Is this true of willows?

[Typhoon]

My uncle was telling me that, in order to plant some weeping willows, all I would have to do is cut a few branches off of a mature tree, stick em in some soil, and they would take root. Any truth to this? IF so, is there any time that is best to do this? Thanks!

[Jeff]

I know it works on a river bank or lake shore where water is plentiful. Dad use to do it on the river bends where there was deep water to create cover.

[Kevin]

It works with poplar.
Springtime when the ground is still wet I would think might be the best time.

[Ianab]

Yup.. Willows will grow from cuttings real easy
Best time to plant is in early spring just before they bud as this is their most active growing time. If you plant later when they have full leaves the cutting will dry out before roots can form and probably die..

Ian

[woodmills1]

My grandfather, who was something of a card in his day, used to say that if you put a willow stick in the ground it will grow a willow tree, but if you put it in the ground upside down you will get a weeping willow.

Most of his friends used to say papa was a real pisser!  I don't think the term is politically correct today or even used much, but to them it meant that you never quite new what he might do or say in any given situation.  The tip of one of his fingers was missing and he never stopped telling people that I bit it off when I was young.  And if there was a model A ford around he was always trying to get people to touch the spark plugs so they would get a good shock from the magneto.

[Tom]

If it's wet and a willow branch touches the ground around here, it will root.  The ditches are full of Black Willow.

Woodmills,
My Uncle's, by marriage, father lost several fingers in a table saw accident when he was young.  He used to tell Charlie and my cousins that he bit his finger nails when he was little.

[Ron Scott]

We  (the USDA-FS) have planted a lot of willow cuttings that way for streambank protection over the years. Many of these have now grown into large willow trees.