Willow varieties
Content:
Willow is a tree that is no less famous than birch in our area. Many summer residents prefer to plant it on their site for a change, because from the side, the willow looks quite original. Let's consider some types of willow, their differences from each other.
General characteristics of willow species
If your area of the site does not differ in impressive dimensions, low-growing willow forms, which are distinguished by a presentable appearance, are most suitable for decorative purposes.
The most common deciduous forms can be spherical willow, which is also called self-shearing, and weeping. Their height rarely exceeds 4 or 5 meters, and their alternative names are Tristis and Pendula.
We will consider them just below. As a rule, spherical willow is a multi-stemmed tree with an elegant appearance, characterized by a crown shape resembling a ball.
Elongated leaves of bright green shades play the role of decorating the tree from the spring season to late autumn, however, during the period of blooming young foliage, it appears to the viewer in all its glory. This usually happens just in the spring, when flowering begins.
Willow Tristis
As we have already said, the weeping willow, also known as Tristis, differs from all other species in a rather spreading crown, which has weeping branches, which, as a rule, sag closer to the ground. The bark of this willow tree has a bright yellow hue.
Green, closer to the very top, shiny silver from below, elongated leaves are formed in the early spring period, and their original appearance is able to maintain flesh until October.
Willow pendula
Willow Pendula grows to a height of 4 or 5 meters and boasts a particularly presentable appearance in the early spring period, when the foliage begins to bloom, the flowering process starts.
But even in winter, the trees do not lose their charm - the openwork crown, the shoots painted in bright colors highlight the willow against the background of all other plants and trees that have already fallen asleep. This is rightfully a kind of uniqueness of this tree.
Oddly enough, despite all the advantages and advantages of the Pendula willow, it is not as widespread for decorating garden plots as other species. And this is completely undeserved.
After all, resistance to external factors, as well as the general level of unpretentiousness, are also supported by an amazingly beautiful appearance, a variety of crown and tree shoots in the spring.
Willows, and not only Pendula, are less susceptible to damage from frost and winter frosts, they are quite moisture-loving trees. That is why it is necessary to observe the introduction of moisture at the rate during irrigation and prevent drought of these noble trees.
As for the dressing of this type of willow, then they should be done during the summer period from 2 to 3 times by means of complex fertilizers of a mineral nature. Suitable nitrophoska and agriculture for ornamental plants. The amount is determined by the value of 50 grams for each tree.
Willow cotte
This species of willow has an unusually spectacular appearance, even though it has a small crown and shoots hanging to the ground, it rarely reaches a height of more than 2.5 meters. The color of the leaves is very, very original - dark green tones predominate, giving off shine.
Trees are grown in garden plots only with male sex characteristics, as they are best adapted to new conditions and territory.Flowering begins in the early spring period, even before the leaves appear.
The color of the flowers is characterized at first by a silvery shade, then smoothly turns into golden and just yellow.
Willow Kotte is also a moisture-loving species, unpretentious to care, only requires timely mulching before winter with peat or humus. It is recommended that the crown be wrapped in 2 or better even 3 layers with a non-woven covering material before the cold weather.
Willow Spear-shaped.
This type of willow is a slow-growing shrub with unusual shoots that rise upward, in an arched shape. The crown reaches a value of 1 meter in diameter. Shoots are most often cast in red-brown tones.
Leaves of the spear-shaped willow species are characterized at the initial stage by a gray color, then smoothly turning into dark green tones. The flowers are numerous earrings, and when they bloom fully, they are covered with golden stamens. As a rule, this happens closer to May.
It is better to choose a well-lit place for the spear-shaped willow, where uniform heating of the soil is localized, which in turn should be properly moistened. Alkaline type is suitable.
Willows Swiss.
A small shrub, shaped like a ball, has shoots of a fleecy structure. The crown diameter rarely exceeds 1 meter. This species is most often found in the form of a tree of not too high growth, grafted onto a stem. Leaves are silvery white, which persist throughout the season.
The protruding catkins of this type of silvery willow are formed for a short period of time before the beginning of leaf blooming in the early spring period. The shrub has the advantage of being relatively unpretentious, but should not be planted on soils that have recently been limed.
Top dressing of the Swiss willow species is carried out throughout the summer by applying fertilizers of a mineral nature.
