Description: Salix caprea Pendula - Weeping Pussy Willow - unrooted cutting Mature Height: 6 feet Aspect: half shade to full sun Hardiness Zone: USDA 4 Weeping Pussy Willow is one of our favorite weeping plants because of its fast growth, tight form, and attractive catkin flowers in early spring. The branches always try to grow downward and trees left on their own will spread along the ground, reaching only a foot or two in height. However, if a branch is staked upright it will form a head five or six feet tall with dozens of long branches trailing from the top of the tree. Although these trees are most commonly seen with a straight trunk, we have found that these look a lot better with a few crooks in the trunk to provide extra character in the winter. If you are growing this tree in an area with frequent heavy snows in the winter you should consider tying the top of the tree to a sturdy stake to prevent snow damage. The wood is quite strong once developed and so stakes can typically be removed after the second year and the tree will support itself from that point on. Drooping branches on a Weeping Pussy Willow Close up of the catkin flowers Information on Unrooted Cuttings Some plant species like Willows, Poplars, Elderberries, and Creek Dogwoods can be consistently propagated from hardwood cuttings that are planted directly into the field during winter, rather than in humidity controlled rooting chambers. Unrooted cuttings are both significantly cheaper and easier to plant than rooted shrubs and trees and are frequently used for large scale plantings of easily rooted species. Planting Unrooted Cuttings Sticking the Cuttings Keep the unrooted cuttings moist until you are ready to plant them, you can leave them in their packaging in a cold location for 1-2 weeks. It is important to plant the cuttings upright, with the younger tip on top and the older end planted in the soil. All of the cuttings in a bundle will be facing the same way with the bottoms flush together. If a stem gets separated then you can identify the top by looking at the buds, the buds are above the leaf scar. We leave room on the bottom of the cuttings for a fresh cut, right before planting give each unrooted cutting a fresh cut about 1/4 of an inch below the lowest node. The lowest node is where most of the roots will form so be sure to protect it from damage, be careful not to knock off the buds on the lowest node as the buds produce a good portion of the hormones that tell nearby tissue to produce roots. If both lower buds are knocked off you can make a new cut below the next node up the stem. Prepare the planting hole with a pencil, dowel, or rod about 3 inches deep into the soil and then push the cutting in until it gets good contact on the bottom. Press the soil down around the cutting to close the edges of the hole around the stem. Watering after sticking is recommended to ensure good cutting to soil contact. Preparing the hole is not necessary if you have very loose or sandy soils. Rooting hormone is not usually required but can be beneficial if you have it available. After Care Winter and spring rainfall is usually sufficient to keep the soil moist in wetter climates, but in some drier climates occasional irrigation may be necessary. It is important to not let the soil surface get too dry as this can cause the cuttings to dry out, but you don't want the soil to be soggy either as this can lead to rot. Moderately moist soil yields high success rates while overly wet or dry soils often result in poor success rates. In drier climates with sandy soils you can stick the cuttings about 5 inches deep instead of 3 to improve moisture retention. Tree tubes can also be quite beneficial in keeping the humidity higher around the top of the cuttings without restricting airflow, and this can also protect the cuttings from rodent damage if this is an issue in your area. Set of 10 unrooted cuttings that are ready to plant. Pictured are Red Twig Dogwoods, similar size for other species.
Price: 9.99 USD
Location: Medford, Oregon
End Time: 2025-01-26T03:44:10.000Z
Shipping Cost: 9.99 USD
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Item Specifics
All returns accepted: ReturnsNotAccepted
Brand: Red Panda Nursery
Type: Live Plant
