7th April 2015

Winter stems cut back.
Department: Herbaceous

Quite straightforward, you usually cut back in February and the idea is that you do it before bud breaks, sap was already rising, but because of winter walk feature it has been left so late, but then I didn't think they started looking good until early spring, and when they are just at the initial stages of breaking into leaf or on the brink. Plus for plants like Salix hookeriana it seems a real shame to cut down around now, because its catkins are one of its best features and it feels like it is in its prime.

The reason for such harsh cut back of stems, is the young growth is the most colourful and brightest, and this is what is desired here. Also, the harder you cut back, the more vigorous the re-growth as the plant reacts back. It is good for young plants to have established a good root system first before hard pruning, this is usually after the third year. Plants are fed with a general fertiliser after, not heavy in potassium because you are not encouraging it to flower. This is a very intensive way to treat a plant, so plants don't last a long time, they are more like longer term bedding. They might last 20 years on average. It is important to remember that this is not the only way to treat the plants.

When plants are new and young you can start establishing the framework, manipulate a bit more how you want it to be shaped. The standard here seems to be cutting them down to 2 or 3 buds. But if you are for example wanting to grow groundcover plants around and under them, you might want the stems to be raised from the ground a bit and create 'a stool' for them to sit on. It is dependent on how you want them and what you are wanting them to do.

Photo 2: Salix alba 'Golden Ness'

Photo 3: Salix hookeriana