Basket Willow thrives in consistently moist to wet soil conditions, tolerating temporary flooding well. It is ideal for damp environments like stream banks or boggy areas.

During dry periods, especially for newly planted specimens, ensure regular and thorough watering to prevent stress. Mature plants are more resilient but still perform best with ample moisture.

Pruning is crucial for maintaining the plant's shape, size, and promoting the vibrant color of young stems. For basketry, coppice annually in late winter or early spring, cutting stems back to a few buds from the ground.

For ornamental purposes, prune to shape after flowering or in late winter, removing any dead, damaged, or crossing branches to encourage healthy growth.

Basket Willow is remarkably easy to propagate from hardwood cuttings. Take 20-30 cm long sections of dormant, one-year-old stems in late autumn or winter.

Insert the cuttings directly into moist soil or a suitable rooting medium, ensuring at least two nodes are buried. They root readily and establish quickly, making propagation straightforward.

As a robust shrub or small tree, Salix purpurea is typically grown directly in the ground and is not usually subject to repotting. If cultivated in a container when young, it should be repotted into a larger container or, ideally, transplanted into the ground once its root system fills the current pot, generally every 1-2 years.