Pruning Guide for Weeping Willow Trees

Weeping willows can enhance the beauty of your yard or property with their graceful, drooping branches. Although these trees don't demand much upkeep, they can become overgrown and may benefit from occasional pruning. Equip yourself with pruning shears or pole pruners to maintain the health and vibrancy of your tree!

Prune your tree during late winter or early spring. Weeping willow trees flourish in warm weather, and pruning during this time can result in excessive sap leakage, which is detrimental to the tree's health. It's best to wait until winter to trim the branches.

Utilize pruning saws, shears, or pole pruners for your pruning needs. Fortunately, you won't require specialized equipment to trim your weeping willow. Check your tool collection for pruning shears, and consider using a pruning saw or pole pruner for hard-to-reach branches.

Trim branches at a 45-degree angle. When pruning smaller sections of a weeping willow branch, cut at a 45-degree angle to expedite healing. Make these cuts at least 1/2 inch (1.3 cm) above any buds on the branch.

Employ a 3-part cut technique for removing thicker branches. Begin by undercutting the lower half of the thick branch, followed by sawing through the top half. Once the bulk of the branch is removed, saw off any remaining wood or stub with a pruning saw.

Remove any protruding stems from the central one. In cases where your weeping willow has multiple central stems, trim off additional growths from the main stem to prevent tangling and overgrowth. Focus on the largest, sturdiest stem in the middle of the tree and trim away any excess growth, even large ones. Take breaks as needed during this process.

Clip off ⅓ of a branch if it's hanging too close to the ground. Sometimes, you won't need to remove an entire branch. Instead, use shears or pole pruners to trim the bottom third of any long, overgrown branches. Repeat this process for any branches that are overgrown or touching the ground.

Prune away intertwined branches from the base of the tree. Identify branches that are intertwined or rubbing against each other, starting with smaller ones and gradually working your way up to larger tangles.

Space branches at a distance of 2 inches (5.1 cm). Weeping willow trees can become dense, affecting airflow. Inspect the upper branches, ensuring they are adequately spaced apart. While it may require additional effort, spacing out the branches promotes tree health.

Remove new growths promptly upon detection. Weeping willows often develop lateral growths from the trunk's sides. Regularly check the tree for these growths and remove them by rubbing or pinching them off.

Prune away injured or broken branches as soon as they're noticed. Identify branches that appear weak, diseased, or likely to fall off. Promptly removing these branches promotes the tree's overall health and strength.

Remove any root suckers growing from the tree's base. Scan the tree carefully for thin branches sprouting from the bottom. Trim these suckers at their base to prevent them from draining nutrients from the tree.