Both male and female pussy willow trees produce buds, but only the buds of male trees produce furry flowers. Female flowers are also lovely (with a green and yellow network of small flowers), but harvest after the buds have bloomed if you want to be sure to get the right flower.
The cool conditions of a garage or shed are ideal, since they imitate the natural, chilly environment of the willow, but it’s also perfectly fine to keep them within your home for display while you wait. If you’ve harvested your branches while they’re already at their desired appearance, skip this step and go straight to drying.
Dried pussy willow branches will darken in color, and won’t have any sap present when snipped a few inches from their base. Preserved branches will stay nice and home-ready for 3-4 years.
If you’re storing the branches for extended periods before planting, place the cut end of the branches in a plastic bag filled with peat moss, and store them in the refrigerator or other cold environment until you’re ready to have them root. Note that you can also stick branches in the ground without waiting for roots, but giving them a chance to root first betters their chances.
In addition, test the soil’s pH, and use a soil pH kit to alter the pH to about 7-8. Pussy willows are pretty easy to please, but will do best in neutral-alkaline soils. [10] X Research source
Optionally, add a shrub fertilizer spike to the soil next to the planted branch to feed and kickstart the young shrub.
In addition, cut away any gray or withered branches as they appear.
