WateringTimesWatering plan, $19
Salix matsudana, WUCOLS IV

How often to water Peking willow in California

In July in the Central Valley, established Peking willow in loam needs a deep watering about every 5 days: about 55 gallons each time under a 10 foot canopy, about 76 gallons a week. Peking willow is an Asian willow now often grouped with weeping willow. It is a fast-growing deciduous tree that wants very moist soil and full sun or partial shade. It is among the first trees to leaf out in spring and the last to drop its leaves in fall. Like other willows, it has weak wood that breaks easily and aggressive roots that can damage pipes.

TreeRated for 5 of 6 zones

How often to water Peking willow, month by month

Your city
Canopy width
10 ft
Your soil

Type your city above and the days between waterings and the gallons appear here, worked out from your city's climate table. Or read the figures by climate zone further down.

Every month, on your water days. The personal plan prints this for Peking willow and the rest of your yard, on the days your water supplier allows.Get the plan for $19

How this is worked out: established roots fill the top 1.5 feet of soil, and you water again when that soil has dried halfway. Loam soil holds about 1.5 inches of water per foot. Water the whole area under the branches, and skip a watering after a good soaking rain.

Which soil do you have?

Dig down a few inches, take a handful of moist soil and squeeze it.

  • Sandy: gritty, falls apart when you open your hand, will not form a ball.
  • Loam: forms a soft ball that crumbles when you poke it.
  • Clay: forms a firm, sticky ball and squeezes out into a ribbon between thumb and finger.

Still not sure? Pick loam. Most garden beds sit between sand and clay.

How to measure canopy width

A tree with its canopy width marked across the widest branches and the circle under it shaded blue

Measure across the branches, from the tips of the outer leaves on one side to the tips on the other. A tape works, or pace it out.

Water the whole circle under the branches, shown in blue. The gallons here cover that circle.

A wider canopy means more gallons each watering, not more waterings. While the tree is young, measure again each spring.

How to tell it needs water

  • Soil drying out at the surface around Peking willow in summer means it needs a deep watering
  • Leaves yellowing and dropping early in a dry summer point to drought stress
  • Branches breaking in wind are a sign of weak wood, not of water
  • Cottony seeds drifting in late spring are normal

How to water it

  • Keep the soil very moist with frequent, deep watering
  • Plant in full sun or partial shade at a pond edge or low, wet spot
  • Keep it well away from sewer and water lines
  • Prune heavy branches to reduce breakage
  • Use it to control erosion on wet slopes

Through the seasons

Water a young tree heavily so its roots never dry. Established trees still need very moist soil, since willows grow along water. It leafs out early in spring and holds its leaves late into fall. Expect the most water use in hot inland summers. Plan for litter, breakage and roots that seek water. WUCOLS rates Peking willow high water on the north-central coast, in the Central Valley, on the south coast, in South Inland and in the high desert. WUCOLS has not evaluated it for the low desert.

In pots

Peking willow grows too fast and thirsty for a pot beyond its first year. A young tree can wait in a large tub of moisture-holding mix stood in a tray of water. Keep the mix wet, watering whenever the surface begins to dry, often daily in summer. Plant it out early in a wet, sunny spot far from pipes, sewer lines and buildings, where its roots can roam.

1 Your climate zone six WUCOLS zones, each from its own reference city
4.27gal per sq ft in JulyHigh water use in the Central Valley zone
A year
27.38 gal per sq ft
Reference
Sacramento climate table
Counts
Plant need, before sprinkler losses
1.22.43.64.90.64JAN1.04FEB1.74MAR2.43APR3.32MAY3.97JUN4.27JUL3.82AUG2.88SEP1.88OCT0.89NOV0.55DEC1.22.43.64.90.64JFM2.43AMJ4.27JAS1.88OND
Gallons per square foot per month, Central Valley. Peak 4.27 in Jul, 27.38 a year.

Monthly water need by climate zone

Peking Willow: gallons per square foot per month, by WUCOLS climate zone

MonthN. CoastC. ValleyS. CoastS. InlandHi DesertLo Desert
Jan0.60.641.241.241.19–
Feb0.841.041.291.391.49–
Mar1.391.741.842.082.33–
Apr1.882.432.232.583.03–
May2.333.322.583.123.82–
Jun2.583.972.783.674.56–
Jul2.584.273.174.024.86–
Aug2.383.822.983.724.46–
Sep1.982.882.382.983.42–
Oct1.391.881.842.132.33–
Nov0.740.891.341.441.49–
Dec0.50.551.041.091.04–
Year19.227.3824.829.4634.03–

How this is worked out: the WUCOLS water rating for each zone times that zone’s climate for the month. A dash means WUCOLS does not rate the plant there. The figures are what the plant uses, before sprinkler losses.

Plants with the same water needs 16

Rated high water in the Central Valley, like Peking willow. Plants that drink alike can share one valve and one schedule.

