At this Windham, NH garden, we planted a Redbud tree last year. Unfortunately, it didn’t survive. The client pointed out that this particular area stays very wet while also receiving bright afternoon sun and asked what might work better.
I immediately thought of a variegated Japanese willow. It loves moisture, and its beautiful variegated foliage can add a bright, almost silvery-green focal point to the garden.
When I started digging the planting hole, the soil confirmed exactly what we suspected—it was extremely moist. Rather than fighting the conditions, we chose a tree better suited to them.
Greenleaf’s Garden Design removed the failed tree and installed the new variegated willow in its place. With the combination of moist soil and afternoon sunlight, we’re expecting this tree to be much happier in its new home.
One of the most important parts of garden maintenance isn’t simply replacing a plant that failed. It’s figuring out why it failed and choosing the right plant for that particular environment.
Now we’re looking forward to watching this willow fill out and become a beautiful feature in this Windham garden. 🌿
