A crying form of pussy willow tree shrub ( Salix caprea " Kilmarnock " ) is also sold or write as the variety " Pendula . " This plant with droop branches most often is grafted upon the stem of another industrial plant to bet like a small tree with twig that architecturally weep to touch the ground . Thus , the mature tiptop of the plant is determined by how high the graft unification is on the luggage compartment . Grow this weeping pussy willow in a sunny location in a moist , prolific , well - drain soil in USDA wintertime hardiness zones 4 through 8 .
Step 1
rationalise aside any dead , damaged and diseased twig and branches from the tears pussy willow any time of year it is noticed . Make the pruning swing with hand - restrain pruners 1/4 in above a lower living / healthy branch adjunction , leaf or dormant bud .
Step 2
Wait until belated winter before deal the annual trimming and geomorphologic pruning project on the flora . When leaves are lacking , you may see the works ’s bodily structure well , and with spring a few weeks off , the industrial plant will heal more speedily and soon send off out new growing .
Step 3
Trim back all cry arm top that touch the solid ground . Cut them back so that their tips are between 12 to 18 inch above the ground when the pruning is complete . Make the pruning cut 1/4 - column inch above a abeyant bud .
Step 4
depend at the overall condition and pattern of the canopy of the tears pussy willow tree . Prune off any blatantly good leg from the top of the plant . Make the cut of meat to remove this upright twigs 1/4 column inch above their connection to a low-spirited , arch branch you care to keep .
Step 5
Step back as you make pruning cuts to assure that you are sustain an even , undifferentiated shape on the weeping pussy willow . you’re able to always come back later to further trim down branch or remove them , so do n’t initially be overzealous and remove too much .
Step 6
analyse the national branching structure in the weeping canopy . Prune away any outgrowth that are rubbing against each other , create a injury where they rub . murder any branches that awkwardly grow across the midriff of the plant rather than emanating outward from the central trunk .
Step 7
see at the base of the industrial plant trunk . Clip away any suckering shoots that are growing from it , as well as any twigs that are growing out from the trunk . These shoots are of the rootstock and genetically do not match the engraft cry flora material on the top of the bole . Make the pruning cuts as flush to the trunk as potential , but do not cut into or pierce the bark on the trunk .
Tip
If any branches to be pruned are larger than 3/4 - inch in diam , use a loppers alternatively of small hand pruner . If you require to enjoy any flowering on the branches of the snatch willow before you cut the flora , hold off the task until early on to mid - springiness when the flowers are gone but the leaf have not yet fully emerged and reached their full mature sizing .
Warning
Do not cut below the graft jointure on the trunk of the Kilmarnock kitty-cat willow tree plant . remove the crying dower above this consolidated tissue arena will cause the rootstock foliage to shoot . You will no longer have a weeping pussy willow tree .
