The weeping willow owes its name to its growth habit, which is somewhat reminiscent of a tree with its branches drooping drearily. Would you like to cheer up your weeping willow with a cut? Given its rapid growth, this can be very helpful, especially if the weeping willow takes up too much space in the garden. However, this task poses a real challenge for many gardeners due to the long rods. With the tips on this page, you can still cut back your weeping willow without any problems.
How do you properly cut a weeping willow?
To properly prune a weeping willow, prune in the spring. Shorten the new shoots by two thirds, cut the branches below the leaf bud and smooth the interfaces for better wound healing.
From the weeping willow to the pollarded willow
Willows are known for being very cutting tolerant. So feel free to make a radical cut. The deciduous tree will forgive you for any mistakes and compensate for them with rapid growth. The complete removal of the canes so that only a stump remains was once common practice. In this case, the pruned weeping willow was then called a pollarded willow.
Is pruning necessary?
Hardly any other tree has such a distinctive growth habit as the weeping willow. If the hanging branches do not bother you, pruning is not absolutely necessary. However, regular trimming helps to prevent large amounts of foliage. In addition, the flexible rods can be used very well for other purposes (for example to weave a privacy screen or baskets).
Time
It is best to cut your weeping willow in early spring. If you start cutting before the flowers sprout, you will be rewarded with a particularly large number of kittens a short time later. But you shouldn't wait too long due to legal regulations. In the period from March to October, radical pruning of the weeping willow is prohibited, as the deciduous tree serves as a habitat for many species of birds and insects.
The right tool
It's best to use the following utensils:
- a chainsaw (€129.00 on Amazon) with a long blade to chop up even thick branches
- a cherry picker to reach the crown effortlessly
Procedure
- work your way from the outside in
- shorten the new shoots by about two thirds
- cut the branches below the leaf bud
- then smooth the cuts with the chainsaw, this ensures better wound healing
New growth after cutting
The weeping willow sprouts again at the interfaces after a short time. Thanks to their rapid growth, you don't have to worry about damaging the tree with an incorrect cut. Small mistakes grow over in no time.
