Description
Kilmarnock goat willow (Salix caprea Kilmernock)- an ornamental tree with a small weeping crown and shoots hanging to the ground. The height depends on the level of grafting, most often it is 1.2-1.5 m. The leaves are dull green, covered with gray-white fibers. Yellow-golden catkins appear on last year's shoots before the leaves appear in March-April. Unpretentious shrub, but for vigorous development it requires a lot of water and light. Recommended for planting near water bodies.
| Crown diameter and height: | The height depends on the level of grafting, usually 1.2-1.5 m. |
| Flowering, foliage: | It blooms in March-April before the leaves appear; the flowers are collected in golden earrings. The leaves are large, elongated, dull green, covered with silvery hairs. Autumn color is yellow. |
| Soil requirement: | unpretentious to the soil, Various types are suitable - sandy, swampy, not very fertile. |
| Lighting requirements: | most willows are light-loving and grow better on open places, some (goat willow) are shade-tolerant and grow normally in partial shade. |
| Landing: | the distance between plants in groups is 0.6 -2 m. Planting depth is 40 - 70 cm, and the speed of growth should be taken into account. It is better to replant before three or four years. Drainage from sand or crushed stone with a layer of 20 - 30 cm is required on heavy clays. |
| Winter hardiness: | frost-resistant. In young plants, it is recommended to cover the grafting site for the winter. Zone 4 (see Climate zones). |
| Care requirements: | V hot weather moisture-loving willows (and. eared, and. ash, and brittle), if they do not grow near water bodies, it is recommended to water and spray. White willow is drought-resistant, tolerates dry soils, and tolerates spring flooding. Young plantings are loosened in the spring to the depth of a spade, and then mulched with a layer of peat (5-7 cm). Dead branches are cut off, a crown and a trunk are formed. Remove very long shoots on the lower part of the trunk. |
Useful properties:
* White willow bark has antipyretic (due to the content of acetylsalicylic acid), astringent, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, anthelmintic and diuretic effects. In fact, willow bark contains a wonderful substance - salicin. Salicylic acid was synthesized on its basis, and later it began to be produced in industrial scale called aspirin.
* Tea made from fresh leaves relieves fatigue; using a willow broom in a bathhouse treats osteochondrosis and gout. The quinine it contains is a powerful tool against malaria.
* Positive results have also been achieved in the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases and diarrhea. Willow is also used externally: for rinsing the mouth, throat, douching, for varicose veins, sweating feet, skin diseases. The plant is used as a sedative, anti-fever and wound-healing agent, and a weak decoction of the bark treats weakened and brittle hair, saturating it with all the necessary substances.
* Her ability to absorb heavy metals allowed her to cleanse polluted fields. It was experimentally established that willow is one of the best plants trapping dust. Mature plant grown in unmolded form, it retains up to 38 kg of dust over the summer.
Well-lit and protected from the wind places are recommended. Prefers moist soils, but grows in moderately dry and even dry sandy soils. Should be avoided high content lime in the soil. Before planting, dig a shallow hole, mix the soil with compost, and fill the hole with a drainage layer of crushed stone and gravel. After planting, the soil is compacted and watered abundantly. Young plants are watered 2-3 times a week.Wintering Goat willow "Kilmarnock"
Frost-resistant. Young plants may suffer from soaking. It is recommended to cover the plant trunks by wrapping them with burlap or spunbond in 2 layers.Care of goat willow "Kilmarnock"
Care consists of timely removal of the shoots, pruning under the grafting site. In timely, regulated watering, it is sensitive to waterlogging of the soil; with excess moisture, the roots can rot. Doesn't really need fertilizingPruning goat willow "Kilmarnock"
Special pruning is required, especially in the early years, to form the crown. Pruning is carried out after flowering, at the end of spring - beginning of summer (in June). For correct formation The crown must be cut short (up to 15 - 20 cm) to all young shoots of the first year, so that at the end of the shoot there are buds pointing up and to the side, then the crown will grow in the form of an umbrella. Another method of pruning: during the summer, pinch out the apical buds of young shoots as soon as they reach a size of 15 - 20 cm. This encourages the side shoots to grow and the crown becomes dense. It is recommended to remove the growth that forms under the grafting site.Botanical name: Goat willow or Bredina (Selix carrea), a species of the Willow genus, Willow family.
