Hi

I wonder if anyone would be kind enough to offer me some advice - I have
just bought a Kilmarnock willow which I have planted

It is now in its Catkin stage and I'm wondering what is the best way to
prune / keep in shape and generally care for it

Many thanks

sparky wrote:
Hi

I wonder if anyone would be kind enough to offer me some advice - I
have just bought a Kilmarnock willow which I have planted

It is now in its Catkin stage and I'm wondering what is the best way
to prune / keep in shape and generally care for it

We are in a similar situation here. It seems to me that upward growth
should be discouraged but I'm not sure when to apply the knife.

A gander through the archive may help with the rest:
http://www.google.com/groups?as_q=ki...ec.ga rdening

--
William Tasso

In article , William Tasso
writes
sparky wrote:
Hi

I wonder if anyone would be kind enough to offer me some advice - I
have just bought a Kilmarnock willow which I have planted

It is now in its Catkin stage and I'm wondering what is the best way
to prune / keep in shape and generally care for it

We are in a similar situation here. It seems to me that upward growth
should be discouraged but I'm not sure when to apply the knife.

I've decided to see whether training is possible, and tied all the
shoots in a graceful downward position with black cotton. It will be
interesting to see what happens when the cotton finally fails - will the
twigs have got used to their new position, or will the spring merrily
upwards again?

Meanwhile, it's looking reasonably graceful, and the cotton is invisible
from more than a couple of feet away.


--
Kay Easton

Edward's earthworm page:
http://www.scarboro.demon.co.uk/edward/index.htm

I've decided to see whether training is possible, and tied all the
shoots in a graceful downward position with black cotton. It will be
interesting to see what happens when the cotton finally fails - will the
twigs have got used to their new position, or will the spring merrily
upwards again?

Meanwhile, it's looking reasonably graceful, and the cotton is invisible
from more than a couple of feet away.


You should definitely be able to train any shoots to do what you like.

When I first got the one that is now at school, the branches were not very
even and tended to bend towards the stem. I put a hanging basket wire bit,
upside down, on the top and tied the branches to it. This was very
successful.

I'm now considering plaiting some of the branches - to make it more fun for
the children. In time they should then fuse together to make one...I think.

Natalie