Goat willow is an unpretentious plant resistant to high soil moisture. In order to achieve decorativeness, it is grafted onto a trunk. Willow is very good in gardens next to small ponds. Long and straight, like the fabulous hair of a mermaid, its branches are in good harmony with both the plane of the water and the greenery of the lawn. Weeping, drooping goat willow is not obtained from every shoot. For effective reproduction of this particular species, long-term selection is needed.
Most of the trees have the appearance of a regular bush, although in this case the goat willow looks good. It is suitable for an experienced gardener, because he will have to carry out not the simplest procedures for crown formation.
Goat willow. What you need to know when purchasing this tree
Special pruning is needed for this plant. If the gardener takes pity on the tree and does not want to cut its branches, then this can only turn out to ruin the goat willow. Subsequently, the plant will not be able to function normally. In some ways, it is like a thoroughbred animal that needs special care, such as a haircut, ear cropping, etc.
Goat willow, left to itself, will justcreep along the ground, it will not hold its shape. Recall the universal rules that will help you properly prune your plant. Shrubs form after they fade. Most often at the beginning of summer. Weeping willow can be pruned in winter. But then you will not be able to see flowering. Form a crown with a pruner as follows: cut off all new shoots, leaving no more than twenty centimeters. Make sure that a kidney remains at the end of the knot. The top of it should be directed up and to the side. This will give the crown a beautiful umbrella shape.
There is another method. If you pinch all the buds at the top of the shoots throughout the summer, this will activate those that are on the sides of the branches. This will also form the crown of the tree symmetrically. Goat willow (Kilmarnock) isn't the only weeping plant that might need pruning shears. But the crowns of other trees need to be cut, albeit in the same way, but only at the beginning of spring, before flowering.
Goat willow (pendula). Reproduction and properties
The weeping form, as already mentioned, is propagated by grafting it onto a bole. A small stump remains in the grafting area. Up to this point, the part of the plant is called the rootstock. And what is on top is a scion. It is possible to activate the rootstock and the appearance of shoots that are genetically a wild tree. They need to be removed. If the scion dies, then the tree, unfortunately, will no longer have any qualities of a plant grafted onto the trunk. Such trees are called wild trees.
The height of the willow will depend on what levelweeping form was grafted. Willow leaves are very fond of goats. Because of this, she got her name. Animals prefer this plant because it is very useful and has medicinal properties. Traditional medicine uses willow (a decoction of its bark) for hypertension and other pressure problems, as well as for chronic gastrointestinal and nervous diseases.
