Whoo hoo! I’m so happy to read this Tanya! Please keep me posted on how they’re doing! Next Spring you will hopefully enjoy a wonderful and colorful show from them!

Thank you for the insight. Fortunately we have had a lot of rain and my willows are looking like they are adjusting well!!

Wow Tanya!!! Super impressed and jealous of the 25 Dappled Willow shrubs! I bet it already looks wonderful! Dappled Willow is an easy shrub to get established. However, be prepared for some possible stress next Summer as it will be the first full Summer in your landscape — versus being in a pot at a nursery where someone is pampering it 24/7! Yes, they need a lot of water, especially at first. So each time you water, aim for it to be a long drink of water at the base of each shrub. You want the ground to become soaked and for the top several inches of soil to become wet. (Dappled Willow LOVES water!) It’s better to water a few times a week and water deeply like I described, versus watering each day with just a short amount of water. Watering in the morning is best. Now that we’re entering into cooler weather (although it’s still hot where I am in southern NJ), your Dappled Willow should have a good Fall season to get acclimated to their new home. And with rain periodically, that will also help with your watering. When Dappled Willow need water, the tips of their leaves will begin to brown. When they have “too much” water, you’ll see some yellow leaves on the shrub. Neither is anything to lose sleep over, as these shrubs are quite resilient and will recover from any over- or under-watering. It will take some time to get to “know” how much your particular shrubs will need water-wise. It all depends on the weather, and what kind of soil you have, how much sun they get and so on. Every landscape is different, even on the same street in the same neighborhood! (I wish it was easier sometimes.) I hope this helps! And keep me posted!

Hi Thres, I usually reserve pruning for Spring, but as you said this is just a trim. You may want to watch my series of videos on Dappled Willow, on my Garden Sanity YouTube Channel. I recently shared a new video showing how I mistakenly pruned in the heat of the Summer — ignoring my own advice not to do so — and may be losing one of my Dappled Willow shrubs as a result. (And yes, I’m sick about it!) You can do a trim in the Fall, but definitely wait until the weather is cooler outside. Any type of trimming — even minimal — can stress the plant, so it doesn’t need to be stressed during heat as well. You won’t ruin the shrub if you prune below the fan of smaller stems. I often do that, when I’m trying to shape up the shrubs. New stems will grow from where you make your cuts. I hope this helps?

So happy to hear the Dappled Willow look great this year! Wonderful news Christine! Yes, these plants do seem to spread and grow into each other, but never fear — you’ll also begin noticing they are growing taller too. One way to notice it, is to take a picture today. And then take another one in a month or two. I do that all the time, because when I’m looking at the same plants and shrubs every day, it’s hard to notice growth sometimes. It sounds like yours are doing well, and that’s awesome!

HI again. I cut it back and it came back fantastic no spots this time!!
I do have another question. I have four planted as a hedge. The branches grew out and not up so they look like spreaders. Will they eventually grow up and tall?

That’s wonderful Georgia! I bet it was quite a job — but, I also bet you’re so happy that it’s done and everything is in its new home! I always love taking photos to help figure things out in the garden — and checking out how much sun/shade you have was a brilliant idea to do! Fingers crossed that the hydrangeas will be happy and the Dappled Willow will be happy too!

Sounds like a good plan Linda!