Weeping willow: when and how to prune

Salix × sepulcralis

Weeping willow is best pruned in November–March.

Updated on 10 October 2026

Key facts
Pruning months	November–March
Nesting season (15 March–15 August)	Take care in March
Flowering	April
Good for bees, butterflies and birds	Yes, for bees and butterflies
Native to Belgium	No, planted

Weeping willow: when to prune it?

During winter dormancy (November–March).

Prune while dormant, from November to March, but not in freezing weather.

What else to prune in those months? January · February · March · November · December

Trim the hanging shoots to the height you want, for example so that you can walk or mow underneath.
Remove branches that grow straight up or cross each other, as well as dead branches.
On a young tree, keep the trunk clear up to the height where the crown should start.

One pruning period a year: November–March.
Never remove more than about a quarter of the crown at once. Better a little every year.

Pruning in March can fall in the nesting season (15 March–15 August). Check carefully for nesting birds first: disturbing an active nest is against the law.
Weeping willow flowers in April, when it attracts bees.
Host plant: caterpillars of butterflies or moths eat the leaves.
Prunings can go on a dead hedge or brash pile in a corner of the garden: shelter for hedgehogs, wrens and insects.

Clipping without first checking for nesting birds.
Leaving a stub or sawing flush with the trunk: cut just outside the branch collar.

Caution: Don’t cut an oversized weeping willow back hard: it will respond with masses of upright shoots and lose its weeping shape.

This guide is compiled from the Bladwijzer plant profile and pruning calendar.