In the garden, the catkin should primarily shine with its fluffy catkin flowers. But if you make a mistake when planting, you can wait in vain for the hoped-for abundance of flowers. So what makes a successful launch?

The willow needs a lot of light

Location check as the first step

For lush flowering, the catkin needs a lot of light, which is why it is best placed in a sunny to semi-shady place. The minimum is four hours of sunshine per day. The location may be close to the pond, because the plant likes moisture. Otherwise there are no ground claims. When looking for a place, keep in mind that some species take up a lot of space because they develop a crown that is up to 7 m wide.

tips

You can improve a sandy and dry soil with clay. If you leave it in sandy, the catkin will stay smaller. Maybe not such a bad solution for a small garden.

Wait for the ideal planting time

Container goods may enter the garden soil at any time, as long as it is not frozen. Bare-rooted trees are intended for spring planting. Since catkins generally root well and quickly, it can also be late spring for them.

Young catkins

You can buy young catkins from tree nurseries or propagate them yourself using sticks. Wild catkins, however, are protected. From March 1st to September 30th, branches may not be cut, even for propagation purposes.

Notice:
Hanging catkins are invariably grafted and cannot be propagated with cuttings.

Planting step by step

  1. Submerge the container in a bucket of water until the root ball is soaked.
  2. Dig a planting hole twice the size.
  3. Mix the excavation with compost.
  4. Lay down a drainage layer, for example made of gravel.
  5. Insert the willow as deep as it was previously in the pot.
  6. Fill in the planting hole with excavation and press down the soil well.
  7. Water the catkins well and keep them moist for a few more weeks.

First training cut

Depending on how the crown of the willow will develop, a first pruning may be necessary after planting. Irrespective of this, you should cut back the sapling immediately after planting so that as much energy as possible flows into the rooting.

planting in a pot

Catkins can also be planted in pots. Use a clay pot for this, as it can store water better. You have to pay attention to the following:

  • to at least 40 liters volume
  • there must be a large drainage hole
  • be sure to create a drainage layer
  • use moisture-retaining substrate

Category:

Trees