Corkscrew Willow problem

[Al Cormack]

I have a large corkscrew willow in my garden that is not looking healthy at all. Hardly any new leaves have emerged this year.

 

There is one in each neighbours garden eitherside of me, and they look the same.

Just had an email from a client in North London whose Corkscrew Willow I prune every 3 years, and he is saying the same, that it looks half dead.

 

Is there something affecting them?

 

Al.

[Al Cormack]

I have sent an email to Derek Patch at the Tree Advise Trust as well to see if he has any comments.

[David Humphries]

Al, we have a fair sized one at work which due to storm damage a few years back was pollarded.

 

Been Ok since, though yesterday I noted vaguely that it seemed browner than usual.

Have to say that this was from distance as I was attending to a fallen Oak 100m away. at the time.

 

I'm not at work for a few days, but will have closer look on return.

 

Be interested in hearing what Mr Patch comes back with.

 

Any pictures?

 

Are there not many new leaves, or have the ones that have come out looking stressed, damaged or eaten?

 

 

 

 

.

[Al Cormack]

Hi Dave,

 

It just doesn't seem to have put put many new leaves out this year, and lots of the branches seem to have died back.

 

Would be a shame to lose it as it is around 40 ft high and never been pruned, although may have to do some reduction work if it is dying back.

 

Piccies below, but difficult against a bright back ground:

[Tom Joye]

I saw the same all over Belgium last year already. Haven't found out yet what might cause the decline.

[David Humphries]

Hi Tom,

 

Was the problem associated with all willows or just Cork screw?

 

 

Only a month to go Tom, give me a call or Pm me to finalise details of the trip etc....hope you're well

 

I'm off work till Monday, but on work phone at home.

 

David

 

 

 

 

 

.

[David Humphries]

Hi Dave,

 

It just doesn't seem to have put put many new leaves out this year, and lots of the branches seem to have died back.

 

Piccies below, but difficult against a bright back ground:

 

 

 

Any Armillaria in the immeadiate area Al?

 

 

 

 

 

 

.

[Al Cormack]

Any Armillaria in the immeadiate area Al?

 

 

 

 

 

 

.

 

No fungii seen at all anywhere. The neighbours trees corkscrew willows look the same, so wondering if they did not like the cold winter.

 

It also has been very water logged around the tree up until now, but they are willows!

 

Just been up the tree to have a closer look and check for Watermark disease, but thankfully no staining evidence in the cut wood (phew)

 

Did also notice that on the branches that are dying back there are some new buds emerging from the live wood, that are not visible from the ground, so there maybe hope yet.

 

Will keep an eye on it over the next 3-4 weeks.

 

Al.

[Andy Collins]

I think it may be the harsher winter, dont forget many plants are 3-4weeks behind this year. It may have caught an icier blast in your garden, and with the sustained windchill caused it to remain dormant longer. My corkscrew willow is only now bursting the buds, last year they were out mid-April.

[Graham]

Took one down last week. Looking decidedly unhappy; tiny bleeding areas, areas of dead bark....anthracnose?