Salix caprea 'Kilmarnock' | Weeping Willow Tree
Architectural tree perfect for small gardens
A bushy tree, this willow has a dense, weeping style to it and provides year-round interest. Bright grey fuzzing anthers emerge from its graceful pendulous shoots in the spring before the rich green ovate foliage appears.
Good in most soils, this tree is hardy, and will prevail through most winters quite easily. It needs very little work, and as such, is an interesting plant to watch grow.
Variety Information
- Habit: Weeping
- Flower Colour: Grey
- Foliage Colour: Green (Summer), Orange (Autumn)
- Bark Colour: Brown
- Features: Spring Blossom, Architectural Form
- Supplied As: 4L Pot
- Height on Arrival: 120-150cm (4-5 ft)
- Age: 2 Years with 4 Year Rootstock
- Eventual Height & Spread: 2m x 1.5m (6.5 x 5ft)
We have developed an eco friendly polypot that is currently in use across our 9 litre range. This polypot has less than 20% of the plastic used by a regular pot, and is importantly recyclable. Polypots also prevent root spiraling, encouraging a healthier root system.
All trees arrive in an extra thick cardboard box with a clamp to hold their pot in place. This prevents them from moving around on their journey.
Nursery staff will wrap the roots of our bare root trees and use compost to keep them moist during transportation. This extra protection prevents them from drying out, allowing for a flying start. We also use the same specialised box that our potted trees have to keep them nice and secure as they make their way to your home.
Please note: where your plant is supplied with a pot, your plant's 'Height on Arrival' includes the pot
Key is to regularly water newly-planted trees, at least bimonthly for two months. It is also important to ensure you choose a location where your tree has enough space, which you can calculate from a variety's eventual height and spread.
Bare root & containerised trees have different planting requirements. With bare root, it is important to soak your tree's roots in water for up to 2 hours before planting, while with containerised trees it is important to drench your tree's rootball. With bare root it can be useful to prune woody roots back a few inches, while with containerised trees, it is important to free any spiralized roots growing around the rootball's circumference. With bare root trees, dig a hole so as to ensure the graft point is above the soil, while with containerised trees, ensure the pot sits no lower than an inch below ground.
Bare root & containerised trees also share planting requirements. Dig a hole twice the radius of the rootball. Stake your tree no more than 2-3 inches from the stem, pointing away from the prevailing wind. Fill the hole with a mix of compost and garden soil, and add fertiliser and mycorrhizal fungi. Do not compress the soil. Give your tree a good watering. Add mulch on top whether bark and wood chippings, compost, manure, leaf-mould and stones. Make sure mulch doesn't touch the stem. Tie the stake to your tree, leaving space for growth. Place a rabbit guard around your tree.
Apply fertiliser and replace decomposed mulch come spring. Check ties to ensure there is no rubbing. Collect fallen leaves in autumn.
Advice on hot and droopy plants
If your plants are looking a little wilted right now, don’t worry! Plants like to be filled with water to keep their structure, and when it’s hot that water evaporates.
Just give them an off-schedule watering and they’ll be right as rain in no time! Be careful not to flood them - plants don’t like extremes.
Willow trees are easy to grow. Your tree’s growth and output will likely be fine providing you followed our planting and care instructions. Below we address some common queries:
- Hardiness: Most species of willow are native to the UK, and the species that aren't are from far colder regions, so the UK's mild winters will not affect your tree.
- Position: Willow trees benefit from being planted in full sun. Planting your tree in a sheltered spot will allow the tree to put more resources into flowering.
- Soil Types: Soil types are best ignored and remain an unwelcome confusion. Every plant will adapt to its conditions. Having said that, less than ideal conditions will reduce growth. Waterlogged soils will starve your tree of oxygen, which plays a key role in photosynthesis, cause its roots to rot and create the perfect environment for many diseases. Similarly, compressed soils can starve a tree of oxygen and water, so do not compress the soil when planting. Aeration can be improved further with mulching.
| Is Collection/Mix? | No |
|---|---|
| Needs Ericaceous Compost? | No |