome!

[@redtoxicextazy]

good video

[@gossipwithkashifjamshaidawan]

Informative video

[@Growingthehomegarden]

Thank you 😊

[@VinhVoTV]

good👍👍👍

[@pamdavis9077]

Dave, thank you so much for this video! I had tri-dapped willows in NC, and just brought one with me to TX to propogate, and didn't know about the first year growth that is what you want to use. My one willow I have I want to propogate it as I am in a new house with NO PLANTS outside, and love those tri-dapped willows! Now I am confident I can do this properly! I did want to ask you, after you put them in the pot, how often do you water it? It doesn't look like you put much water in there and don't want to drown them ;) thx again!

[@Growingthehomegarden]

With willows usually the more water the better! Overwatering shouldn't be a problem. You will want to keep them wet until rooting. So check them to make sure the soil/medium is still damp regularly.

[@watchaall]

Good day, just want to know how can I have cutting of willow plant, I'm from the Philippines, willow will be very useful in our farm, please help me, really hoping that you will notice my message

[@christinemercier-ossorio8617]

I see this is an old video but wanted to point out how valuable catkins are for bees. These are early hive building weeks and serve many insects with long food. Heads up everything counts !

[@Growingthehomegarden]

Great info!

[@christinaabbott3873]

Thank you for this. I've got loads of newish shrimp willows but need more as I'm reclaiming a huge garden. I'm going out to take cuttings right now. I've also got a shrimp willow pompom tree which I need to prune back into shape, any advice would be much appreciated! Cheers from Normandy France :-)

[@Growingthehomegarden]

Shrimp willow is just another name for the dappled willow that I did in this video. Just do as I did in the video and you will have some good success with the cuttings. They like a lot of water so don't let them dry out.

[@lnystrom9044]

Thank you - great video - I have a curly willow I want to propagate. I wish U would do a video on “willow water” as a rooting hormone thanks

[@Growingthehomegarden]

Are you thinking as a comparison type video?

[@avssify]

If you have a grown willow it's best to air layer. They grow roots like crazy so I'm sure whatever you do will work and you can start a plant with a gigantic woody branch

[@maryelizabethcalais9180]

Hi Dave, your channel just surfaced when I searched propagating willow. It did appear quite simple like propagating other trees. I am a full-time Gardener. I do enjoy weaving with vines and I'd like to plant several willow trees for weaving supplies. Could you please share the progress on your willow cuttings from a year ago? Also, how quickly have you found willow to grow? Tks for your help. Good video!!!

[@macysondheim]

Are you a full time gardener? Or are you just saying that, cuz to me it seems like you’re more of a part-time gardener. Willow plants & vines are both common amongst amateur gardeners, and beginners.

[@DrDebraCondren]

Thank you for the info. When can these cuttings actually be planted in the ground? Longer than the 2-3 weeks? How to tell when ready? Much appreciated.

[@Growingthehomegarden]

Once you have a few good roots you should be OK planting them in the ground. It doesn't take long for willows to be ready to root!

[@sharifahhasifah-ke3qx]

Hello If I want to get some of that how do I get it

[@mts7274]

I want the willow best for a really tall, thick privacy fence that I prune to be narrow each year. It's difficult to get a straight answer on which to buy. I keep getting answers like Salix Viminalis, Hybrid Willow, Sandbar Willow... I just want a thick, tall privacy hedge! What do I need to ask for at the nursery?

[@Growingthehomegarden]

My personal favorite is the Japanese dappled willow. Grows a little taller than 10ft. Can be pruned back as needed. Beautiful foliage. Salix integra is the botanical name.

[@user-uy6ku6nn3v]

Hi what soil best to use when you take cuttings to grow a salix thank you

[@Growingthehomegarden]

Pretty much any type of potting soil will work fine with willows. For general rooting I like using sand but willows root so well that potting soil in a pot is just fine.

[@marieclark7019]

Hi,I just wanted to askyou,is that just shavings or is it mixed with soil for the cuttings,and can I used shop bought shavings ?? Thank you 😊

[@Growingthehomegarden]

It's basically straight pine shavings, but I have often used sand to root willows. They root very will in water also.

[@iamregin]

How big of a branch can you start with? I have a willow thats probably 80ft tall, but its on its last leg. I plan to have it cut mostly down and see if it grows back, but i'm wondering if i can start a second tree next to it by taking a large branch and planting it. This tree is running along a creek so plenty of water naturally. could i start with a 10ft branch to get it growing faster and produce privacy?

[@Growingthehomegarden]

I wouldn't say a 10ft branch is impossible but I think you'll find better success with a 3-4 ft long smaller diameter branch. Larger branches won't have any roots to help take care of the rest of the branch. You could try the 10 ft branch and simultaneously put some smaller branches in pots to grow that way you have a back up in case the 10ft one doesn't work.

