Willow trees

[gallego1968]

[align=left]I`m wondering about planting a weeping pea tree in my front garden. Just wondering are they a pain to keep as in cutting back so that it doesn`t grow outwards to much.[/align]
[align=left]I was going to plant a japanese maple the purple fan cherry but the soil i have is clay which is no good for a maple tree as they like acidic soil.[/align]

[Newt]

Hi Gallego,

I get London as hardiness zone 8.* All the sites I find about a weeping pea -* Caragana arborescens 'Pendula'* say it's hardy to zone 7.* It might not do well where you are.* If others are growing it where you live then it should be ok, as hardiness zones are geared to average low temperatures in winter.* I think your summers are cooler in zone 8 in the UK then here in the US.* Here's a hardiness zone map of the UK.
http://www.uk.gardenweb.com/forums/zones/hze1.html

I've looked at several sites about this tree.* It appears that how tall it grows depends on the height of the graft of the particular tree you purchase.* I have seen some sites that say it will grow 5' wide and others that say it will grow 10' to 15' wide.* Most sites give the plant size after 10 years, so consider the one(s) that says it will grow larger and/or wider as giving a longer growth period then 10 years.* Here's some sites about this 'tree'.* From this first site:
http://www.agnr.umd.edu/ipmnet/docs/00nnws2.pdf

"Cargana arborescens ‘Pendula’* (Note that the botanical name is misspelled here and should be Caragana.)
Weeping Siberian Pea Shrub
Zone 2
6 feet tall by 3 to 4 foot spread, but may reach 15 feet tall
Often grafted on high trunk of common pea shrub
Graceful but stiffly pendulous
Thrives on hot summers and cold winters
Cultivar ‘Walker’ also available – has narrower, strap-like leaves

More info:
http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/...na+arborescens
http://woodyplants.nres.uiuc.edu/plant/cararpe00
http://www.daytonnursery.com/Encyclo...s/Caragana.htm

You said you were going to plant a Japanese maple but the soil is clay.* Then you said you can't plant it because maples like acidic soil.* Just because a soil is clay does not mean it can't be acid.** To correct the clay conditions you would need to add lots of compost and mix it in well to the entire planting area. * Have you done a pH test to see if your soil is acid, neutral or alkaline?

Newt

[gallego1968]

[align=left]I spoke to a very helpfull lady at a garden centre where we are going tomorrow about the willow tree. The tree we want grows no more than 6` and no wider than 4` which is perfect for where we want it. I got some pictures up from google and my wife loves it, so looks like that`s the one to get.[/align]
[align=left]Once i have it planted i1ll post some pictures of it here.[/align]

[Newt]

Gallego, glad you found something you like.* Not sure what type of willow as I did notice your post title mentioned it, but the weeping pea is not a willow.* I'd love to see pictures and the link you found.

Newt

[gallego1968]

[align=left]The Weeping pea tree is a willow as it has catkins, or am i wrong.[/align]

[Newt]

That was a good thought, but willows are members of the Salix family and the weeping pea is a member of the Caragana family.* Just because they both have catkins doesn't make them both willows, but I can see how you might think so.

Newt

[gallego1968]

[align=left]The lady at the garden centre said it`s a Salix, i`ll find out later today and if i buy it i`ll take a picture and post it on here.[/align]

[Newt]

I wonder if it's a Kilmarnock willow - Salix carea 'Kilmarnock'.* They are popular in the UK.

Newt

[gallego1968]

[align=left]We did look at a Kilmarnock willow, very nice.[/align]