Weeping pussy willow

last year

We live at 8,150ft. in elevation in a riparian area. We planted two weeping pussy willows just two years ago and they thrived - until this year one got very sick. The leaves came out green and lovely then curled and died. Pruned it back hard but it looks like it's still dying by degrees. It is well-watered in well-draining soil. I used a copper fungicide, I don't think it liked that at all - the handful of nice looking leaves turned brown. it's partner right next to it looks fine.

The sad tree did produce a lot of suckers at its base. Should I let all these continue to grow? Will they replace my sad, little dying tree?

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floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK

last year

The weeping part at the top (the scion) is dead. All the growth is coming from the straight stemmed understock. Your tree will never weep again, I’m afraid. Personally I’d ditch it.

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Comments (10)

djacob Z6a SE WI
last year
I am surprised no tree expert has responded…… I am not one, but have the same tree. I have had it over 10 years. I live in Milwaukee, zone 5b. I have never had suckers at the base. The only problem I have had, is when the Japanese beetles come through, they eat the leaves down to lace looking. Thankfully none the last two years. I think you should post a couple pics so people can see clearly what’s going on. Get the best close-ups you can. That may be why you have not received a response from others. Good luck, I love mine so I hope it can be saved saved.

debra
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
last year
The suckers will not be weeping pussy willow so they need to be removed. Can you show pictures of the tree? Possibly the graft has failed.
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hey jeanne it would be best.. for you .... to start your own post.. so replies can come to your email.. rather than appending a 5 year old post .. though i do appreciate that you most likely used the search function to find this old thing ... RENOVATION PRUNING of shrubs is simple.. just remove 1/3 the largest.. oldest trunks [though you start by removing any damaged trunks] ... and with no insult to the root system.. the rest will explode in growth next year ... google that term for more info.. but the first i saw is at the link ... very simply put.. PW is one of those shrubs that you could run over with the truck.. and will probably be just as big next year.. have no fear.. just do it ... and that reinvigorated growth might become a future problem ... but that said... its a rather ugly bush for its size.. but for a two week show in spring.. if it really doesnt fit in you garden.. you might want to think about just getting rid of it.. and using the space for something that will make your toes curl.. rather than have to be hacked to heck every spring.. its wildly over-mature ... and probably should go .. your choice.. and good luck ken ps: PW is one of the easiest shrubs to root ... your best bet.. might be to root some spring cuttings.. get rid of the old.. and just start over .... perhaps the best of both worlds ... Here is a link that might be useful: link
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I would wait until all the catkins have opened and gone, even if it has started to grow leaves. If it's like the ones that were for sale here, they are grafted to be pretty short "trees", between 18" and 36" tall. Because the grafted top is probably very vigorous, you can cut all the stems back to 2" from where they begin to grow from the thickened area of the trunk, and they will be as long or longer than they were, when you bought the tree, by the end of summer. Keep the pot well watered but not soggy and in bright light, not too warm, and it should do fine. This CAN go in the ground in the spring - I would still keep it inside, in a cool, brightly lit spot, until the danger of late frosts was over - and then gradually acclimate it to the temperatures and sun of outdoors, putting it out a hour or so longer each day, over about a week. If you work, and can't do that, then put it out in a shady spot, and gradually move it more into the sun over a week. You can then plant it - and the pussies will be back in the spring, if not as soon as when you bought it. Keeping it as an indoor plant over the summer and trying for early pussies probably won't work - it was "forced"/grown in a green-house with careful attention to light levels and temperature, which is very difficult to duplicate in your house.
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hey batgirl.. hows robin??? newbie huh??? ... many posts.. many worries ... gardening is supposed to be relaxing.. and you seem to be worrying to death ... if all your plants have a guarantee.. just freakin relax ... OK?? now.. yanking anything from a pot.. and sticking it in the ground .. disturbs its ability to pump water, because you messed with its roots ... make sense so far ... there is only one reaction .. it sacrifices leaves ... to which it could not pump enough water [especially if there was a heat wave immediately after planting] ... with me ... and here is the part you need to understand ... BEFORE YOU GO INSANE ... >>>>THIS IS NORMAL ... all the life in the plants.. are in the growth tips.. and even if it loses/sacrifices every single leaf.. if that growth tip thrives.. the plant will recover ... though it might look ugly for a while ... so just relax ... now.. could you have avoided this.. yes ... probably ... with the following: proper planting .... proper timing... a few weeks earlier would have made this all done when the plant had fewer leaves .. and the weather was cooler... leading to less problems pumping water ... proper mulching.. and proper watering ... if you read thru a few pages of back posts.. you ought to see many.. many posts about how to do it better ... and would be a great start to increasing your knowledge base ... but when all is said and done.. its nearly foolproof ... and me thinks you simply worry too much ... many say .. that you are not a true gardener.. until you have killed every plant in your garden 3 times.. and trust me... all of us have ... [and many years from now... like many of us.. you will wonder why you were so enthralled with a pussy willow.. lol] ... have a bat beer.. and relax.. odds are .. they will all recover.. the only issue is whether you will be certifiable before it happens... lol good luck .. we need more gardeners.. ken
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BillMN-z-2-3-4
last year
'We live at 8,150ft. in elevation in a riparian area.'

How cold did it get last winter? What usda zone are you in?

'I used a copper fungicide, I don't think it liked that at all'

What did you use the fungicide for? Was there some sort of growth appearing on the leaves?

I'm no expert either but there needs to be more information for anyone here to have an idea of what's going on.
djacob Z6a SE WI
last year
Bill’s right……more info and pictures!!!

debra
aknight9
Original Author
last year

USDA has us in zone 5b. I assure you we are not. We are on the valley floor on a river. I garden for zone 3 or 4. I read up on this & was advised to use a copper fungicide since the leaves were curling, turning brown & falling off. There's new healthy growth from the trunk, as can be seen in the photo. I do see some fine spider webs in the bare top & a tiny brown spider. Our coldest temp last winter was -14. I removed the suckers a couple weeks ago. I have another one about 6 ft from the sad one. It's doing fairly well. Is this one in the photo a goner?
BillMN-z-2-3-4
last year
last modified: last year
What does the base of the tree look like? Is it suckering from there too?

I would say if there's new, healthy growth coming, the tree is not dead.

But, if all the new growth is below the graft, then you will not end up with a 'weeping' pussy willow, it will be whatever kind of willow they used for root stock, no doubt will be some sort of 'tree style' pussy willow.

Hard to tell without closer, clearer pictures, whether it was 'high grafted' or not. If high grafted (most likely yes), then the weeping part above that, on top, is most likely dead and what you will end up with is an ordinary style pussy willow.
aknight9
Original Author
last year
Thank you everyone for your time. I'm sad to lose this little tree, but such is life. A.
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
last year
If you have a lot of space in a wild area of your yard and would like an ordinary, big, non weeping pussy willow you could move it. They flower very early and are valuable for wildlife.
djacob Z6a SE WI
last year
Why not plant another another one in it’s place? I absolutely love mine……

debra

Weeping pussy willow

floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK

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djacob Z6a SE WI

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Weeping pussy willow

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