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willow tree not leaving out #931924

Asked May 16, 2026, 4:41 PM EDT

I have a weeping willow tree that last fall was healthy and growing well. Planted about 2 years ago, it's about 14 feet tall, 4 inch diameter. This spring none of the buds produced leaves, the buds appear dry and the long weeping stems are brittle. there is some green growth happening in several areas near the trunk of the tree, so not totally dead. No other apparent damage to the tree. Any information about how to save this tree? Thank you - LaVonne

Anoka County Minnesota

Expert Response

Thank you for writing. 
I am sorry that I cannot answer this without some photographs. 
I would like a picture of the green areas that you mention. 

Here are a couple possibilities. 
https://www.uaex.uada.edu/yard-garden/plant-health-clinic/disease-notes/posts/willow-common-diseases.aspx

https://extension.psu.edu/willow-diseases
Steve Miles, Master Gardener, Hennepin County, (I am a volunteer human being: not a bot, not AI). I'm an avid gardener but not a degreed or certified horticulturist or arborist. I will do much better if you also send a photograph. I like follow-up questions.  The University' garden soil tests are excellent.  https://soiltest.cfans.umn.edu/testing-services/lawn-garden This is how to find a tree expert.  https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/how-hire-tree-care-professional The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum is a wonderful place to see and learn about plants that grow in Minnesota. https://mngardens.horticulture.umn.edu/minnesota-landscape-arboretum Replied May 16, 2026, 6:03 PM EDT

I have enclosed photos. What are chances of it coming back from trunk if I prune off all of the dead branches? (which in this case appears to be all of them)
Thanks for your feedback

From: ask=<personal data hidden> on behalf of Ask Extension
Sent: Saturday, May 16, 2026 5:03 PM
To: vonniesuem
Subject: Re: willow tree not leaving out (#0201839)
 
The Question Asker Replied May 17, 2026, 12:30 PM EDT
Thank you for writing.
These are very low resolution pictures, 274 kb, most cell phones shoot at 2-4 megabyte.
That being said, 
~ the carpet at the base of the tree is an extremely damaging thing to do and can promote rot and decay by bacteria and funus around the tree.  Since fluids move up and down the tree in a thin layer of wood just under the bark, the tree is essentially girdled. Second, there is a coulple horizontal marks at the bottom of trunk which were possibly caused by a mower.
The tree still has some living areas but so much of it has been damaged or is dead, that it should be replaced. I could add a bit more information with a good high res pictures of that the trunk as it enters the ground.  
Steve Miles, Master Gardener, Hennepin County, (I am a volunteer human being: not a bot, not AI). I'm an avid gardener but not a degreed or certified horticulturist or arborist. I will do much better if you also send a photograph. I like follow-up questions.  The University' garden soil tests are excellent.  https://soiltest.cfans.umn.edu/testing-services/lawn-garden This is how to find a tree expert.  https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/how-hire-tree-care-professional The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum is a wonderful place to see and learn about plants that grow in Minnesota. https://mngardens.horticulture.umn.edu/minnesota-landscape-arboretum Replied May 17, 2026, 1:11 PM EDT
A further question:  It is not carpet around the base of tree, it's a water permeable rubber ring purchased just for that purpose.  Is it still advisable not to use it?  
From: ask=<personal data hidden> on behalf of Ask Extension
Sent: Sunday, May 17, 2026 12:11 PM
To: vonniesuem
Subject: Re: willow tree not leaving out (#0201839)
 
The Question Asker Replied May 17, 2026, 2:40 PM EDT
Thank you for writing back.
Garden cloth has a bad effect. 
https://gardenprofessors.com/keep-the-fabrics-in-your-closet-and-off-of-your-soil/
https://gardenprofessors.com/landscape-fabric-a-cautionary-tale/
Even if you could get away with it under the soil, it should not be closer than 6 inches to the bark to avoid having water puddle next to the bark and rot the wood.  
I would like to see a close up photograph of the tree with the carpet removed and with the top soil removed to a depth of one inch so I can see the root to trunk junction. 
Steve Miles, Master Gardener, Hennepin County, (I am a volunteer human being: not a bot, not AI). I'm an avid gardener but not a degreed or certified horticulturist or arborist. I will do much better if you also send a photograph. I like follow-up questions.  The University' garden soil tests are excellent.  https://soiltest.cfans.umn.edu/testing-services/lawn-garden This is how to find a tree expert.  https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/how-hire-tree-care-professional The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum is a wonderful place to see and learn about plants that grow in Minnesota. https://mngardens.horticulture.umn.edu/minnesota-landscape-arboretum Replied May 17, 2026, 5:28 PM EDT
Thank you for writing me back. 
To me, the most beautiful thing about a willow is its shape, a fountain of rising and falling leaves.  That beautiful shape is gone. The may produce the kind of green that you now see for several years.  There is another option, growing a living piece of your tree. Willows grow fast. Even so, it will take years. 
Here is a good description. 
https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/faq/how-can-i-propagate-willow
Steve Miles, Master Gardener, Hennepin County, (I am a volunteer human being: not a bot, not AI). I'm an avid gardener but not a degreed or certified horticulturist or arborist. I will do much better if you also send a photograph. I like follow-up questions.  The University' garden soil tests are excellent.  https://soiltest.cfans.umn.edu/testing-services/lawn-garden This is how to find a tree expert.  https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/how-hire-tree-care-professional The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum is a wonderful place to see and learn about plants that grow in Minnesota. https://mngardens.horticulture.umn.edu/minnesota-landscape-arboretum Replied May 18, 2026, 10:17 AM EDT

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