Growing Hakuro Nishiki Whole Leaf Willow

Japanese whole-leaved willow "Hakuro Nishiki" belongs to the willow family, but has a different appearance from representatives of this genus. We are used to the fact that the common willow is a tall tree with a fairly spreading crown. And "Hakuro Nishiki" is a small bush with upward-growing shoots and variegated leaves. Landscape designers appreciate this variety for the fact that its crown can be given any shape, and it can also grow in almost any area without requiring special care.

Looking at this species of willow, it should be noted that it has Japanese roots, despite the fact that it can often be found in areas with a temperate climate. Distinctive characteristics allow this shrub to become one of the favorite among gardeners from different parts of the world. In terms of description, "Hakuro Nishiki" grows to a maximum of 3 meters in height. For the Willow family, this is not much, since the average height of the trees is about 5-6 meters.

The older the tree, the more its shoots bend, due to which even plants that have not been pruned in time acquire a rounded shape.

The leaves of the tree are spotty, rather delicate shades. Beige-green, light green and even pinkish colors are mixed here, which change depending on the season. The more the temperature decreases, the more saturated color the leaves acquire, and the contrast, on the contrary, decreases. This characteristic makes the bush very attractive for landscape design, which gardeners successfully use when decorating their plots.

Hakuro Nishiki is a flowering tree. In the spring, buds appear on it from a yellow-green to a purple hue. The bark is grayish in color, and the branches with a brown tint look much brighter against its background.

Willow feels great on the banks of water bodies. Thanks to the branched root system, it is even able to resist their collapse, contributing to natural strengthening. At the same time, one cannot fail to note the frost resistance of the tree. Variegated "Hakuro Nishiki" is not afraid of frost, grows quickly and can withstand temperatures as low as -30 degrees.

There are about 550 subspecies in the willow family. Many have an interesting appearance and are used by gardeners to decorate plots. The whole-leaved willow is especially popular. Its varieties can have a completely different appearance, since their height can vary from 1.5 to 6 meters. "Hakuro Nishiki" can be called the most famous among gardeners. This tree has won awards in various formats for its decorative appearance, which is given a special charm by the spotted leaves with white-pink flowers.

Willow "Flamingo" has a darker elongated foliage with a characteristic pinkish tint and clear greenish-white stripes, slightly twisted at the ends. As they lengthen, the leaves turn green, but the stripes do not disappear, standing out in more contrast. Its height can be up to 2.5 meters. The crown diameter is about 2 meters.Intense red shoots give it the shape of a sphere.

"Flamingo" is a dioecious plant. Its flowering begins at the very end of May or early June, and the flowers are divided into male and female. The former are earrings of a golden hue, the latter are gray. The fruits that appear later look like small boxes, covered with fluff, inside which there are small seeds.

Among the features of "Flamingo" can be noted winter hardiness. It is resistant to low temperatures and strong gusts of wind.

Despite this, young plants are quite delicate, so frosts and extremely low air temperatures can cause significant harm to them. To avoid this, young bushes should be covered for the winter.

Among the popular subspecies, Salix Integra can also be mentioned. Its branches are strewn with leaves of a light green hue and vaguely resemble a fern in shape. The size of the tree is up to 3 meters. It becomes very bright during the flowering period, when purple earrings with the aroma of hyacinth appear on the shoots.

Whole-leaved willow thrives best in coastal areas or flood meadows, as it prefers moist soil. This requirement must also be observed when the plant is planted in a garden or in a summer cottage. It is best if a reservoir is located in the immediate vicinity, however, stagnation of water is highly undesirable for Hakuro Nishiki. In addition, you should not plant a tree where the aquifer is quite high.

When planting, gardeners need to follow a number of recommendations. First of all, you should decide on the landing site. It should be well lit and protected from wind gusts. The more light the plant receives, the more actively it will develop, reaching the largest possible size.

On dense soil, you will need to equip drainage.

Planting rules are quite simple, even an inexperienced gardener can handle it. When it comes to seedlings, it is required to place them in the ground in April or May. Prior to this, the plant is placed in water for several hours by its roots, to which a special root-forming stimulant is added.

The depth of the planting hole is 40 to 60 centimeters with approximately equal width. Pits are dug at a distance of 1.5 - 2 meters from each other, depending on what kind of landscape design is planned. It is imperative to provide for a drainage system, in addition, the use of nutrients, for example, compost or humus, will not interfere.

A seedling is placed in the center of the hole. Its root system must be carefully straightened, and then sprinkled with a previously prepared soil mixture. To do this, the leafy soil can be mixed with sand by adding a little peat. After that, the near-stem circle is compacted, and the plant is properly watered.

Mulching is very important when planting whole-leaf willow. This will help the plant take root faster. The layer thickness should be between 5 and 10 centimeters. To ventilate the roots, you will need to periodically loosen the ground.

"Hakuro Nishiki" is considered an unpretentious plant. However, at the same time, it loves moisture very much and requires regular watering. This is especially true for young trees, as well as in cases when the weather is dry and hot for a long time. You will also need to add top dressing to the soil. It is best to do this 2-3 times a year - in the spring, summer and autumn periods. Organic is great.

Soil with high groundwater is good. It is best if the seedlings are taken from the plant in the area where they will subsequently be planted, this will help to better tolerate the new climatic conditions.

