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Facts About The Hybrid Willow

The hybrid willow tree is known for growing at a fast rate. These trees are disease resistant and they can easily be grown in just about any climate. They can be found in northern Canada as well as in Florida. They are commonly used for wind protection, shading and for privacy trees and they are exceptional for landscaping. The life span for these trees is around 70 years and they can grow to reach 75 feet tall when planted alone. But perhaps the more fascinating thing about the hybrid willow is how fast it grows. In one year it can reach anywhere from 14 to 20 feet high.

When planted in bunches the hybrid willow can reach up to 45 feet in height. When you plant them this way, they make excellent screens or dust and sound barriers. In the winter they make great wind traps. It is an oval shaped tree with denser branches and leaves on the bottom of the plant. The leaves are a dark green color and they are long and spindly. The branches grow in an upward position and the plant naturally has a good form, so pruning these trees are a breeze. If you are interested in purchasing a hybrid willow tree, you should learn what keeps this plant healthy and happy.

When you get your beginner plants, they will not be that impressive. They will be thinner with not much foliage and a bare root. This would lead you to believe that the trees will not fill in the area you want to cover. Do not give in to the urge to plant more trees and make sure that they are spaced a full 5 feet apart from each other. Be patient and let the trees grow in before attempting to prune them in anyway. Over planting hybrid willow trees can make pruning a nightmare and the trees will have to compete for water and nutrients. Remember that in most cases, at the end of the growing season these plants will produce a tall wall of green in the area where you planted them.

Before you start to plant your hybrid willow, you should map out the area where you plan on placing the trees. Make sure that you set them 5 feet apart and dig deep enough holes to completely cover the root system. Remove any pebbles or smaller rocks that can cut or damage the roots and pack down the soil around the base of the tree. Luckily, these plants have very healthy root systems, so you won’t have to worry about root rot or elevating them. But you can keep them thoroughly watered, especially for the first few months.

These trees should be placed in a mix of direct sunlight and shading. They are comfortable in cooler temperatures, so if you live in a warmer climate place them in an area that receives morning sunlight and afternoon shading. This way the leaves will never become scorched. In other areas that have a cooler climate, it makes no difference when the plant receives sunlight. A good rule for this plant is make sure that it has at least 4 hours of sunlight each day.

The only negative thing about this plant is that it is sometimes invasive. This means that it can take over or kill neighboring plants and it can also spread to other areas of the garden. To avoid this, you can place them in an area that contains no other plants. Make sure that you plant them a full 10 to 15 feet away from your home. You should also be careful not to plant them close to any other plants that need a lot of sunlight. The hybrid willow is a shading tree, so never place plants underneath them.

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