Do you have a willow tree? Are you wondering how long its lifespan is?
Typically, willow trees have a short-lived life span in comparison to other tree species.
They typically live for around 30 years, while some can live as long as 300 years and some as short as 12 years. Willow trees’ lifespans can decrease if they have common issues like pests, diseases, and their environment.
In this article, I will take you through the lifespan of willow trees and how we can help them thrive and live longer. I have also included a table with the different species of willow trees and how long each of them typically lives.
Quick Summary – How Long Do Willow Trees Live
The Willow Tree is a beautiful weeping silhouette. This is why it’s such a shame that it is short-lived in comparison to other species of trees.
In this article, I will go through:
- The willow tree’s life span
- The average age of a willow tree
- How can you estimate the age of a willow tree?
- How to potentially expand its life span
- General Problems
- Invasive roots
- Pros and Cons
After this, you will know exactly how long your willow tree will live and potentially expand its life span. How to estimate its age while learning about its root system and how far away you need to plant it from your house to prevent damage.
What Does a Willow Tree Look like and Its Average Lifespan
Willow trees are a beautiful addition to your gardens if you have the right amount of space for them to flourish. They are easily recognised by their long, drooping branches. These branches often touch the ground. They also produce catkins which are slim flower clusters or even spikes.
They typically form in the spring, before the leaves bloom. You will usually find these trees near rivers or ponds, as they love the moist conditions. I have witnessed these beautiful trees in forests; they were made into a stunning maze with their branches, which you could walk through and even sit in.
Willow trees are relatively short-lived in comparison to other tree species. Their average lifespan is around 30 years old, but they can live longer with the correct conditions and by eliminating pests and diseases.
Did you know?
Weeping willows are actually quite thirsty trees! They love water and can help prevent soil erosion near rivers or ponds. In fact, they can soak up a surprising amount of excess water, making them a natural flood control option.
Weeping Willow Tree Lifespan
The lifespan of a willow tree can vary depending on what species you have and if your tree is getting the correct care and making sure it doesn’t get infected by pests and diseases. Typically, a willow tree can live around 30 years. This is where the tree is classified as a short-lived type, as its life span is a lot shorter than that of many other trees. On the other hand, willow trees can live as long as 300 years, but this is also dependent on what species you have.
The average lifespan of a willow tree is around 30 years. Saying this, there are some species of willow trees that can live for 12 years, or as long as 300 years. This is all dependent on the type of willow you have and how you care for it.
Making sure you give your willow tree the correct nutrition, water, space, and environment will have a massive impact on how long it will live. You also have to make sure that if you do spot any diseases or pests, you deal with them as quickly as you can, as they can have a negative impact on your tree, resulting in a shorter life span.
When you want to determine the age of your willow tree, it can be quite challenging. There isn’t an accurate way to show how old your willow tree is, like there is with some tree species and counting their annual rings.
To get a rough estimate of how old your willow tree is, this is what you can do:
- Measure your willow tree’s circumference at around 1 metre from the ground.
- Divide the circumference by pi (3.14) to get the diameter.
- Estimate the age of your willow tree once you have the diameter. Willow trees are said to grow in girth by around 2.5 cm per year. Saying this, you would then need to divide the diameter by 2.5 to get a rough estimate of how old your willow tree is.
Please keep in mind that this isn’t accurate and that it will depend on your willow tree, as they do sometimes have irregular growth patterns.
Willow trees are known for their rapid growth rate. On average, they tend to grow around 0.6–1.2 meters a year. It is important that you know which willow tree you have, as they can all grow at different rates. To make sure your willow tree grows to its potential, you have to make sure you are caring for its needs. These are:
- Soil conditions: The soil needs to be moist and have good drainage, as this does promote faster growth.
- Sunlight: Your willow tree requires at least 4 hours of direct sunlight per day. This gives it the boost it needs to keep it growing.
A willow tree typically reaches its full maturity in height at around 15–20 years. With the willow tree growing at a rapid rate, this does mean that, compared to other species of trees, the willow is the one with the shortest lifespan.
Did you know?
You can actually grow your own willow tree from a simple cutting! Just stick a healthy willow branch in the ground, and with a bit of care, it will root and develop into a full-grown tree.
General Willow Tree Problems
Willow trees are prone to issues like pests and diseases that can significantly reduce their life. This isn’t something we want to go through, as it is a short-lived tree, so we really need to prevent and cure any issues we come across.
The common problems you do come across with a willow tree are:
- Anthracnose: brown or black spots on your leaves
- Willow Scab: black spots causing new shoots and growth to become black.
- Canker disease: brown or black branches that appear on your tree or trunk
- Sticky Sap: a yellow sticky fungus that emerges on your trunk
- Willow rust: A pollen-like powder that appears under your willow tree leaves and spreads to surrounding leaves.
- Aphids: suckers bugs that like to suck out nutrition from your leaves, resulting in curled leaves, yellowing, and turning into honeydew.
- Willow Scale: an oval-shaped bug that looks slightly flat with touch shells. These turn leaves yellow and create sticky sap, honeydew, and dieback.
