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Dappled Willow Shrubs #867489

Asked May 07, 2024, 7:48 PM EDT

My shrubs were growing beautifully but now I notice all white leaves and brown on the new growth! Do they need water or are they over watered or something else. They were so beautiful I don’t want lose them. Please help!

Queen Anne's County Maryland

Expert Response

We've seen this symptom before (it's not uncommon) but aren't sure as to the exact cause. It might be too much or too little water (given that most willows tend to handle damp soil well, too little is more likely given our recent dry trend), or a minor leaf infection that will clear up by summer. No treatment is recommended, and you can feel the soil about five inches deep in the root zone to determine if watering is needed. (If it's somewhat dry to the touch at that depth, water, but if not, it can wait for rain or irrigation later.) Stone mulches make monitoring soil moisture difficult, and if landscape fabric is used underneath the stone (as it often is), some interference with soil oxygen and moisture levels might be occurring. (More study about the impacts on soil health by landscape fabric is needed.) While damaged leaves cannot heal and may fall off on their own at some point, Dappled Willow grows so fast that the plant should recover and hide any remaining leaf damage relatively soon.

Miri

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