Why did my Willow die?

[Madame Tree Hugger]

Our beautiful and large willow tree started to ail a year or two back. The amount of greenery gradually reduced to one twig, then to nothing, the bark became very loose, cracking off in many places and then it became obvious that it was dead. I'm no expert but I wondered if it might be bacterial blight as there were one or two wounds on a branch where we had caught the (large, overhanging) branch with the tractor.

 

Does anyone have any idea as to what could have caused our lovely willow to cark it? All ideas appreicated. Thanks

Edited December 4, 2011 by Madame Tree Hugger

[swinny]

really could do with some pictures please

[Madame Tree Hugger]

really could do with some pictures please

 

Unfortunately I don't have and photos and we've already cut most of it down, its in the woodburner at this moment. There's just a few feet of trunk/stump left.

We'd like to put another willow in its place but obviously not if the young tree would be on diseased ground.

[David Humphries]

Did you note (at all) if there were any fungal fruiting bodies on the ground near to the tree, or on the trunk of tree ?

 

 

 

 

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[Fungus]

the bark became very loose, cracking off in many places and then it became obvious that it was dead ... what could have caused our lovely willow to cark it?

 

Madame Tree Hugger,

Could it be, you hugged the tree so much, the bark became loose and fell off ?

But all joking apart, in willows loosening and shedding of bark is mainly caused by (the mycelium of) Pholiota squarrosa or by (rhizomorphs of) Armillaria mellea.