Weeping Willows

Question

What can cause a weeping willow to grow upright rather than to weep? Is there a way to correct this?

Answer 1

A previous pruning may have removed the weeping branches of the plant. The weeping comes from grafts and once the grafted weeping branches are damaged or pruned back to severely, the natural upright branches return. The long and short of it is that your weeping willow will not weep again if this is what happened. If this is the desired shape you want to the plant, you may need to replace it. That said, you can TRY to remove any branches that grow upright but leave any branches that arch out and downward, as they will form your weeping crown in the future.