Weeping willow trees are huge, graceful trees that occur near rivers. The bark of the weeping willow is rugged and gray, with prominent ridges. This evergreen tree’s lance-shaped leaves become yellow in autumn before dropping.

But outside of its natural habitat, the weeping willow has had little success in cultivation. The tree is simple to plant and takes root quickly. Unfortunately, it is not very easy to keep alive.

Why Willow Trees Are Not for Neighborhoods

Weeping willow trees are prized for their majestic but graceful appearance. These huge trees also provide fantastic shade for your backyard or garden.

However, if you grow a weeping willow in suburban areas or any other area where there is insufficient space for it to expand, the best you can ask for is that it will die fast. And it stands little chance of surviving.

It grows quite quickly, frequently greater than three feet per year. The weeping willow root system can expand as much as three times the height of the plant, causing pavement cracking and foundation damage.

Needless to say, this can cause a lot of headaches and concerns for homeowners. Furthermore, the wood of almost any tree that expands lightning-fast is bound to be fragile, which means it breaks immediately

during storms, resulting in additional clean-up for you.

The Right Way to Grow A Weeping Willow Tree

Weeping willows require a large area of lawn or yard to stretch onto because they can grow to be more than 50 feet tall and wide. These trees should also not be put near sewage pipes, septic tanks, or water lines.

Their root systems are ferocious. They are drawn not just to the nearest and most plentiful source of water, but also to the nutrients found in the soil around a sewer line and oxygen present in the drainage lines.

In conclusion, weeping willow may appear appealing, but its dramatic beauty may not be worth all the work required to keep it alive. Therefore, it should only be placed near an enormous source of fresh water with not much else around.