Salix

r-complin · October 2018

I planted a previously very small salix from a pot into my garden. Not sure what type but twisted trunk and branches, long pale green leaves. Its more than trebled in size in just over a year and is now around 8ft. I love it but its very close to my wall and i think some pipework underground. Garden too small to put anywhere else, can i keep its size and will it survive if i dig up and plant in very large pot? Help!

Dovefromabove · October 2018

Possibly it’s one of the varieties of twisted willow (Salic tormentors). They tend to have attractive coloured bark on the new growth.
I would definitely dig it up! If you want to keep it put it into as large a container as you can find in John Innes No 3 loambased compost.

In spring would cut it hard back to a short stump about 8” tall ... it will throw out lots of new growth with brightly coloured bark and by next winter it will be quite a feature in the garden.

Cut it back as before (coppice) every three years in the spring to renew the colourful young growth.

And don’t forget it’ll need buckets full of water every few days ... willows are very thirsty.

And keep checking that it’s not rooting through the drainage holes in the pot into the ground!!!

r-complin · October 2018

Thank you for your help. Can I move it now as it still has all its leaves or shall I wait until they have all dropped?

yorkshirerose · October 2018

I agree with Dovefromabove. It can be dug up now, whilst it is still a manageable size and potted up. However, Salix tormentosa is very vigorous and it's roots will quickly fill even a very large pot. You could root prune it every other year or so to try and keep it to a reasonable size as well as coppicing the top growth.

The pruned stems are lovely in a vase with cut flowers, or sprayed silver or gold at Christmas.

Dovefromabove · October 2018

yorkshirerose said:

........................................ Salix tormentosa ......................

Yes ... flippin predictive text!!!

Salix

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