I am not an expert on the willow tree root systems but a neighbor had one that had a shallow and very long root system. That may mean competition for water and nutrients.

Thanks, Embogbrium! I just took another shot of the whole willow from a window on second floor. I think its already quite big. At least it hasn’t grown much taller in past 5 years. The ground was taken over by weeds. And we just cleaned the area. And it seems such a big area to be empty. But I guess the willow tree really limits our options :-)

What a beautiful tree! I would either just keep it tidy and weed free underneath or plant some ground cover. How about adding some large, interesting landscape boulders? Hydrangeas will not compete well being planted under that tree.

Thanks, Ikloes! Any suggestions on landscape boulders? I’m so new to gardening, hitting blank when it comes to landscape design haha

Your local landscape supply company should have something. Find somewhere close by because transporting them can be expensive due to their weight. I love granite boulders covered in moss.

Groundcover, and if you plan to sit under it, a path through the groundcover to the bench.

if you want plant suggestions you have to tell us where you are ...big city name ... une3ss i messed rereading 3 times.. wouldnt be the first time.. lol ...

it must have been a large transplant .. if it seems not to have grown much in 5 years.. and if thats right... then its done all its growing underground growing a root mass to start growing above with more vigor .. what we might call.. get established.. in tree time.. counted in decades ...

ken

btw.. as to the actual question ... sure.. try some H there.. whats to lose ...

they will probably be ok for at least ten years .. and who cares after that .. you got your moneys worth ...

and if they start to go downhill at some point.. just move them ... the tree isnt going to just kioll things in one season or something.. it will either get too dark.. and not enough water due to root competition ... youll have time to react ..

but in 20 or 40 years.. yeah.. you might have trouble growing things under an aggressive willow ... most of us wouldnt care on that time line...

ken

Thanks, Ken! I totally forgot to include my zone. I’m in zone 5b. The tree was already here when I moved in. I can’t be sure, but I feel it didn’t grow too much during the last 5 years or so. The ground was first covered with black eye Susan. Without any care, the ground was taken over by weeds. This year we started weeding, and almost done. Now looking at the huge empty land, I start wondering what to do haha...