weeping willow leaves turned dry and crunchy

treeluver

i have a 6 foot tall weeping willow planted last fall it leaved out just fine this spring, except it had died back and budded out about a foot back on all branches, so i trimmed off these dead ends, all was fine, then we had 3 days on heavy rain, and then all the leaves wilted and now have turned dry and crunchy, but the branches are still flexible and not dry, anyone know what happened, i know willows don't mind water so the rain shouldn't have hurt it, is it worth leaving it there and seeing if it recovers, or better off buying a new one?

sueann

I planted 2 sticks of willow that I cut from a roadside random tree and shoved them in the ground by the top dam and they just went great, maybe they're not getting enough water around the roots?

If you post pics the guys will maybe be able to help you, I thought they were the easiest tree ever to grow.

First pic is when I just shoved them in the ground and 2nd pic is how well they did by last summer. I've never looked after them at all.

dov

Are there any galls on the trees?

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treeluver

update, i think its a goner, the stems started turning black, and the little sucker sprouts from the base even died, i dug it out and found that its roots were black and didn't look like they grew at all this year, also i didn't see any galls on the tree

dov

Possibly some sort of fungal issue or another type of pest. Try again, but not in the same spot.

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sueann

Oh no! here I am thinking this tree has got to be the easiest and disease free tree ever, now I find out they aren't?

TreeSpecialist

Weeping willow is one of the most sickly trees we encounter. Seldom lasting more than 10 years, the weeping willow is - in my opinion - a trash tree.

Weak wooded and susceptible to a great many diseases and insects, you'd be better off planting just about anything else.

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sueann

Thanks TS, I didn't know that, I just read somewhere that you could grow them easily, and you can, as I proved to myself.

Maybe I should stick some more sticks in there so there'll be others that look ok when those one's die.

I read somewhere that wattles don't live very long either, but I love my wattles too.

jmcg.insight.gardens

I like wattles too. Some wattles can live for a long time, they also help the soil.

About WattlesW — Wattle Day Association

Julie

treeshaveneeds

Here in Southern Ontario Weeping willows last 80-100 years, average 70-90 ft in height, attain a dbh of 3 to 5 ft. They are one of the first trees to leaf out in the spring, and one of the last trees to drop in the fall.
They drop a lot of branches, but they are a beautiful tree, especially in someone else's yard.
Maybe Austin, Texas is too dry for weeping willows, or too hot. Could be they do better in a cooler climate.