help !! How do I prune a willow tree?

DSmiffy

Can anyone give me some advice on how to attempt to prune a willow tree.

A friend bought me one of those dainty little willow trees two years ago. Two years later it has grown like mad and now looks like a load of dreadlocks hanging from everywhere.
Last summer when it had leaves on it was huge, not the neat dainty thing I originally planted.
I know I need to prune it but where to start? Do I prune the underneath branches or the top branches to thin it out?
All the branches were so long last year there were dragging on the floor. It was a gift so I need to save it before it gets anymore uncontrollable!
Any advice welcome.
Thanks

Mojisola

DSmiffy wrote: »

A friend bought me one of those dainty little willow trees two years ago. Two years later it has grown like mad and now looks like a load of dreadlocks hanging from everywhere.
Last summer when it had leaves on it was huge, not the neat dainty thing I originally planted.
I know I need to prune it but where to start? Do I prune the underneath branches or the top branches to thin it out?
All the branches were so long last year there were dragging on the floor. It was a gift so I need to save it before it gets anymore uncontrollable!

Do you know what variety it is?

DSmiffy

Mojisola wrote: »

Do you know what variety it is?

No I don't sorry, there was a tag on it but it's either lost or stuck in there somewhere.
When I got it it was small, about 4ft tall only and few dainty branches hanging down, in the autumn it has little white furry pods on it.

Mojisola

Probably a Kilmarnock - I can't find a pruning site with pictures but, if you search further you might be able to find one.

In the meantime -
http://www.gardenguides.com/126661-prune-salix-caprea-kilmarnock.html

DSmiffy

Mojisola wrote: »

Probably a Kilmarnock - I can't find a pruning site with pictures but, if you search further you might be able to find one.

In the meantime -
http://www.gardenguides.com/126661-prune-salix-caprea-kilmarnock.html

That's great, thanks for your help Mojisola

Mojisola

Good luck with maintaining it - I think they look pretty for the first couple of years and, after that, it's just a constant battle trying to keep them under control.

Ectophile

On the plus side, it's almost impossible to kill a willow. They just sprout again from the stump. Though as that web site says, if it's a grafted willow and you cut it down to the stump, it's anyone's guess what will come up!

Don't leave any willow prunings on damp ground for too long, as you may discover that they have sprouted into new trees. That's how tough they are.

safestored4

You don't really know what you have been given. Kill it off as soon as possible. Cut it off to ground level then paint on to the stub something like Root Out to kill off the roots and stop it regrowing. If in doubt ask at your local garden centre who will sort out what you need.

cyclonebri1

Prune it as hard as you like, next year it will come back like a Triffid.

Seriously you don't need to take care, they were almost bred, infact were bred for "cropping"

stumpycat

I've had a Kilmarnock willow for years & just hack it right back in the winter. The branches get so long they creep along the ground and trip you up - so I'm planning to shift it in beside my chickens 'cos they love it.

theoretica

I have one that sounds similar and use the vigorous method of prunning - chop it back to a few main top branches in winter and take off anything that I don't like throughout the year and it isn't dead yet.