Homeland of goat willow: Europe.
Lighting: light-loving, shade-tolerant.
Soil: sandy, marshy, fertile, gravelly.
Watering: moderate.
Maximum tree height: 10 m.
Average lifespan of a tree: 150 years.
Landing: seeds, grafting, cuttings.
Description of the goat willow tree
Goat willow is small, the height of which reaches up to 10 m. The trunk diameter is up to 75 cm.
The branches are thick, spreading, young ones are grayish, pubescent, in older trees they are yellow-brown and gray-green, in older trees they are gray or dark, brittle.
The bark is smooth, has a gray-green color, becomes brown with age, and cracks appear at the bottom of the trunk. The wood is smooth and turns red in the air.
The buds are bare, large, up to 5 mm long, up to 3 mm wide. Flower buds ovoid, reddish, large, up to 15 mm long, 3-6 mm wide, not flattened.
The leaves are elliptical, long, up to 11-18 cm long and 5-8 cm wide, dark green above, grayish below. The edge of the leaf is unevenly jagged.
Earrings are thick, large, 30-40 mm in length. Men's earrings are wide, oval or oblong, up to 6 cm. Women's are cylindrical, dense, multi-flowered, up to 10 cm long.
The fruit is a capsule, 7-8 cm, on a fluffy petiole. Each box contains up to 18 seeds. The seeds are equipped with fluffy flakes, so they are easily transported by the wind over long distances and quickly lose their germination capacity.
Goat willow blooms in April, before the leaves bloom. Flowering duration is 10-13 days. Fruits in May. Frost-resistant, not demanding on soil. Goat willow photo.
Planting goat willow and caring for the tree
Goat willow is not picky about soil, so planting can be done in any substrate. Prefers light, fresh loams. High lime content should be avoided. The root system of the tree is superficial and tolerates planting trunk circle, but is sensitive to soil moisture. The tree is frost-resistant, but young individuals may suffer from the first frost. Since the plant is light-loving, it should be planted in well-lit places protected from the wind. Caring for goat willow involves the timely removal of wild growth that forms under the grafting site. Ornamental trees regularly pruned to a height of 30-60 cm.
Goat willow is planted in early spring. In order for the plant to take root faster, the branches are placed in a container of water. Ready cuttings are planted in open ground. Before planting, you need to dig a shallow hole. Mix the excavated soil with compost. Place the seedling in a hole and compact the soil. Water the planting site generously with water. Watering young seedlings should be done 2-3 times a week. Adults in regular watering don't need it.
Goat willow on a trunk: height and pruning for shape
Goat willow on a trunk consists of a smooth, bare trunk (trunk), the size of which is determined by design solution and grafted cuttings. The willow on the trunk serves for decorative design garden plot. It does not take up much space and is easy to care for. In order for a standard tree to retain its shape and height for a long time, constant and correct pruning branches.
The most common variety of goat willow used for the trunk is “Pendula”. The result is a beautiful small tree with vertically hanging branches.
To obtain an oval spherical crown, use the goat willow variety “Mas”.
The rootstock is:
Red willow
Hairy willow
creeping willow
Willow whole leaf
Standard willow looks good in a single planting, on an alpine hill, in a garden and on the shore of a pond.
Goat willow grows in deciduous, broad-leaved, mixed and coniferous forests, on the edges, along roads, around bodies of water. Distributed in Europe, the Caucasus, Western and Central Asia.
Tree pests: willow fly, flower fly.
Diseases: powdery mildew, black spot.
Goat willow Pendula
Goat willow Pendula is a deciduous tree. The crown shape is weeping, tent-shaped, 2-3 m wide, 2-3 m high. Average life expectancy is up to 30 years. The leaves are oblong-elliptical, dark green, 8-10 cm long. Yellow in autumn. The flowers are golden yellow, flat earrings. Goat willow Pendula blooms from April to May. Flowering lasts up to 15 days. The fruits are capsules. The tree is light-loving and shade-tolerant. Grows in any soil moisture.
