John, a local homeowner, asked me to write about fast growing willow trees. There is still time to plant one after the May storm destroyed many of our local trees. There seems to be interest in fast growing trees like willows.

Willow trees are fast growing but they are also brittle. This means ice and strong winds will break them apart. In fact some people called them trashy. This is due to small limbs littering the ground under black willow trees.

Weeping willows are very attractive near a pond or lake. Their weeping rounded shapes are what people love. These trees will grow several feet per year and are not trashy in my mind. They will grow in wet or dry areas and are adaptive to many soil types. They prefer full sun but will tolerate partial shade.

Corkscrew willows are trees known for branches which are twisted and somewhat contorted. This short lived tree is prone to breakage and limb dropping as it matures. This tree should be planted only as a single specimen away from buildings. The branches are used in floral arrangements by many florists today. They prefer full sun and wet soil areas.

There are other willows which could be discussed like black willow or pussy willow. Black willow is native to this area and is found along many stream or pond banks. Pussy willow is a shrub and known for its spring display along its branches.

Fast growing trees should be planted not far from a tree known for its longevity such as beech or black gum. This will give the landscape some time to grow a tree more suitable for a coming storm.

Tree selection is always a challenge but enjoy what you like. Life is too short for anything else.