Kilmarnock willow

Robmarston

I have a Kilmarnock willow in the garden that I planted 2 years ago. It's not doing too well and I want to move it to another spot. Can anyone advise whether it's possible, when would be best to do it and any other things I need to be careful of?

nutcutlet

Hi Rob, move it in the dormant season, leaves off and get as much root as you can. Should be fine

Robmarston

That's why I want to move it. It's competing for water at the moment but we have a spot in the garden that gets waterlogged when we have all that rain which I thought would be a better location ????

Fairygirl

Not sure it would appreciate being waterlogged either Rob - in my experience they're not quite the same as the big weeping willows which are happy next to rivers and ponds etc. As long as you add a bit of  grit for drainage when you plant, some well rotted manure or good compost, and it's not sitting in soggy ground all the time it should be ok. 

Robmarston

It only gets waterlogged when we have that prolonged, heavy rain that's shown up over the last few years, otherwise it's fine.

Fairygirl

I'm sure it'll be fine then Rob 

Liriodendron

Just one word of warning - they are usually grafted onto a different rootstock, and if you break or damage roots when you move your willow, you may get suckers appearing from the rootstock.  They will grow more vigorously than the top growth so you'll need to remove them (tear them off below ground level if you can).