Weeping Willow looks unwell this year.

[MrHairy]

This is in the in-laws garden. It was looking healthy last year, but this year it seems to be dying back. Some of the bark around the base has cracked a bit, and sounds dead when I tap it.

 

I removed a lot of ivy and weeds from around the base after the photos. I'm going back tomorrow to have a proper look, and maybe have a climb and cut out all the dead bits.

 

Any advice appreciated, thanks

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Graham]

Honey fungus. Have a look under that lifted bark at the base.

[MrHairy]

Honey fungus. Have a look under that lifted bark at the base.

 

Thanks for the reply, I'll have a look under the bark tomorrow.

[MrHairy]

I had another look at this, and found white strands under the bark at the base of the tree, and some fruiting bodies on a recently deceased twig that was growing about 6 foot from the ground off the trunk.

 

 

[Graham]

I'd say Anthracnose as well.

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

Defo a bit of Armillaria attack, willows are particularly vulnerable when drought stressed

[MrHairy]

It looks worse than it did last week.

I've had a bit of a read about Anthracnose and Armillaria and it doesn't look too promising for the tree.

Not sure what to recommend, apart from fell it, burn it, and plant a couple of oaks.

[MrHairy]

Defo a bit of Armillaria attack, willows are particularly vulnerable when drought stressed

 

The cess pit has been leaking for a while apparently, and was fixed earlier this year, that coupled with the hot dry weather makes sense.

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

fell it