I love a good discussion, and I'm thoroughly enjoying this one. :) Let me throw a curve ball at you... and remember, I'm new to this whole willow thing and I'm learning as I go along. In my poking around today, I found that there is, perhaps, another substance in willows that works in conjunction with the IBA (or other auxin) - rhizocaline. Now here's where it gets a little tricky. Rhizocaline has never been fully identified and may or may not be made up of 3 or 4 different elements. No one seems to know. Also, rhizocaline is supposedly fully water soluble (how they know that without knowing its chemical makeup is beyond me). For a better understanding read Malcolm Manners' post in the citrus forum (link below). Dr. Manners is Professor of Citrus and Environmental Horticulture at Florida Southern College and his explanation was the best I've seen thus far. Scroll about half-way down the thread. Here is a link that might be useful: Willow Water Explanation in the Citrus Forum

Willow tea is well known for its rooting ability. It contains a hormone that promotes rooting, salicylic acid. It also contains high concentrations of Indolebutyric acid (IBA), the same stuff that is synthesized for commercial rooting powders. But it is in its best concentration at the growing tips and during the active growing season. The closer the plant gets to dormancy, the less potent its abilty to encourage rooting. The same chemcial (salicylic acid) can be found in aspirin (just the plain stuff, like Bayers) so crushing up a baby aspirin or two in water will achieve the same thing. Honey contains natural fungicidal properties and antiseptic qualities which is why it is believed to aid in root development. But it is best to use raw honey, not processed honey that has been pasturized. This process will remove most of its rooting benefits.

Sorry, but I think you are just going to have to live with it :-) Removed lower branches do not regrow. There has been some success in coppicing young (two year old) Chinese pistache, but a tree as mature as yours and with that large a trunk diameter (is that correct??) is not going to respond well. Coppicing will also promote a more multi-trunked, shrubby appearance rather than a true tree form. There is a possibility that grafting could work but again success that low in the tree will be limited - most grafting is done at some sort of apical growth points. Personally, I'd suggest some patience with the tree for the time being. 13' is still quite small for this tree and as it continues to grow and the canopy fills out, the limbing up you gardener did will have far less of a visual impact than you perceive it to have now. This species is often noted as having an 'ungainly' habit in its youth: "Has been referred as the ugly duckling that turns into a beautiful swan. A very nice landscape tree when mature."

Hi there all of you! Look I am a REAL amateur...and am growing roses.. and am rooting them... and its not hard at all. I tried to root about 5 cuttings...last fall and all of them budded...and leafed. I made a couple of mistakes...but I learned... and ONE...is alive..and growing. Hereis how: Old grandmothers..knew. That was my first lesson. How do you think they shared with neighbors? Well, just like me. I cut off the rose..in the fall... and I stuck the cuttings in juice bottles..with water.. They developed roots...little ones...and several didn't...but they all leafed. Its the " where you cut "..that is important. Amazing eh? I kept two of the smaller bottles..like olive bottles..( because they had cuttings only 5 inches high) in my bathroom window near the open window..( cracked open about 1 inch) These leafed in spring. The others also leafed. I merely took the ends...which had little roots.. and several didn't...( these I just dipped in rooting hormone and dipped a pencil in the dirt..and planted the branch) and planted them..in dirt you buy from wallmart..or anywhere : Potting Soil. I placed them outside. Lesson one: Don't put them down on a deck...Squirrels dig. Lesson two...you might lose some..to something that turns the branch dark...and they die. Lesson...several make it! This fall...I will do it again. Happy rooting!