[@mikei1880]

ordered some willows on line came they cut them them told me soil them in water .which I did fast...( should I have re-cut them then put root hormone on them first ? ) been 3 weeks nothing happening ? any suggestions anyone?

[@Growingthehomegarden]

They should start putting out some little root nubs along the stem by now. Usually within a week. You could try putting them in soil with some rooting hormone to see if that helps a little. Bottom heat also helps.

[@oneofakind3004]

I have a smooth leaf willow tree , where should I take a cutting from, new to all of this.

[@Growingthehomegarden]

Look for a 6 to 8 inch long piece of branch from this year's growth. It will appear lighter in color than last years growth. Probably under a pencil in diameter.

[@avssify]

If you have a grown willow it's best to air layer. They grow roots like crazy so I'm sure whatever you do will work and you can start a plant with a gigantic woody branch

[@andytchir8601]

What did you use for substrate in the willow container?

[@Growingthehomegarden]

For these it is just fine bark chips. The sell them as soil conditioner. I've done them in sand, peat, ordinary potting soil, and water. Willows aren't picky on the medium!

[@andytchir8601]

@@Growingthehomegarden excellent, thanks for the info

[@Stewart7516]

So i know this might sound really elementary but i have had zero sucess propogating willows this way. They always flush out with growth up top then die from lack of roots within about a month to 6 weeks they are dead. Ive tried doing this both in moist potting soil and in a glass of watter and i replace the water every few days to keep it fresh. Im kind of stumped

[@Growingthehomegarden]

One thing that may help is to wound the cutting. Just scrape the bottom of the cutting about 1/2 inch on one side. That will expose more of the cambium layer so it can callus more which may help develop more roots. Otherwise you may be taking cuttings that are too long. Were you taking 6 to 8 inch cuttings or longer?

[@Stewart7516]

@@Growingthehomegarden they are all about 6-8 inches. I also took my pruners and split the bottoms of the sticks about an inch up to expose more cambium.. I will try the scraping method.. I have some going now. 9 days in and the tops flushing out and still no sign of roots 😕

[@lemontea128]

Can the cuttings be take year round or do you have to wait for a specific time to take cuttings to root?

[@oneofakind3004]

He said any time

[@askjeevescosby2928]

I feel like you would get a better plant from a seed then you would a cutting. Wont it always grow like its a branch. Youll get growth at the bottom all the time.

[@janiakash007]

Good in4mative video Hi .... I m Tariq from Pakistan... Sir I want this wellows tree seeds / stems can you provide me in Pakistan ? Please Respond 👍

[@balwinderkumar4520]

Sir good afternoon 🙏 . I am from India . Yours video very good . I know a little English. Willow tree seeds are not available in India . I want the seeds of the Willow from which baskets are made . Please help me sir 🙏🙏 .........

[@Growingthehomegarden]

I'm sorry I do not have seeds for willow trees available.

[@balwinderkumar4520]

Thanks sir for reply 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@buckaroobonzai2909]

I think tomatos are easier to root than willows. I have never had a tomato stem fail. I have had like 5% or less of willow cuttings fail. Just my personal experience. I think it is because I live in a very wet area that gets the disease that causes Diamond patterns on willow. So if you look up a "diamond willow walking stick" or something like that, you'll see a neat pattern. That is caused by a disease in my area that is usually not deadly enough to willow to kill it, but it causes diamond-shaped rots in it that are really neat looking when you carve them out. ... anyway... this disease, I think, kills my cuttings sometimes.

[@Growingthehomegarden]

Tomatoes are very easy to root. There are quite a few plants that could be classified under "The Easiest" category. I've always just found willows are a good starter plant for beginners to plant propagation. I haven't seen any of the diamond issue in our area but I could see where it would impact willows from rooting.

[@buckaroobonzai2909]

@@Growingthehomegarden The diamonding is cool when it occurs on a grown willow stick that is probably thicker than a bundle of like 10 pencils or like a shovel handle because the growth out grows the disease and makes a cool pattern. Try growing it in a wetter area for that effect. If that doesn't work, it means that the disease isn't in that area. I have read that it is technically illegal to deliberately put a disease onto a plant for ornamental purposes, but I don't play by the rules, and the disease is already in my swamp and my willows are also doing fine, generally.

[@felicitygee381]

Sorry, I got dislike instead of like by mistake, I changed it but don't know if it counts 🤷🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️

[@Growingthehomegarden]

Not a problem! Thanks for fixing it!

[@bethsabath]

It's counts but nobody can see, only KZbin