Gardening and Horticulture - willow trees

I have a willow tree and cannot find any information on it. I am building a tree house in the tree, but I don't want to put too much weight on the tree, cause damage to the willow tree. I also am debating on pruning it this fall.

Hi cjohnsmith,

I can only give you my experience with Willows.

They will break easily due to the nature of the wood.
The are like lightning rods being so full of water.
I would not let my Son climb them when he was young, because of their tendency to snap limbs off, when weight is applied.

As far as pruning if it is a weeping Willow, just cut the hanging limbs up enough to not interfere with lawn chores.

The other types you can shape but protect cuts with Tree wound dressing.

This is just from my own Willows, and the experiences I have had with them.

Marturo

Yikes!!! I'm with Marturo. Willows are weak limbed and are not long lived trees. Please, please pick another tree for your tree house.

By the way, they tend to have a lot of movement in them on windy days. My former DH got his leg caught in the crotch of two large limbs as a young boy and almost lost his leg. It was a good thing that he had been warned not to go into the woods alone. His brother ran home to get help.

Try this site for info on the weeping willow. You can click on the 'common names' catagory and look under 'W' for Weeping Willow.

http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/trees/index.htm

Regards,
Newt

Hi cjohnsmith,

I'm with Marturo and Newt. They do NOT have strong branches. Try another tree, please.

They are the only trees that we have to pick limbs up after a storm.

Gami