Good morning. I live in Toronto and I received a potted Tree of Enchantment as a gift. I understand that the plant needs to be pruned once it has stopped blooming. I have gone to different sites but each one tells me something different. Can you please tell me when and how to prune this unusual plant
The Tree of enchantment or mini Weeping pussy willow (Salix caprea var. pendula) is a beautiful gift and one you may have for years if you take care of it.
Before I get to the pruning, I’d like to give you some quick care instructions.
I notice your tree is in a fairly small pot so you may have to repot it into a larger container if you want to keep it on a patio or balcony. Make sure you have a pot with a drainage hole and that it is big enough to hold the tree for a couple of years.
These plants are hardy to zone 6a which means they will survive to -23.3 degrees C, when planted into an actual garden bed so if you have a garden then this could be another option. These trees like full sun or afternoon sun, lots of water and slightly acidic soil. A yearly topdressing with compost should be enough to feed them.
Now to pruning:
- Ideal time is spring, after flowering
- Remove all sprouts off the trunk
- Remove any dead, damaged, diseased or dangerous branches
- Remove any crossing branches
- Remove any small inward growing branches
- Remove any upward growing branches
- Remove any lateral growing branches
- Thin out remaining main branches to improve air flow through the tree
- Cut remaining branches up off the ground so that the new growth has space to grow/weep downward
- When removing branches from numbers 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7, take them off back to the main branch
- Never prune off below the graft unless there are sprouts coming up from the rootstock / ground
Hope this helps.
Mar 25, 21