Goat willow Pendula is used in single plantings and decorative groups. It is not picky about the soil, but needs plenty of watering and care. In order to prevent root rotting, a thick layer of drainage is laid in the soil when planting. Despite the high frost resistance of the tree winter period it is necessary to cover the trunk.
The most difficult thing in caring for the Pendula willow is its pruning. If the plant is not formed correctly in the first years, its branches will very quickly fall to the ground. All shoots are cut off from young seedlings, leaving 15 cm with one bud at the end, looking up or to the side, but not inside the crown. Thus, a crown is formed that looks like an umbrella of short branches.
Mature trees are pruned after flowering. The shoots are shortened by 2/3 of their length. Thanks to this pruning, goat willow begins to branch densely. During the summer period, new shoots have time to fully form and become strong enough to flower.
IN landscape design goat willow Pendula is used in single and group compositions. Looks harmonious near ponds and in rock gardens. Combines with moisture-loving plants, perennials, ground covers, dwarf coniferous trees. Pendula goat willow is propagated by grafting onto a standard.
Weeping goat willow
Very spectacular tree with flexible, twig-like, weeping shoots, which are located at the top of a small trunk - a trunk. At good lighting forms a narrow tent-shaped crown with shoots, falling to the ground. In spring the shoots become densely covered fluffy flowers. Weeping goat willow almost does not grow upward. It exceeds the height of its trunk by only 30-40 cm. It looks beautiful against the background of plants with a different shade of foliage. Used in group plantings, planted at the turns of garden paths.
Goat's globular willow: photo and description
Tree of low dwarf form. The decorative value of the plant lies in its spherical crown with unusual shoots hanging down.
Leaves are lanceolate and leathery. Bottom side The leaves are gray-tomentose, the top is dark green. Goat willow blooms before the leaves appear. Flowering lasts up to 20 days. The flowers are fluffy, yellow catkins. Willow of this form grows very quickly.
Planted in parks, squares and garden plots. Used as a hedge. Photo of goat willow
Goat willow Kilmarnock
Goat willow form Kilmarnock is a miniature, standard tree up to 1.5 m high. The branches are long, deeply drooping, stretching all the way to the ground. The crown shape is weeping, umbrella-shaped. Blooms in April. The flowers are silvery, numerous, yellow catkins, with a pleasant aroma.
The leaves are slightly wrinkled, oblong - elliptical, green. They turn yellow in autumn. The root system is superficial and sensitive to flooding.
Goat willow Kilmarnock is light-loving, frost-resistant, and wind-resistant. It is not picky about the soil. Grows on loamy and light substrates with low lime content, sensitive to moisture. At excess humidity soil roots located in surface layer may rot. Grow the tree in a well-lit area.
Uses of goat willow
Goat willow bark contains tannins used in tanning. Thin leather intended for making gloves, as well as morocco, is tanned using the tanning extract of the bark of this tree. The bark is also valued folk medicine. It is an astringent, antipyretic, wound-healing, choleretic and sedative. A decoction of the bark is used for colds and rheumatism, diseases of the spleen and gall bladder.
In addition, goat willow bark contains biologically active compounds: flavones, tannins, glycosides, vitamins, minerals. Fresh willow leaves are applied to calluses to soften them. For tuberculosis of the joints, take baths with an infusion of willow leaves. Male inflorescences in the form of an alcoholic infusion or a water decoction help with neuroses and disorders of the cardiovascular system.
For stomatitis and gum disease, a decoction of the bark is used to rinse the mouth. Goat willow is also effective means with increased sweating. To normalize the functioning of the sweat glands, a decoction of the bark is taken orally.
Goat willow wood is used as a construction, ornamental and material for the manufacture of furniture and household items. It also serves as fuel. The branches are a material for creating fences. Leafy branches are used for food livestock, especially goats and sheep. Bredina leaves are used as a tea substitute. In the Caucasus, an intoxicating drink is made from the male earrings of this tree.
Goat willow is considered an excellent honey plant, valuable for beekeeping. From the tree, bees take nectar, pollen, honeydew, and sticky bud secretions, which the bees turn into propolis.
