For the most part, the Dappled Willow (or Harlequin Willow) is a super low-maintenance and hardy little tree. Even if yours is looking a bit crispy and dried out, don’t panic! There’s a good chance you can nurse it back to health. Here are a few of my favorite tips to help your willow bounce back.
Identify the Cause and Take Action!
First things first: you’ve got to play detective. Was it a scorching summer and you missed a few waterings? If so, you’re in luck—that’s an easy fix. You probably don’t need to worry about diseases or location issues. Just give the tree a light prune; this helps it stop wasting energy on dead wood and focus on its healthy parts. After that, make sure it’s getting plenty of water and nutrients, and just give it some time to recover.
However, if you’re dealing with a fungal infection or a pest infestation, you’ll need a different game plan. In these cases, you’ve got to prune away all the affected branches and dispose of them properly (don’t compost them!). This is the only way to stop the spread and keep the rest of your garden safe.
Improve Your Willow’s Living Conditions
Sometimes, the tree is struggling because it’s getting too much direct sun or dealing with “wet feet” from standing water. These issues usually pop up if it was planted in the wrong spot or didn’t overwinter correctly. If that’s the case, you might want to consider transplanting it to a better home or improving the drainage in its current spot.
A dried-out Dappled Willow needs more than just a drink of water. Give it a good trim and fertilize it to boost its energy. You can use a standard plant fertilizer or spread some fresh compost around the base. Also, try to keep the soil nice and loose. Not only does this help the ground absorb moisture better, but it also makes it easier for the willow’s shallow root system to spread out and get established.
To boost your soil and fertilize, try using:
- Compost
- All-purpose plant fertilizer
- Mulch
