Trying to grow longer stalks requires more nitrogen to spur plant growth. If you’re trying to grow long stalks to harvest, you should add some extra nitrogen in the fall to encourage early development. Salix discolor after a fall coppice pruning, as the spring catkins are forming. Source: Lorin Nielsen The Chinese use pussy willows as a decoration during part of the lunar new year. It’s believed to bring prosperity for the coming year. It’s also a popular Easter decoration.

Pussy willows are a resilient plant, even in growing environments which seem hostile. That said, there are still a few things to watch out for when growing these plants. Whether you’re encouraging shrubby, low growth or trying to develop a tree, here are a few issues you might encounter. Growing Problems As new shoots form, they will become long, straight stalks. You can train them to form a living arch by adding rigid wire or framing. Or, you can harvest them for flower arrangements! There are a bunch of diseases that can cause major damage to your pussy willows. Here’s a short list, along with some ways to treat them.In bacterial twig blight, darker stripes along the branches can be seen, and it can cause cankers on branches and the trunk.Both beneficial and pestilent caterpillars find pussy willows to be a good home. While you may discover many butterfly pupae hanging from the branches, you may also discover the larvae of a number of moths, munching away. The Salix species that comprise pussy willows prefer wet soil. They can easily handle boggy conditions. If the soil is too well-draining, their growth will be stunted. Further, they will help balance the wetter environment by drinking up the water and storing it for later use. They can be drought-tolerant for short periods of time.

With it's flexibility and versatility dried willow is an excellent craft resource. We sell sorted bundles containing 300 rods which are prefect for small projects and include instructions for a selection of projects. verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ When planting in the ground, you don’t need to fertilize. Its roots will extend quite a ways out and find better soil. Regular applications of compost or leaf mold mulch spread out around the base is about all it’ll need to thrive. That’s a common sign of a phosphorous deficiency that’s easy to repair. If you start seeing signs of nutrient deficiency and haven’t been fertilizing, add extra nutrients to the soil.

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But what exactly is this plant? Is it a tree or a shrub? How does it grow, and how can you maintain it? The greatest willow growing area in Great Britain is in the Somerset Levels in Taunton. Every year during the winter and early spring, before the willow starts breaking into leaf, they are cut to ground level and the long, straight rods are harvested and left to dry for basketmaking. Bacillus thurigiensis, also known as BT spray, can be used to eliminate caterpillars from your plant. However, this bacteria does not discriminate between pest caterpillars and friendly ones, so be sure you don’t have butterflies before using this!