skip to main content

weeping willow looks dead!

17 years ago

I live in coastal Alabama and have a 4 year old weeping willow. It grew beautifully and sprouted new leaves this spring as usual. It even had what looked like little flowers on it. Then all of a sudden it dropped most of its leaves and many of the branches appear dead. What happened to this tree?!. The other willows in the neighborhood look great.

Sort by:Oldest

Comment (1)

razorback33
17 years ago
Sorry, but I don't have an answer. The same thing happened to mine a few years ago and it eventually died. Moisture wasn't a factor in it's demise and examination of the roots provided no clue.
The same thing happened to 2 of my 3 Japanese Maple bonsai's this spring (all are in the same area), but they are slowly recovering and producing new foliage.
Let's hope it's a temporary malfunction and not a permanent one!
Rb
Related Discussions
Weeping Willow ,today`s look
Q
Comments (5)
Don, Shouldn't there be a lounge chair sitting under that tree with me in it? And maybe with a little bit of the 'bubbly' in hand? OK OK ...... make it iced tea. Sure looks like it to me.... @:) I love your tree! Sharon
...See More
Weeping Willow - Dead or Dormant?
Q
Comments (4)
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
...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
Willow Tree - weeping willow for my yard?
Q
Comments (1)
How small is a small yard? My wife wanted a weeping willow, so I had to find a place to plant one.My parents planted one when I was young,and it was quite large 15 years later. The place I bought mine from say's it will grow 60ft tall by 40ft in diameter on a mature tree. That would mean you should plant at least 20ft from building or property line,or other obstacle. WW is fast growing so you will have to prune alot to keep it in check.It also is not long lived. If you prune to much it may not look much like the willow you love.On the other hand if you cut it down before it gets to big for it's area,you may get 20 years or more to enjoy it.Plus it may take 5 years under good growing conditions to give you any shade. just my opinion. lp
...See More

Related Stories

DINING ROOMS New This Week: Proof the Formal Dining Room Isn’t Dead

By Mitchell Parker

Could graphic wallpaper, herringbone-patterned floors, wine cellars and fire features save formal dining rooms from extinction?

WINTER GARDENING 6 Reasons I’m Not Looking Forward to Spring

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Not kicking up your heels anticipating rushes of spring color and garden catalogs? You’re not alone

OUTBUILDINGS My Houzz: Simply Escapist in Santa Cruz

By Shannon Malone

Thrifty furnishings and a romantic willow tree turn a backyard cabin into a comfy, unpretentious hideaway

GARDENING GUIDES How to Avoid Overcrowded, Overpruned Shrubs

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Go for a more natural look that’s easier and less expensive to maintain by giving your plants the right amount of growing room

MOST POPULAR Meet a Lawn Alternative That Works Wonders

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Carex can replace turfgrass in any spot, is low maintenance and adjusts easily. Add its good looks and you’ve got a ground cover winner

FALL GARDENING 11 Trees for Brilliant Fall Color

By Marianne Lipanovich

Give your landscape the quintessential look of autumn with the red, orange and yellow leaves of these standouts

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Is It Time to Consider Fake Grass?

By J. Peterson Garden Design

With more realistic-looking options than ever, synthetic turf can be a boon. Find the benefits and an installation how-to here

KITCHEN DESIGN 10 Upgrades for a Touch of Kitchen Elegance

By Laura Gaskill

Give your kitchen a more refined look by changing just a detail or two

INDUSTRIAL STYLE Kitchen of the Week: Style Trumps Ease in a San Francisco Loft

By Mitchell Parker

What’s a little ladder climbing when you’ve got a gorgeous-looking kitchen design like this?

GARDENING GUIDES How to Create a Rustic Garden, Even on a Tiny City Plot

By Claudia De Yong Garden Design

Flea market and salvaged finds can give even the most urban garden the look and feel of a rural retreat

Sponsored

More Discussions

cold stratification?

1