Pussy willows adorn the spring garden with natural charm, without requiring extensive care. The picturesque blossoms of fluffy catkins will remain for many years if the native shrub is pruned regularly. Read this guide on when and how to trim a kitten willow properly.
Pussy willows are also often cut for vases
Prune pussy willow after flowering
Willows lay flower buds in the previous year. In accordance with this, subject the wild and romantic ornamental tree to a shaping cut only after the flowering period. The good-natured tolerance of cuts in combination with a rapid annual growth results in a wide range of discretion for the cut. How to properly trim a kitten willow:
- Blend every year or only when necessary
- Shorten overly long shoots protruding from the mold to the desired length
- Choose a conveniently positioned eye as the cutting point and cut at a distance of 3-5 mm
It is up to your professional judgment whether you shorten branches and twigs a little or by up to two thirds. As long as at least one or two leaves or leaf nodes remain on the shoot, the willow will continue to grow happily at this point.
Thin out from time to time
The perfect pruning of a catkin willow consists of a regular topiary after the flowering period and an occasional thinning out pruning in the leafless winter time. It is important to prevent the accumulation of deadwood in the bush. Light-flooded growth is the basic requirement for an opulent catkin flower. How to proceed correctly:
- The best time is in late winter between January and March
- Wait for a day with frost-free, dry weather
- Cut off dead shoots at the base
- Cut inward, cross growing or weak branches
Please do not be tempted to combine both types of cuts for reasons of effectiveness. A topiary in late winter destroys a large part of the buds created for the velvety spring bloom. If you make the clearing cut after the flowering period, you collide with the regulations in the Federal Nature Conservation Act, which prescribes the beginning of the closed season from March 1st.
Prune hanging catkins vigorously
In the small garden, the hanging catkin willow 'Pendula' shines as a chic little tree with a richly flowering hanging crown. The growth as a combination of trunk and noble crown requires an annual pruning. For this purpose, after the flowering period, cut back all shoots vigorously to two to four leaves or leaf nodes.
The powerful cut causes an adequate sprouting of up to 50 centimeters per year. The stylish silhouette as a hanging willow is restored within a short time. At the same time, you create space for numerous young shoots, which will present velvety, shimmering catkin flowers next spring.
tips
A frequent reason to devote oneself to pussy willows with scissors is the offspring of further specimens. If a vital catkin willow thrives in your green kingdom, you can propagate the distinctive ornamental tree with cuttings in no time at all. In early summer, cut semi-lignified shoots 20 to 30 centimeters long. Place two thirds of their length in the bright, protected propagation bed or in a pot with potting soil.