During the flowering period, the branches of the willow serve as decoration for the room, and where there is no real willow, they are used in Easter rituals.
The bark is collected before the willow flowers, during sap flow. The bark removed from the tree is dried in the sun and dried in the oven. The finished raw material should not bend, become hard and brittle. Store the dried bark in a box. Shelf life: 4 years.
Baskets of different shapes and purposes are woven from the twigs of this tree. A thin willow rod combines flexibility and elasticity. Craftsmen use cleaned twigs to make small items convenient for picking berries and baskets. large size, with whom you can go mushroom picking. Neither do they wrinkle. For harvesting potatoes, special baskets made of willow twigs are used, which are called “potato” baskets. There are wicker products for storing papers, there are also flower baskets, they are used to decorate the festive table.
Bread bins, candy bowls, crackers and other kitchen utensils are woven from the vine. A beautifully woven vase will decorate any table, both formal and everyday. One-year and two-year-old willow shoots, long and thin, are suitable for weaving baskets.
Garden decoration and landscape design - exciting activity, allowing you to decorate the world around you. However, few gardeners know about such a plant as goat willow. Easy to care for, looks great in any season - such a specimen is a must-have in the garden.
General characteristics of the shrub
The plant belongs to the willow family and is correctly called bredina. Popularly, the tree got its name because its foliage became a favorite food of goats and sheep. Another common name is rakita. Throughout the year, the tent-shaped weeping shrub looks very attractive: soft seals cover the shoots in the spring, which are then filled with dense foliage and beautiful flowers until the fall. yellow flowers, in winter, against the background of snow, even bare shoots from greenish-gray to red-brown color attract attention.
The tree has an average size of 3 to 10 meters in height and a powerful, branched root system. The homeland of pendula is Europe, but it has taken root well in many other parts of the world, including Russia. Life expectancy is on average 30−40 years, but sometimes reaches 150 years. The shoots are long, weaving, cascading down to the ground - this is precisely what is of decorative value in goat willow.
Types of nonsense
Botanists classify the plant as a tree or tree-like shrub. Loves light, unpretentious in the choice of soil. For today The following varieties of goat willow are distinguished:
Tree propagation and cultivation
Propagated by seeds, grafting and cuttings. Seeds must be used after 10 days of ripening, otherwise germination is lost. Flowering begins in April with golden earrings about 10 cm long and lasts about 2 weeks. In May the fruit is formed. It has the shape of a box measuring 8 cm, which contains up to 20 seeds with fluffy growths.
It is easier to root a tree by cuttings. To do this, cut branches at least 10 cm long should be placed in a bucket for several days. The hole must have good drainage, fertilize with compost, place the cutting, bury it and provide abundant watering.
The crown should be formed immediately by cutting off the lower branches; the growth bud should always be directed outward.
Not every gardener can graft onto a standard tree. This is a rather complex process that requires certain knowledge and skill. Goat willow on a trunk does not take root in all varieties. Pendula is best suited for this. The original trunk can also be used as a standard. Subsequently you need to monitor your kidney very carefully so that it does not appear below the vaccination site. If this happens, then the kidney must be removed.
The best option would be to purchase a ready-made seedling from a nursery. When purchasing, you need to carefully check the tree to ensure it is healthy. The bark should be solid without cracks and there should be no dead scales.
Soil preparation and watering
Bredina is not picky about the soil and will take root well in almost any conditions. But in the best possible way will thrive on loamy soil, which is dense and retains moisture well. In the spring for planting you will need a hole 40 cm deep and 50 cm wide (to fit the whole root system). At the bottom of the hole you need to make good drainage, then fill 1/3 with earth or better such a mixture; Combine compost, humus and peat in a 1:1 ratio; you can also add a little sand. Feed for growth nitrogen fertilizer, then place the seedling in the center and bury it.
After watering thoroughly, per week young tree You will need about 25 liters of water. To reduce moisture evaporation, it is recommended to make a layer of mulch near the trunk. To do this, you can use the following materials: sawdust, pebbles, expanded clay, peat, dried grass, paper. And also Regular hilling will be required, which will saturate the plant with oxygen and the soil will not crack.
