Kilmarnock Willow

Paddy5

Please can someone help me.  I have once again got no catkins on my Kilmarnock Willow it is now in leaf without producing one catkin. So disappointing as when I bought it several years ago it was covered in catkins and I have had no catkins any year since. What am I doing wrong? 

Green Magpie

I had the same problem and once posted a question on the old Board about my lack of pussies.  I discovered that the tree was too thick and crowded, and needed many of the old branches and stems cut out. This did help a bit, but the tree was wonky and needed propping up, and one year it was infested with willow aphids, which attracted loads of wasps ...

Eventually we decided it was neither use nor ornament and took it out. There is now a handsome and well-behaved sorbus in its place.

Paddy5

Thanks. It is a bit overcrowded in the middle so I might have a go at thinning out the branches.  If not I will replace with something easier.  It looks healthy enough.

Pauline 7

I have one and this is it's 3rd or 4th year.  Last spring it had hardly any catkins so I thinned it out and this spring it's got loads. 

Paddy5

Thanks. Please could you let me know when I should thin it out.

Pauline 7

I did it before it got too many leaves so I could see what I was doing. .....but I am not an expert.

danielthefrazer

Aah, good old Killy Willows... I have never seen one that's more than a few years old and looks nice. 

I'd just dig it out and put something better in

Paddy5

I have tried the advice from" Pauline 7" and thinned it out so will see how that goes and if no improvement the advice from "danielthefrazer" will be taken !!