How does willow care for us?
Willow is fast growing and short lived. One of the earliest woody plants to leaf out in spring and last to drop leaves in autumn, they are a constant companion. Their tough roots spread wide and love to live in watery places. Along streams and creeks, their interlaced roots hold fast the soil of the banks, preventing erosion. Long, slender, drooping branches seem as if they are bent over in sadness, giving Willow the association of mourning and loss.
They are pioneers, often one of the first to appear in a disturbed site, remediating the soil by drawing up toxins through their trunk. Their sap contains salicylic acid and has long been chewed to reduce pain and inflammation, a natural inspiration for the chemical form of salicylic acid, aspirin.
Thanks to their love of water, folklore has long associated them with the moon, the feminine, and cycles. Divining rods are usually made from willow, allowing them to be a portal or amplifier of intuition and magic. In Europe, people have long whispered their dreams to the willows.
How to care for willow?
Water:These water lovers need a lot of water. Water long and often. Check the dirt a few inches deep. If it feels dry, add water.
Mulch: Apply a 2-3 inch mulch ring (away from the trunk) to retain moisture and protect roots from mowers
Prune: Cut off dead, broken, or crossing branches in late winter before new spring buds appear.
Light: Find a spot with full sun for willow
Soil: Willow trees need moist, fertile, and slightly acidic soil (pH 5.5 to 7.0)