Willow??

Hi - I'd like a bit of advice on this tree please, I know it's a type of Willow but the long branch in the middle - do I cut it back and if so how short and when? ( hope piccie not too big )

Thanks in anticipation

 

Cherry? I don't think willows flower. Could be Cheals weeping, can't help with the pruning though.

 

I think you are right Celia. There is something called a flowering willow but it is a rather nasty weed. I too suspect it's a flowering cherry. If it's like my ordinary flowering cherry you just prune to shape.

 

I think it`s a variety of Prunus pendula, possibly Rubra. or, as Celia says, Cheals Weeping. I would certainly take out the upright growing stem as, obviously. you want it to weep.

 

You only want it to weep from the required height.
Surely its trained upwards on the central stem and the sideshoots weep.
If its a true weeper, the top shoot will fall on its own.
If not you could tie it down for a season to see what happens.
If you cut it out I think you may just encourage more vigourous upward growing shoots.

 

Thankyou for all your tips!!