Dappled Willow Issue-Help - Ask Extension
There appears to be some thing destroying my dappled willows. The bushes were planted in the fall of 2021. Please see the attached pictures that show ...
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Dappled Willow Issue-Help #838826
Asked July 03, 2023, 2:49 PM EDT
There appears to be some thing destroying my dappled willows. The bushes were planted in the fall of 2021. Please see the attached pictures that show limbs, dying, and close-up views of the stems. There is a noticeable difference in the color of the limbs of the dying branches versus the perceived, healthy ones. If this is a fungus or some other problem, can you please prescribe some actions I can take to either revive the plants or prevent further loss. I’ve also included a picture of, one of the plants at the opposite end of the bed that is starting to show some brown tips on some of the leaves. I’m wondering if this is the same issue or perhaps some thing different. I look forward to hearing back from you. Thank you.
Wayne County Michigan
Expert Response
Good Morning,
All willows, the Dappled Willow shrubs, and grafted trees included are susceptible to disease problems which include blight, crown gall, fungus, root rot, cankers, rust, Willow Scab, leaf spot and powdery mildew.
Willow scab attacks and kills young leaves within a very short time. The fungus enters twigs, kills back the young shoots and causes cankers. Olive green spore masses can be seen along the veins on the undersides of leaves. Another fungus, Physalospora miyabeana, attacks willow and the two fungi in combination cause willow blight.
They may also be afflicted with insects including aphids, scale, borers, lace bugs, beetles and caterpillars. If your willow has been affected by insect or disease, or winter injury, remove all affected branches. You may severely prune out all damage, leaving very little healthy plant if necessary. The problem may be overcome by the complete removal of afflicted branches. Thinning out a third of the oldest branches to the ground every year or two may reduce problems, as older wood is more susceptible to disease and pests.
You can send in a sample to get a firm diagnosis.
Plant & Pest Diagnostics (msu.edu)
In addition, you can have an arborist come out and assess your tree. TreesAreGood.org
Hakuro-nishiki Dappled Willow - Midwest Gardening (midwestgardentips.com) "MSU Extension does not endorse or recommend any retailers or brands"
ENH-734/ST576: Salix babylonica: Weeping Willow (ufl.edu)
Tips on tree and shrub pruning - MSU Extension
I hope this helps. Thanks for using our service.
All willows, the Dappled Willow shrubs, and grafted trees included are susceptible to disease problems which include blight, crown gall, fungus, root rot, cankers, rust, Willow Scab, leaf spot and powdery mildew.
Willow scab attacks and kills young leaves within a very short time. The fungus enters twigs, kills back the young shoots and causes cankers. Olive green spore masses can be seen along the veins on the undersides of leaves. Another fungus, Physalospora miyabeana, attacks willow and the two fungi in combination cause willow blight.
They may also be afflicted with insects including aphids, scale, borers, lace bugs, beetles and caterpillars. If your willow has been affected by insect or disease, or winter injury, remove all affected branches. You may severely prune out all damage, leaving very little healthy plant if necessary. The problem may be overcome by the complete removal of afflicted branches. Thinning out a third of the oldest branches to the ground every year or two may reduce problems, as older wood is more susceptible to disease and pests.
You can send in a sample to get a firm diagnosis.
Plant & Pest Diagnostics (msu.edu)
In addition, you can have an arborist come out and assess your tree. TreesAreGood.org
Hakuro-nishiki Dappled Willow - Midwest Gardening (midwestgardentips.com) "MSU Extension does not endorse or recommend any retailers or brands"
ENH-734/ST576: Salix babylonica: Weeping Willow (ufl.edu)
Tips on tree and shrub pruning - MSU Extension
I hope this helps. Thanks for using our service.
