Weeping willow

danyosan · Rank attained: Hazel Tree Joined: 04 Oct 2011 Posts: 21

Ive a tree that's been planted a year, and most f the branches seem to have died. New sprouts are growing out from the main trunk though.

Should I trim off the dead branches?

tippben · Posted: Thu May 23, 2013 3:04 pm Post subject:

Yes, do. Cut them with a clean cut at the "branch collar". Don't injure the stem, or leave a peg of dead wood either. The likeliest reason for them dying back is either planting shock, or lack of water. Make sure it has massive amounts of water. As long as it looks like it's growing above the graft point, it's ok.

Anything below the graft point, remove, rub off, as that is the parent plant, not the weeping willow you bought. It will be more vigorous, and take over, becoming a large upright tree. Was it a Kilmarnock (Salix caprea), or a larger, yellowish tree (Salix sepulchralis "chrysacoma)?

danyosan · Rank attained: Hazel Tree Joined: 04 Oct 2011 Posts: 21

It's a salix alba tristas. This happened whilst it was still in the pot before I planted it, and it was getting well watered everyday. I thought it was a goner, but it's come back to life.

Clondoolusk · Posted: Thu May 23, 2013 8:00 pm Post subject:

Hi danyosan, something similar happened to my weeping willow in first year of planting but like yours it came back and it's now 3 years old and planted in a nice slightly damp part of our site and thriving so hold put hope they are pretty determined once they have water it seems!

Greengage · Posted: Thu May 23, 2013 8:47 pm Post subject:

It could be suffering from Willow Anthracnose or rust how about a pic

danyosan · Rank attained: Hazel Tree Joined: 04 Oct 2011 Posts: 21

I'll post a pic up later.

danyosan · Rank attained: Hazel Tree Joined: 04 Oct 2011 Posts: 21

Here they are

Clondoolusk · Posted: Fri May 24, 2013 10:24 am Post subject:

Looking at the pics and some of the leaves look a bit brown around the edge, are they exposed to high wind? Also plenty of water needed I'd say and maybe a feed treatment for a few months.

danyosan · Rank attained: Hazel Tree Joined: 04 Oct 2011 Posts: 21

Lately they've been exposed to very high winds, I'm on a fairly open site. I must admit it has been getting neglected water wise, gonna keep on top of that now. The spot it's in is very damp in the colder months, but there just hasn't been the rain lately.

tippben · Posted: Sun May 26, 2013 11:32 am Post subject:

It's lack of water. Kill off the grass 2' from the stem in all directions, as that is robbing the tree of it's water. Cut off the dead twigs, and feed it. You should leave a hose on a slow trickle for several hours, twice a week. I'd also remove that cane. That cane doesn't let the stem flex in the wind and develop strong lignin. If you leave it until the tree is larger, when you remove it your willow will bend over, and there's nothing you can do to fix that.

danyosan · Rank attained: Hazel Tree Joined: 04 Oct 2011 Posts: 21

medieval knievel · Posted: Tue Jun 18, 2013 9:03 am Post subject:

a tree stake should be there to prevent movement of the root ball, not to stop the trunk from flexing. the stake nearer the ground looks ok, but the cane is surplus to requirements.