Pussy willow advice

[Borris]

I’m a new gardener and planted a small pussy willow last year. It seems to grow well but I’ve notice it has 3 or 4 different branches with long thin leaves which are sticking out rather than drooping. Should I cut them off?

pucture below

Hello Borris,

Yes and no!

Yes you should remove them all as the look like the willow that they are top grafted on to. However you should follow them back to where they originate from and gently snap them off. Snapping the off you will take any dormant buds at the the base of the strait branches if you cut them off any dormant buds left behind are likely to develop. When snapping the branches make sure the whole length of the branches are removed.

Happy gardening
TheSustainableGardener 👩‍🌾

@thesustainablegardener thanks so much. I will do that on the weekend 😊