skip to main content

Weeping Willow - Dead or Dormant?

11 years ago

I bought this weeping willow 4 months ago in November. Our winter here wasn't that terrible; we, probably, had a handful of days in the 30s. Then, probably 2 months ago, it came out of dormancy and started sprouting new leaves. But then, all of a sudden, it stopped and the leaves turned brown and fell and now most of the limbs snap when I bend them and the entire tree looks dead except for the base of the tree where it's growing seekers. Also, the entire trunk and thicker branches started to have a thin layer peel away soon after the leaves began to turn (I'm not sure if this is normal for new willows or not - I'm guessing not).

Can anyone tell me if my tree is actually dead or did it just go back into dormancy?

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (4)

Ruffles78
11 years ago
It's a goner. Replace it. If you plant another one, plan to water it a lot. That seems like a pretty dry spot for a willow.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
11 years ago
they are suckers ...

and usually the surest sign.. the rest of the tree above is dead ... besides the obvious bark peeling ...

if its guaranteed.. time to take it back ...

also.. it should be obvious.. the root system is not dead.. and being a willow... if you select down to one sucker.. in about a month... it will be 6 feet tall by fall ... and you can train it back into a tree form ..... if it was NOT guaranteed ....

and we can help you plant the next one.. as there might be a few issues to deal with.. of which.. i will presume you dont want to hear about right now .... but do pull the mulch back from the trunk and inch or two ....

this might have happened.. if the tree was telephone-poled ....

ken
Related Discussions
Have-Weeping willow tree cuttings
Q
Comments (1)
hi my name is rene' and i would love to have a wheeping willow tree...can we trade?
...See More
Weeping Willow looks dead at the top
Q
Comments (4)
Curly Willows do this all of the time. They grow so quickly, that much of the growth does not get hardened off prior to winter and these areas die back and turn black. Just prune back to the green and watch the tree grow all over again this year. I have several Nishiki willows that I cut back severely to the older wood, and by the end of summer, they will have grown back 3-5 ft with their beautiful white and green leaves. A sight to behold. Willows always die back some in cold weather and this does not injure the tree.
...See More
propagating a weeping willow..
Q
Comments (2)
Scrape the bark off in a spot and see if the wood looks green, if so it is alive. I have had the best luck by cutting off a young green branch either in fall or early spring and planting it directly into the ground where I want the willow to grow. Dig a hole with post hole diggers and plant about 2 feet of a 3 foot long branch into the ground with the tip of the branch pointing toward the sky. Backfill with amended dirt that will retain moisture. Then water it as needed. It will need a lot less water and care than in a pot and have a much better chance of living.
...See More
Weeping cherry tree still in dormant?
Q
Comments (8)
The OP already stated there were other cherries in leaf in the area. And showing green under the bark is not always a sign the tree is still viable - a tree may be technically dead (no new growth, no root activity) and still show green. It takes time for all the wood to dry, become brittle and show gray or brown coloring under the bark. Reading posts from other OK residents would indicate that plants are performing on schedule for that zone (7-8), so flowering and leaf out of the cherry should have already occurred. I would agree the tree is probably dead.
...See More
sgrammer
Original Author
11 years ago
thanks for the info!

Also, I forgot to mention: I checked the ground under the mulch and its still pretty damp... so I wasn't assuming it was lost due to lack of water. What are your thoughts on what claimed it??

@Ken: What issues do you have in mind? I can handle it! Hoping to give my next one a better chance!

This post was edited by sgrammer on Thu, Mar 28, 13 at 19:29
WxDano
11 years ago
Default is improper planting, then next is poor stock.

That's too close to the house for that plant also, twice as close as it should be. Much, much better trees out there than weeping willow. The list of better trees is 10x longer than the list of worse trees.

Related Stories

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Harry Lauder's Walking Stick

By Annie Thornton

"Gnarly" is a compliment here — a twisted form and yellow catkins make this plant unforgettable in the winter landscape

WINTER GARDENING Great Design Plant: Redtwig Dogwood

By Annie Thornton

Fiery winter foliage makes this plant a seasonal stunner

MONTHLY HOME CHECKLISTS Your Fall Home Maintenance Checklist

By Laura Gaskill

Prep your house and yard for cold weather with this list of things to do in an hour or over a weekend

FALL GARDENING 6 Trees You'll Fall For

By Therese Ciesinski

Don’t put down that spade! Autumn is the perfect time for planting these trees

LANDSCAPE DESIGN The 7 Best Plant Types for Creating Privacy and How to Use Them

By Falon Mihalic

Follow these tips for using different kinds of plants as living privacy screens

EARTH DAY The Case for Losing the Traditional Lawn

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Work less, help the environment and foster connections by just saying no to typical turf

HOUSEPLANTS How to Force Amaryllis Bulbs Indoors

By creative jewish mom.com

Enjoy vibrant red blossoms even as gardens turn snowy white, by teaching this hardy repeat performer to ignore the calendar

LANDSCAPE DESIGN For Garden Drama, Consider the Lowly Boulder

By Jay Sifford Garden Design

A boulder can be a thing of beauty in the landscape. Here are 10 ways to display them to full effect

TREES 11 Japanese Maples for Breathtaking Color and Form

By Jay Sifford Garden Design

With such a wide range to choose from, there’s a beautiful Japanese maple to suit almost any setting

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Mertensia Virginica

By Curtis Adams

Virginia bluebells provides relief from winter with a big display of color

Sponsored

More Discussions

Is it possible to supplement a plant with glucose?

16

Dappled willow tree damaged by deer

3

Huge black maple in Michigan

4

Pruning of young Chinkapin Oak

3

Oh no, tree leader broken off

13