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Kilmarnock willow

FritillariaScotlandFritillariaScotland Posts: 67
in Problem solving
Hi All, I'm relatively new to gardening and I would really appreciate a bit of advice. The previous owners of our house planted this lovely tree in the garden, but I don't really know how to look after it properly. Last year I pruned the tree and removed dead and damaged branches and tried my best to follow the advice given in willow pruning tutorial videos. But looking at the tree again this spring, I'm beginning to worry that the tree is way too overgrown on the top. It seems to have grown half a meter since last year, it's now about 2.5m in hight. What do you think I could do to make sure the tree thrives? 
Improving the lawn around it is high on our to do list, it has taken a bit of a hammering during the winter...

Posts

  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    edited March 2021
    Welcome to the Forum.
    To be honest, that's not a bad example. 
    IMHO they're rarely attractive.
    I had  one in this garden when we moved here. I spent 2 years trying to make it look good, then gave up and dug it out.
    Devon.
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    i think that is about as good as they get.
    It will get progressively worse over the years.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • K67K67 Posts: 2,506
    My neighbour had one but they had trimmed into a sort of pudding bowl cut. Yours is lovely by or is it in comparison 
  • FritillariaScotlandFritillariaScotland Posts: 67
    Oh wow, I didn't expect that, thank you both. Does this mean that these trees don't normally last that long?
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    edited March 2021
    K67 said:
    My neighbour had one but they had trimmed into a sort of pudding bowl cut. Yours is lovely by r is it in comparison 
    I'd say BY comparison, but I might be wrong.
    Devon.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    They are known to be short lived and can die suddenly for no apparent reason.  The thing to remember is that it's a willow so must never go thirsty, especially in hot spells.  It's also grafted on a rootstock so don't let any stems grow form the roots or main stem below the graft union.

    Yours is the only almost attractive one I've seen.  All the rest have been on too short a stem/had too thick and dense a top/bad haircuts/frost damage/drought damage.   
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • FritillariaScotlandFritillariaScotland Posts: 67
    Thank you very much, I'm really heartened by the positive comments about this wee tree, not all is lost then. The chances of the plant not getting enough water are very slim, as well live in the West of Scotland, there's plenty of rain all year round 🙂
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