Shrub pruning
It is the correct pruning that gives the goat willow a decorative weeping or spherical appearance. The formation of the crown occurs during the first few years of the tree's life. The shoots are cut short, leaving branches about 15 cm long. You need to make sure that the post bud is facing upward. Here basic pruning rules:
- Performed in June, after flowering. If produced in the fall, the plant may not bloom the next year.
- It is better for novice gardeners to monitor the growth of branches throughout the summer, periodically adjusting the crown. This method is also necessary for a young tree.
- In an adult tree, pruning is performed at 2/3 of the length of the branch.
Diseases and their treatment
The plant is resistant to many diseases, but sometimes they cannot be avoided. Powdery mildew may appear on the leaves ( white coating) or black spots are a fungal infection and are destroyed with special antifungal drugs and fungicides. Affected leaves should be removed, and spray the bush with a fungicide, for example Topaz. For black spots, you need to make sure that during watering, as little water gets on the foliage as possible, burn bad leaves and treat the surviving ones with preparations such as “Skor” or “Pure Tsvet BAU”.
Where is goat willow used?
Besides external beauty, the plant has found application in various areas of human life. Thus, its flowers are an excellent early honey plant; a hemostatic decoction, a cure for colds, a regulator of sweating, rheumatism and many other diseases are made from the bark. A decoction of the bark is excellent for treating stomatitis.. And excellent baskets and other products are created from flexible branches.
Goat willow, which is often found in literature under the name brediny, is popularly called willow. A culture from the Willow family, whose homeland is considered to be the European part of the continent. Although currently wildlife it also grows in Western and Central Asia, in the Caucasus. The life cycle of the broom, during which it can reach 10 m in height and 0.75 m in trunk width, lasts approximately 150 years.
Many culture lovers are interested in the question: is goat willow a tree or shrub. Everyone has their own opinion on this matter, but there is general classification, according to which nonsense is deciduous tree, sometimes a tree-like shrub.
Description and decorative properties
The height of the plant, growing in the form of a tree or sometimes a shrub, varies from 3 to 6 m. Since goat willow has a branched rhizome, it develops excellently on rocky soil. It is growing at a rapid pace. The main advantage of culture is maintaining visual appeal at any time of the year:
- with the arrival of spring, the shoots are covered with fluffy “seals”;
- from summer to autumn the crown cover is represented by dense foliage and pretty flowers;
- after the onset of winter, the shoots stand out with an unusual color, contrasting against the background of snow.
While the tree is young, its bark is greenish-gray. As the crop matures, the color changes to red-olive or red-brown. The shape of the leaves can be lanceolate or ovoid, depending on the type of plant. The reaching plate, painted dark green, reaches 13 cm in length and 8 cm in width. The flexibility of the shoots allows them to descend to the very ground. Planting a tree in an area with sufficient lighting makes it possible to form a lush crown, which represents the most high value, from a decorative point of view.
Fluffy “seals” hiding shoots in spring time, represent a rod around which there is a spiral large number flowers. When the anthers mature, the male flowers have a golden halo. During the flowering period, willow emits a pleasant aroma that attracts a large number of insects. This property gives willow its value as a good honey plant. And also she has such important characteristics, as frost resistance and unpretentiousness to the soil.
Landing
Planting can be done throughout the season, But optimal time is early spring. For good tree rooting, it is necessary to pay attention to quality planting material at the acquisition stage. Rakita grown on a trunk needs to be carefully examined for damage to the bark and dead scales on it. Only after a detailed examination can you buy a seedling.
Special soil requirements goat willow no, but they are considered preferable loamy soils, which, due to its sufficient density, retains moisture. Planting should be carried out in a well-lit area, protected from drafts, in a pre-prepared hole 40 cm deep and 50 cm in diameter.
There are a number of secrets, the implementation of which will allow for a competent landing:
- IN landing hole drainage is placed in the form of a thick layer of broken brick, which helps prevent the possibility of rotting of the horse system.
- The third part of the pit is filled with a soil mixture of humus, compost and peat, combined in equal proportions.
- For heavy soil, a fifth of sand is added to the mixture.
