Catkins

[CharlieK87]

What can I do about these catkins? From a willow (?) tree. Falling onto gravel path and beds.

Just sweep them up with a light broom. I’d leave the ones in the flower beds. If it’s hard sweeping them off the gravel path I’d probably leave them - would have thought they break down quite quickly?

Thanks. It's impossible to sweep them on the path with the stones but they are all over it. Can't believe how many have fallen from one tree. Hopefully they will break down quickly.

I guess if you had a leaf blower it might work, but also might send the gravel everywhere.

Will a rake work better than a broom? Rake them in to the border - they will break down fairly quickly and will be beneficial to the soil.

They'll be gone in a week, let nature take its course.

I will try a rake thank you, they've been there a few weeks now and more keep falling. Good to know they are beneficial to the soil.

I would clean them up sweep them up or leaf blow them onto the lawn and they'll get picked up by the mower.

The problem with leaving catkins on soil is that they hold a lot of moisture as they are so fluffy so attract slugs. May not matter I suppose depending on what you grown.

The other thing is that if they are polinated and have developed into seeds, they may still hold seed within them and then you'll have a load of hazel seedlings or whatever it is appearing randomly which adds to weeding pain. If you are anything like me, you won't notice them for a year or so until they are really settled in and can't just be heaved out.

They won't have developed into seeds. Those catkins are the male reproductive part of the tree which produces pollen and they are discarded once they have done their job. I shan't go on - don't want to bore you!😁

No. Catkins can be male and female. Females develop into seeds. Normally all seeds are then dispersed by the wind but not always as with all things nature is rarely perfect.

Google female catkins. Detail depends on the tree

White willow (Salix alba)
White willow is dioecious, meaning male and female flowers grow on separate trees. Catkins appear in early spring.
Appearance: Male catkins are 4-5cm long while female catkins are 3-4cm long and a bit narrower than the male. After pollination by insects, female catkins lengthen and develop small capsules, each containing tiny seeds encased in white down.

I shan't go on. I don't want to bore you.

@LetYouEntertainMe Don't patronise me.

I didn't explain all that because, unlike you, I didn't want to make myself look like a smartarse.