To provide the plant with the prevention of fungal diseases, it is recommended to treat it with fungicides. Despite the fact that the willow loves the sun, it can take root in a darkened area of ​​the terrain. However, it must be ensured that the plant has access to sunlight during the day. If Hakuro Nishiki is planted in constant shade, it will be weak and slow growing.

As already noted, the bush willow is very fond of moisture. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure regular watering. This is especially important in the first month after planting, as well as if the summer is hot and dry. Watering is necessary not only for the trunk of the tree, but also for the soil around it. This will help the foliage maintain a rich green color. Gardeners recommend watering Hakuro Nishiki at least 2 times a week. This will require 2 buckets of settled warm water at a time.

It is best to irrigate with airborne droplets. As for the time of day, early morning or evening is fine. This will prevent sunburn on the leaves. At the same time, a significant excess of moisture will also not benefit the plant, but can lead to the spread of fungal diseases.

Do not forget that the tree needs nutrients that are not always easy to get from the soil. Experts advise using mineral fertilizers and organic matter. They can be added both during digging and just before planting. If the sandy type of soil predominates, humus is perfect, but peat is required for clay. Compost is added to the sod-podzolic soil in combination with complex fertilizing.

In order for the growth of the tree to be more active, it will be appropriate to use nitrogen. It is added to the soil in the spring before the buds begin to swell. The shoots should be fertilized with a urea solution.

The use of phosphorus and potassium will help to activate the formation of kidneys in the next season. They are available in the form of granules or conventional powder. Instructions for use are detailed on the packaging, it will tell you how to properly feed the tree.

This procedure is very important in caring for the Hakuro Nishiki willow, as its absence will lead to the plant losing its decorative appearance, and the branches will stick out in different directions. Pruning should be done regularly, as the tree can grow very quickly. At the same time, it is not difficult to form a crown, which is noted even by inexperienced gardeners.

If the branches are dry or have been damaged by insects, then they need to be cut in the autumn. The very formation of the appearance is carried out at the very beginning of spring. In the process of pruning, the growth of new shoots is activated, so branches can be removed and shortened absolutely calmly. On young shoots, delicate light pink leaves appear.

If you carry out the procedure regularly and in a timely manner, the bush will be fluffy and thick. However, certain rules must be followed.

The first haircut should be done in early spring, before the growing season begins. When cutting off even a large number of shoots, the plant will quickly recover its shape, since it is characterized by rapid growth.As for the procedure carried out in the first year, a maximum of 4-6 kidneys are required, after which another one is added annually. But already before the beginning of winter, the last pruning is done with the removal of diseased and dried branches.

If you carry out competent pruning, most often gardeners achieve that the crown takes on the shape of a ball. In the case of growth on a trunk, many note that the plant takes on the appearance of a very large dandelion. In this case, unnecessary shoots are also removed on the trunk.

Although Hakuro Nishiki is frost-resistant, it may still need protection in winter. This is especially important for young plants in the first years of life. If cold winters with a small amount of snow prevail on the territory of willow of this variety, experts recommend choosing a tree in the form of a bush, since such plantings are more resistant to lower temperatures.

Gardeners need to know that frozen shoots should be removed in the spring. This will not harm the willow. In winter, however, it is required to cover it with a non-woven fabric. The shelter should be breathable, but at the same time tight enough. Additional mulching won't hurt. On top, you can sketch dry leaves or a small amount of snow.

There are two ways to propagate whole-leaved willow. It is grafted onto a stem, or the grafting method is used. To plant a plant on a stem, experts recommend using goat willow. This will help ensure that the willow takes the shape of a tree on the trunk. In this case, the inoculation is first done, after which a single trunk is formed. Next, you need to remove the extra branches so that the tree takes on the desired shape. It should be noted that grafting on a bole is done using any decorative willow.

With regard to cuttings, with its help the plant is given the shape of a bush. The procedure is carried out at the very beginning of spring as follows. Shoots are taken from the mother shrub 1 year old. This must be done before the growing season has begun. Next, the cut is dried, and then the cuttings are placed in a specially prepared place. The willow of this variety takes root quite quickly, and after a year you can plant it at a permanent point.

To grow a healthy and beautiful tree, it is necessary to study the problems that can be faced at any time. The gardener must know exactly what to do if the willow dries up, turns black, its leaves turn yellow or the tops have dried. I must say that variety "Hakuro Nishiki" is quite resistant to various diseases, infections and attacks of harmful insects. But at the same time, some troubles can still happen. Gardeners recommend spraying the shrub with fungicides annually as a prevention of fungus.

"Hakuro Nishiki" has a very good immunity, however, this does not mean that prophylaxis should be abandoned. For example, to protect the plant from the larvae of May beetles, you can water and spray the shrub with compounds sold in specialized stores. Young trees can be seriously damaged by grub larvae.

Suitable drugs such as "Prestige" or "Antichrusch". This willow variety is practically not susceptible to disease. However, if some do occur, immediate treatment should be started. These are diseases such as powdery mildew or necrosis.

"Hakuro Nishiki" goes well with various plants and looks good in the landscape of any site. They carry mainly a decorative function.

These shrubs can be planted separately or in combination with others. With their use, you can form a hedge. Also, willows are becoming an indispensable option for planting near artificial reservoirs or along the banks of ponds.

In winter, the shoots turn red, which looks very advantageous against the background of white snow. And in summer, bright leaves and delicate flowers will delight the eye of any gardener. The main thing is to adhere to simple rules for growing this plant, take care and not plant it near tall trees with a spreading crown.

How to arrange the crown of "Hakuro Nishiki", see below.