Recommendations for growing sinuous willow
One of the most popular ornamental trees in Russia is the sinuous willow. It is a beautiful tree that is suitable for almost all landscapes and requires little maintenance. It looks great as a tapeworm and in group plantings, suitable for landscaping summer cottages and garden plots. Brings harmony and tranquility to any vacation spot.
Description of twisting willow
The twisting willow Matsudana is very popular among gardeners. This is a medium-sized tree or bush that grows up to 4-13 m in height and up to 7 m in width. Its crown can be formed during the growth process, it responds well to a haircut. The leaves are narrow, oblong, 5-10 cm long, green above, blue or white below, wrapped in incomplete spirals. The flowering period is in March-April. It tolerates almost all garden soils, but grows better on moderately moist, sandy-clayey soils. Iva Matsudana requires corrective pruning, otherwise the crown becomes too thick.
The plant is very unpretentious, but a lot of moisture and light is needed for its good development. It should not be planted in a draft, especially the cold north wind affects it.
The winter hardiness of the species is satisfactory: in severe frosts, freezing of areas that are not protected by a snow cover is possible. Many gardeners advise to additionally insulate this plant in winter.
The willow of the Sverdlovsk sinuous Ural selection is better suited for our climate. The tree has a height of 2 - 4 m. The crown is oval or broadly oval, sometimes consists of several thin trunks, of medium density, a little weeping. Its spiral shoots are greenish-olive or reddish-brown in color and become glossy brown in the sun. Leaves are light green, slightly pubescent above, and below - gray, moderately pubescent.
The Ural willow meandering is relatively undemanding to soil fertility. Loves light, so planting is recommended in open sunny areas with moist soil. The plant is highly frost-resistant and can easily withstand severe winters. It is slightly affected by pests and fungal diseases, it tolerates pruning well.
Willow twisting in landscape design
No one will be left indifferent by a variety of photos of winding willows in landscape design garden plots. These trees look great all year round, even in winter, so they will be a great decoration for any garden.
Willow Matsudana has a thick, winding trunk and thin brittle branches. This is due to uneven thickening of the branches and trunk during the growth process. Young shoots are slightly pubescent, olive-colored, over time they become naked and brown. The deep reddish brown color of the branches is especially noticeable in winter, when the plant is dormant.The decorativeness of the Sverdlovsk willow lies in the wide-oval crown, which consists of several thin trunks with twisting, slightly weeping shoots and twisted leaves.
The tree looks great both alone and in a group. Used to create decorative permanent and seasonal compositions. The decorative twisting willow near the pond looks great. The dense crown is a wonderful shelter from the sun's rays and the perfect backdrop for lawns.
Willow has a very well-developed root system, so such trees are often used to strengthen sandy soil and the banks of artificial reservoirs.
Planting and caring for twisty willow
In order for a spectacular tree to grow from a young seedling, it must be properly looked after. Planting and caring for sinuous willow is not difficult. The main requirement for the location of the willow is a place where there will be a lot of sunlight. Almost all types of willows need moisture, so it is better to plant them near reservoirs.
This plant propagates by cuttings. Let's take a look at how to plant it correctly.
- First you need to cut the cuttings, dig them into the ground and keep it moist.
- The willow root system forms very quickly. And after its formation, you can transplant the cutting to a permanent place.
- Starting planting, you need to dig a hole and fertilize the soil with compost, peat or manure. In heavy soil, it is advisable to add sand.
- It is necessary to plant the cutting to a depth of 10-15 cm. In the ground, it will quickly put down adventitious roots.
- The plant should be watered thoroughly until it forms a full root system.
Almost all types of willows grow well and take root. But it must be borne in mind that biennial plants tolerate transplanting much worse. Therefore, it is advisable to replant only young seedlings.
Caring for sinuous willow is quite simple. As a rule, these trees are unpretentious, do not get sick and are not affected by pests.
The main rule is that willow needs moisture. This is especially true for recently transplanted plants with an immature full-fledged root system.
Pruning is the most interesting care for twisty willows. Without it, the tree thickens very much. Therefore, at least a corrective haircut is required. With the help of pruning, you can easily adjust the shape and density of the crown to make a curvy willow a real masterpiece.
It should be taken into account that in frosty winters, the Matsudan willow can freeze out to the soil level, therefore, the tree should be covered in winter. The Ural winding can withstand severe frosts much better, therefore it is more suitable for harsh climates.