Help!- How to Prune a Weeping Willow?

Kmum

We planted a willow in our front garden 6/7 yrs ago. I believe it's called a yellow bark willow or something like that. We had the same tree in our last house, but the earlier one was planted by the landscapers and was much more mature when we got it.

Anyhow we've had a couple of crazy yrs and the garden didn't get the time and attention it should. I'm back on the case now and need to tackle the willow, all I've done with it is trim the low hanging branches and it's looking very overgrown and out of shape. I've googled and youtubed but can't find instructions on how to prune and train this tree.

Can anyone advise? I have a pic but I can't seem to post it.

I was thinking of removing some of the lower branches and there's also one large branch, the top of the tree really that's growing up and off to one side, this particular branch nearly doubles the height of the tree.

Discodog

Kmum wrote: »

We planted a willow in our front garden 6/7 yrs ago. I believe it's called a yellow bark willow or something like that. We had the same tree in our last house, but the earlier one was planted by the landscapers and was much more mature when we got it.

Anyhow we've had a couple of crazy yrs and the garden didn't get the time and attention it should. I'm back on the case now and need to tackle the willow, all I've done with it is trim the low hanging branches and it's looking very overgrown and out of shape. I've googled and youtubed but can't find instructions on how to prune and train this tree.

Can anyone advise? I have a pic but I can't seem to post it.

I was thinking of removing some of the lower branches and there's also one large branch, the top of the tree really that's growing up and off to one side, this particular branch nearly doubles the height of the tree.

Hard to say without a pic but I would thin it out, reduce the height, whilst keeping it's shape.

Kmum

Thanks for the response Discodog, would I be ok doing it at this time of year? Yes its hard to visualise without a pic, its growing like a single sided Y if that makes any sense! I could pm you a pic if that's ok with you? I think its my post count that's restricting me from posting it here.

Discodog

Kmum wrote: »

Thanks for the response Discodog, would I be ok doing it at this time of year? Yes its hard to visualise without a pic, its growing like a single sided Y if that makes any sense! I could pm you a pic if that's ok with you? I think its my post count that's restricting me from posting it here.

Feel free to PM it.

Kmum

Thanks Discodog, that's gone to you now.

Discodog

I would take off everything above this line & keep the top well pruned to encourage it to weep. It will also encourage it to fill out on top.

Kmum

Thanks a million, looking forward to getting it done next week.

Oldtree

I would be inclined to leave it alone as it is not a substantial tree and allow it to form its own crown shape over time. Weeping willows can get a bit wonkey looking while growing but reshape themselves over time, and are very prone to decay when pruned or pruned incorrectly.

Generally speaking, Mid winter is the best time to prune a tree followed by mid summer. Spring and autumm are not timeas to prune a tree as the tree is focusing its resources elsewhere and diverting the resources towards damage repair at these times is detrimental to the tree.

http://www.trees.org.uk/Help-Advice/Public/Are-there-any-times-of-year-when-tree-works-should

see "The importance of correct pruning cuts" here

http://www.trees.org.uk/Help-Advice/Public/A-brief-guide-to-tree-work-terminology-and-definit

Sonnenblumen

I would have thought it obvious that any upward growing branches on a weeping tree be removed at an early stage?

Willows are very hardy so in addition to shaping the tree, I would also reduce the number of weeping branches especially old wood.

Heavy pruning on deciduous trees is generally best done during the dormant season.

Sgt Pepper 64

If you cut it, the weeping will become screaming

Oldtree

Sonnenblumen wrote: »

I would have thought it obvious that any upward growing branches on a weeping tree be removed at an early stage?

Willows are very hardy so in addition to shaping the tree, I would also reduce the number of weeping branches especially old wood.

The tree that the OP posted is a young tree in tree terms. The below picture shows a maturer weeping willow. With patience, this is the roughly the height and size and shape the tree will be when it matures. The tree has to grow upwards and outwards over time and does not necessarily do so in a proportionate or balanced or even way.

In addition a tree is a self balancing system, balancing its roots to its shoots, so if you prune it it will try to re balance itself by shooting, so if possible it is best to leave the tree un-pruned.

Also to take into consideration, is that the tree is growing in a particular site where light and wind come into play. This will effect how and in which direction the tree will grow, so it may just regrow in the way that it already has, negating the initial pruning.

Formative pruning can be carried out on young trees, but formative pruning has an eye to the final shape of the tree and would be delicate.

I'm not sure why you would remove weeping branches on a weeping tree?

Oldtree

Sgt Pepper 64 wrote: »

If you cut it, the weeping will become screaming