- Then they enter there mineral fertilizers in the form of 200 g of azofoska.
- After thorough mixing, the seedling is placed in the hole and covered with earth.
- The soil under the tree is compacted.
Upon completion of the procedure, the planted plant is watered abundantly - at least 15 liters of water. In the first year, goat willow requires increased moisture - 12 liters twice a week. And in the summer season, under dry conditions, the frequency of watering must be increased. Subsequently, irrigation is reduced to once a week.
Care
Possible problems when cultivating the crop
According to experts, the culture is resistant to most diseases. However, their manifestations are periodically observed on willow. Unfortunately, diseases are not the only problems that arise when cultivating willow. The most common problems:
Proper care and timely protection of the plant from diseases and pests will allow the gardener to enjoy its attractiveness for many years.
Varieties
As a rule, gardeners prefer the following varieties of willow:
- Pandula, the main decoration of which is the weeping appearance of the crown and the standard form.
- Kilmarnock, with its miniature size and umbrella-shaped crown.
Goat willow Pendula
Tree with height within 3 m, duration life cycle which is 30 years. A light-loving species that can withstand slight shading and grow on soils with any level of humidity. For its normal development, it is necessary to provide abundant watering, not forgetting a high drainage layer to avoid overflows. One more thing useful property plants - frost resistance. But in latitudes with harsh winters, it is better not to take risks - to provide shelter for the trunk.
Let us note once again that the main advantages of Pendula willow are tent-shaped weeping crown and the graceful appearance of a willow tree on a trunk. The dark green leaf blades of Pendula goat willow, which have an oblong elliptical shape of 10 cm, change color to yellow in autumn.
Flowering occurs in the second half of spring, when flat golden catkins are released. The duration of the flowering phase does not exceed two weeks. After completion of this phase of development, the formation of fruits in the form of boxes takes place.
The most difficult and time-consuming element of caring for Pendula is pruning. If the crown has not been properly formed in the first year, the shoots will fall to the ground, leading to the loss of the decorative value of the variety. All shoots of a young specimen should be trimmed, leaving a length of only 15 cm. Not forgetting the need for a bud on the remaining branch, looking to the side or up. This method of cutting will allow you to create a shape that resembles an open umbrella.
Goat willow Kilmarnock
A distinctive feature of the species is its miniature size.- maximum height of 1.5 m. Like the previous type, this standard tree looks like an open umbrella with shoots reaching the ground level. The variety is photophilous, resistant to frost and drafts, and undemanding to the type of soil. However, the plant has one drawback, which is sensitivity to moisture. When watering, you should have a sense of proportion. The beginning of flowering is noted in mid-spring with the release of many catkins consisting of small fragrant flowers.
Use in landscape design
Thanks to distinctive feature tree, which consists in the rapid formation of a branched root and the development of the above-ground part, it can often be found in parks, squares, on the banks of reservoirs, alpine roller coaster. Rakita is used both in single plantings and in compositions with other plants. Often used to create a hedge. Goat willow in landscape design harmoniously combines with evergreen tree species, dwarf conifers, ground cover perennials.
The use of goat willow in folk medicine
Culture has found its application in various spheres of life: its branches are used for weaving baskets, and the crushed bark is used for tanning leather. However, besides this, it plays a significant role in folk medicine. For example, decoctions of goat willow leaves, which contain medicinal properties, are excellent mouth rinses for the treatment of gum diseases and stomatitis. Rakita can relieve a person of calluses and normalize the functioning of the sweat glands. And also its use has a wound-healing, choleretic, antipyretic, and calming effect.
If a person has symptoms of gallbladder disease, rheumatism, or just a cold cough, then you can safely prepare a healing decoction from goat willow bark. To do this, pour 20 g of crushed bark with a glass of boiling water. Boil the well-mixed mixture for half an hour in a water bath. After removing from heat, let sit for 15 minutes. After straining, the decoction is ready for use, two tablespoons three times a day.
So, goat willow represents, first of all, beautiful ornamental plant , used in landscape design to form fabulous garden compositions. Secondly, culture has many medicinal properties. By planting a crop on his plot, a person will be able to combine the mass useful qualities in one tree.