- Willow Borers: They look like little caterpillars. These bugs lay eggs in your willow tree bark, which weakens the tree over time.
The treatment for these issues would be pruning your foliage or using some fungicide.
Waterlogged soil: Even though your willow tree does like a lot of water to flow, you need to make sure that you have a good drainage system in place to prevent waterlogged situations, as this can cause rot to happen within your roots and trunk.
Nutrition deficiencies: not giving your willow tree enough nutrition will stunt its growth. This will also make sure the willow tree becomes unhealthy, as it’s not getting the nutrients it requires to create new bursts of growth.
Drought: Making sure that your willow tree is never without water and moist soil is a must. If you have dry spells, you need to make sure you give your willow tree the water it requires. Lack of water can result in the overall health of your willow tree deteriorating, potentially causing an even shorter life.
Pruning: Strong winds can also cause wind breakage. To avoid any breakage you need to make sure you do your willow tree pruning. Trimming is also essential when dealing with disease and insects.
Willow trees have shallow-growing root systems. Even though their roots are shallow, going to around 18–24 inches under ground, they expand to around 35 feet wide. The reason they do this is because they are constantly searching for a water source.
With this being said, if you were to plant a willow in your garden, you need to make sure you plant it around 45–50 feet away from your property or driveways, as this can cause structural damage. Also, make sure you don’t plant it near any pipes or drains, as they will cause damage to these too.
Willow tree roots are very invasive, causing structural damage to your house’s driveways and underground pipes and drains. The roots can grow as 40–45 metres in width. The willow tree is always on the lookout for water when its surrounding soil becomes dry. This is why its root system spreads out so wide to get the moisture it requires.
When you are needing to plant your willow tree, you need to take good care in picking the correct location to prevent any costly damage repairs this tree’s root system can create.
Pros
- Beautiful ornamental branches
- Round Canopy
- Provide food for rabbits and deers
- Ideal for wildlife and nesting
- Planted near water can prevent soil erosion
- Fast Growing
Cons
- Invasive root system
- Prone to diseases
- Prone to Pest infestations
- Short Lifespan
How to Extend Your Willow Tree’s Lifespan
With the willow being a short-lived tree, many people wonder if you can extend its lifespan. The way I would recommend it is to give your willow tree the correct care.
- Watering: Make sure your willow tree has constant moist soil and always has a supply of water. Never let its soil dry out. The willow tree is said to have around 1000 liters of water a day from its surrounding soil when at full maturity.
- Sunlight: Give your willow a minimum of 4 hours of direct sunlight a day.
- Soil: Well draining soil to avoid overwatering, as this can cause rot.
- Pruning: always prune away any dead leaves and branches so your willow can use the nutrients for regrowth.
- Fertilising: Give your willow tree a balanced fertiliser 3–4 times a year, starting in April and ending in July. This will provide it with more nutrients for regrowth.
- Pests and disease control: Always keep an eye on your willow tree, looking for symptoms of pests or diseases. Curing these issues quickly will benefit overall health.
- Space: If you’re plating your new willow tree, make sure that you choose a location where there’s enough space for its expanding roots and rapid growth. Lack of space can cause your tree to become stressed, resulting in the loss of your willow.
- Mulching: To keep your soil moist in the summer months, you can use a 1-2 inch layer of mulch. This will trap in the moisture, giving your willow the correct soil. The mulch will also break down over time, which also turns into extra nutrition.
Using these methods doesn’t mean your willow tree will live forever, but it does mean you will get the best from your willow tree, making it stronger, happier, and potentially lasting a few more years.
| Species of Willow Tree | Lifespan (Estimate) |
|---|---|
| Arctic willow | 40 years + |
| Bebb’s willow | 60 years |
| Black willow | 40-100 years |
| Creeping willow | 40-75 years |
| Daphne willow | 20 years |
| Desert-willow | 50-75 years |
| Dappled Willow | 40 years |
| Peachleaf willow | 75 years |
| Salix aurita | 10-20 years |
| Salix caprea Goat Willow | 300 years |
| Salix cinerea | 30-40 years |
| Salix discolor (pussy willow) | 20-50 years |
| Salix exigua | 20-30 years |
| Salix herbacea | 12-43 years |
| Salix hookeriana | 15-30 years |
| Salix humilis | 10-20 years |
| Salix matsudana | 15-30 years |
| Salix pentandra | 75 years + |
| Salix phylicifolia | 10-20 years |
| Salix triandra | 30-40 years |
| Salix viminalis | 20-25 years |
| Scouler’s willow | 20-40 years |
| Shining willow | 20-30 years |
| Weeping willow | 30 years |
| White willow | 20-30 years |
| Willow oak | 100 years + |
While willow trees are beautiful, graceful, and add a touch of elegance to any landscape, their relatively short lifespan compared to other tree species can be a disappointment.
By understanding the factors, such as proper care, pest management, and suitable growing conditions, you can maximise your willow tree’s life.
Remember, preventing common issues like diseases and pests while keeping your house away from its invasive roots is crucial for ensuring a healthier and longer life for your willow.
With careful attention and care, you can enjoy the beauty of your willow for many years to come.