Big Leaf MapleAcer macrophyllumhigh water, Central Valley4.27 gal/sq ft in JulyWhite AlderAlnus rhombifoliahigh water, Central Valley4.27 gal/sq ft in JulyRed AlderAlnus rubra (Alnus oregona)high water, Central Valley4.27 gal/sq ft in JulyRiver BirchBetula nigrahigh water, Central Valley4.27 gal/sq ft in JulyWater BirchBetula occidentalishigh water, Central Valley4.27 gal/sq ft in JulyEuropean White BirchBetula pendulahigh water, Central Valley4.27 gal/sq ft in JulyWhite-Barked Himalayan BirchBetula utilis var. jacquemontiihigh water, Central Valley4.27 gal/sq ft in JulyEuropean BeechFagus sylvaticahigh water, Central Valley4.27 gal/sq ft in JulyBlack CottonwoodPopulus trichocarpa (Populus balsamifera)high water, Central Valley4.27 gal/sq ft in JulyCarolina PoplarPopulus x canadensishigh water, Central Valley4.27 gal/sq ft in JulyWeeping WillowSalix babylonicahigh water, Central Valley4.27 gal/sq ft in JulyCoast RedwoodSequoia sempervirenshigh water, Central Valley4.27 gal/sq ft in JulyVine MapleAcer circinatumhigh water, Central Valley4.27 gal/sq ft in JulyHydrangeaHydrangea macrophylla & cvs.high water, Central Valley4.27 gal/sq ft in JulyBlueberriesVaccinium hybrids and cvs (CA native and non- native spp.)high water, Central Valley4.27 gal/sq ft in JulyShell GingerAlpinia zerumbethigh water, Central Valley4.27 gal/sq ft in July

Similar plants that need less water 16

Rated lower than Peking willow in the Central Valley. Worth a look for a new bed or a lawn replacement.

Citrus TreesCitrus spp.moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyJapanese MapleAcer palmatummoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyAvocado TreesPersea americanamoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyMagnolia TreesMagnolia grandiflora ssp. & cvs.moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyPalm TreesSyagrus romanzoffiana (Arecastrum romanzoffianum)moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyApple TreesMalus spp. (edible) e.g, 'Anna' (low chill variety for low desert)moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyPeach TreesPrunus spp. ediblemoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyPersimmon TreesDiospyros kakimoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyAmur MapleAcer ginnalamoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyFernleaf MapleAcer japonicummoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyBox ElderAcer negundomoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyNorway MapleAcer platanoidesmoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyRed MapleAcer rubrummoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyChinese MapleAcer truncatummoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyRed BuckeyeAesculus paviamoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyRed HorsechestnutAesculus x carneamoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in July
Minutes for your sprinklers

Turn this into minutes on your water days

Every city page has a calculator that takes Peking willow, your sprinkler type and the month, and gives the minutes per water day for that supplier's schedule. Or put it in a zone of the personal watering plan and get all twelve months printed.

Questions people ask

How often should I water Peking willow in summer?

In July, established Peking willow in loam needs a deep watering about every 5 days in the Central Valley, about every 7 days on the south coast and about every 5 days in the South Inland zone. Sandy soil holds less water, so waterings come closer together. Clay stretches them. Check the soil before each watering and skip one after a soaking rain.

How much water does Peking willow need per day?

In July in the Central Valley, established Peking willow needs about 11 gallons a day under a 10 foot canopy and about 43 gallons a day under a 20 foot canopy. Give it in deep waterings spread days apart rather than a little every day, so the whole root zone gets wet.

Does watering for Peking willow change across California?

Yes. WUCOLS rates Peking willow separately for each of the six California climate zones: high water in the North-Central Coastal zone, high water in the Central Valley zone, high water in the South Coastal zone, high water in the South Inland zone, high water in the High and Intermediate Desert zone, not evaluated in the Low Desert zone. The monthly table above shows how the same rating translates into different gallon amounts as reference evapotranspiration changes.

Will Peking willow roots damage pipes?

Willow roots are invasive and can damage water and sewer pipes. Plant it far from lines and foundations. Wet soil keeps roots from wandering as much.

Why do willow branches break so easily?

Fast growth comes with weak wood that cracks or breaks. Prune heavy branches. Avoid planting over patios or parking.

Does Peking willow need wet soil?

Yes, willows grow best in very moist soil. WUCOLS rates it high water in most zones. A pond edge or low spot is ideal.

Is Peking willow good for wildlife?

Willows host viceroy butterfly larvae and feed adult butterflies and several specialized bees. They suit wildlife and rain gardens. Leaves stay late into fall.

Is Peking willow messy?

Willows drop twigs, leaves and cottony seeds. They are not usually recommended near homes. Give it a wet, open site.

More plant watering guides

Giant GunneraWhite Ginger LilyClimbing HydrangeaSnowball HydrangeaLacecap HydrangeaJapanese IrisRushBrazilian Plume Flower

Sources