If you want to add unique character to your backyard, a weeping willow tree is a great choice. Its long, flowing tendrils dance in the breeze and provide plenty of shade. Weeping willows are not tough to grow and maintain, as long as you follow the tips below.

Selecting the Right Site

Willow trees are tolerant of most soil types, but they prefer moist, loamy soil and grow best on the banks of streams, lakes and ponds. If you do not have a pond or stream on your property, you can still plant a willow tree, but you will have to be very vigilant about watering it while it is young. Once it is older and has more established roots, it will be more tolerant of droughts. Wherever you plant the willow, make sure the site receives at least 4 hours per day of direct sunlight.

Choosing a Thriving Young Willow Tree

When you visit a home and garden store to purchase a willow sapling to transplant, look for one with a thick, minimally branched trunk. The leaves should be brightly colored, and the ends of the twigs should be bright green in color. Willows grow quickly (up to 24 inches per year), so the willow sapling you purchase will likely already be a few feet tall.

Planting the Sapling

To plant your willow sapling, dig a hole that's about twice as wide as the root ball. This will ensure there's plenty of soft soil around the roots, so they can push through and grow easily. Place the tree in the hole, and fill it in with soil, being sure to pile the soil only as high as the bulge where the roots and trunk meet.

Water the tree in, and then place a layer of mulch around it. Wood mulch will help seal in the moisture and will also slowly break down, adding nutrients to the soil for the tree to use as it grows.

Caring for Your Young Tree

If deer are prevalent in your area, you may want to put a small fence up around your tree to keep them from nibbling its bark. Other than that, the only care a young willow tree requires is fertilization once a year in the spring. Use a standard 10-10-10 fertilizer, and dilute it according to the package instructions. If your tree is in a dry area, watering it periodically while it is young will help keep the growth rate high.

Once it is four or five years old, the tree's root system should be well established, and it will no longer require watering or fertilization. You may wish to have it trimmed periodically to keep the tendrils from taking over your yard, but even this care is optional.

For more information, contact Pioneer Tree & Landscape, Inc. or a similar company.