Cut weeping willow and hanging catkin willow

Weeping willow (Salix babylonica) grows fast and luxuriantly. Even in large gardens it will be necessary to put them in their place once a year. With its natural growth width of well over 10 meters and its dense foliage, it can quickly dominate the entire garden. How modest are the breeds of hanging catkins (Salix caprea 'Kilmarnock', 'Pendula'), therefore. Annual pruning encourages them to have a dense, beautiful crown of drooping branches full of catkins in spring.

Hanging catkin willow (Salix caprea 'Kilmarnock', 'Pendula')

The hanging catkins are a refinement of the sal willow (Salix caprea). This has resulted in many attractive ornamental trees and saplings that cut a beautiful figure outdoors and in pots. Of course, they are particularly attractive in spring, for people and bees alike. The grafting point is above the trunk. Therefore, the hanging catkin willow will not increase in height and will reach 1 to 2 m (depending on the grafting point) high. It will not increase significantly in trunk diameter either. Only the shoots get an annual increase of 30 to 50 cm.

location, care

They are also easy to care for, the hanging catkins. They grow on normal soil and only need it to be slightly moist at all times. The location can be sunny to semi-shady. An eye-catcher for small front gardens. There it is easy to combine with some spring flowering bulbs. In winter, only the pussy willows in the tub need protection against the frost.

cut

If the hanging catkin willow is not pruned, the individual branches will increasingly branch out and grow closer and closer towards the ground. The inner branches become bare because the leaves can no longer carry out photosynthesis. The older the branches, the fewer catkins will bloom on them.

growth

In order for the crown of the hanging cat willow to become and remain nice and compact, it needs regular pruning. In no case do you prune them in February, like other shrubs and trees. It would be a waste of all those lovely velvety kittens. First, people and bees should enjoy the flower until the end. After that, however, you can start right away.

pruning

All flowering shoots are cut back to a maximum of four eyes. The pruning promotes new growth, so that next year there will be many pussy willows on the branches again. The branches will branch out again next year. It is important to cut back the inner branches radically. Since the cat willow is very keen on growing, a confusing crown will otherwise develop over time. The inner branches become bare and woody because the leaves no longer get any light.

taper cut

If the tree is already too old because there are many dead branches inside the crown, only a radical cut will help. Don't worry, all willow varieties are extremely vigorous and tolerate pruning. To do this, simply remove all dead branches completely. The next year it drives out again and also the kittens, resp. Blossoms will sprout lush and large on the branches again.

Weeping willow (Salix babylonica)

Who doesn't know them, the mighty giant trees that often stand close to water bodies in parks and whose hanging branches promise many a privacy screen. Weeping willows grow quickly and up to 20 meters high. They can be a good 15 meters wide. At 80 to 100 years of age, they don't even get that old compared to other trees.

location, care

Weeping willows love to stand at the edge of water, on the bank. Anyone who cannot offer this location should ensure that there is an adequate water supply throughout the year. The weeping willow is one of the few trees and plants that can even tolerate waterlogging. As a special challenge, a weeping willow can also be cultivated in a bucket. The container must be wider than it is tall, as the Salix babylonica are shallow-rooted. Of course, a radical pruning is then due every year.

cut

A weeping willow in the wild can grow as it pleases and will not lose any of its magic. It's different in the garden. The good news is that you can't go wrong with pruning. The strong-growing weeping willow forgives almost everything and diligently drives out again every year. For the weeping willow, early spring is the perfect time to prune.

• the cut is made from the outside in, from the bottom up
• remove all diseased, dry branches
• remove criss-crossing branches
• if required, the actual tree crown can now be trimmed
• with a shape cut, the desired branches are shortened by two thirds
• the cut is oblique, always a few millimeters above an outward-pointing eye
• when cutting, do not lose sight of the harmony of the crown
• smooth larger cuts, then tree wax will not be necessary

tub culture

Of course, the weeping willow is treated quite differently in the bucket culture. How? Basically very rough. Radical cutbacks always promote growth, but what else is there to do? The procedure is similar to that of a bonsai, only a little rougher. When repotting, the roots can always be trimmed a bit.

Conclusion

With these vigorous representatives of the Salix genus, even beginners can dare to make a form or radical cut. However, if you miss the pruning, you will miss out on a rich flowering, at least with the small hanging cat willow. By the way, the cut does not belong in the green bin. Chopped it is a valuable enrichment of the compost. Its wood contains acetylsalicylic acid, which has an immune-stimulating effect on plants and makes them resistant to stress (remember: willow bark, the substance from which ASA originated).

Learn more about deciduous trees in the garden