Curly Willow Woes
Forum Archives
Red Hare
Location: Oregon coast
Posted: May-11-2005 at 12:58pm
I probably need to cut a branch and take it to a Master Gardeners plant clinic, but I thought in the meantime I would ask you all:
My curly willow (in its 3rd year since planting, about 10' tall) started leafing out this spring then suddenly all the new leaves turned brown and crinkly. There are a few new green leaves, but I'm concerned that I might be losing it. I'm not aware that we had a late frost, at least nothing else has been affected.
Does anyone know if they are susceptible to any kind of wilt? Or anything else that might be going on? I have other plants in the same bed, but they are unaffected.
I was expecting this tree to really take off this year, so it's disappointing to think I might be losing it.
Any advice, y'all?
DebbieTT
Location: Washington, Kitsap Peninsula
Posted: May-11-2005 at 2:01pm
It sounds like it may be Bacterial Twig Blight. Check out the description and see if that might be the problem. The other possibility may be another Twig Blight but I think the first one matches your description the best.
DebbieTT
Location: Washington, Kitsap Peninsula
Posted: May-11-2005 at 2:04pm
It sounds like it may not be too hard to get under control with a Bordeaux spray and some pruning later this year.
Red Hare
Location: Oregon coast
Posted: May-11-2005 at 2:24pm
Thanks, Debbie, I'll take a closer look at it tonight. And pruning is never a problem with curly willow! (Although up till now, I've pruned very modestly.)
basilgirl
Location: Oregon, Greater Portland Metro
Posted: May-14-2005 at 5:50pm
My neighbor had the same problem year before last. We prunned hard!
With clean clippers, cuts blow the branches with problems. I think we cut about a foot or 1/2 foot of good wood down.
The tree is looking great now!
Fern
Location: Washington, Western Cascade Foothills
Posted: May-14-2005 at 7:29pm
All the curly willows in the Puget Sound area seem to get it. It is something you will have to deal with every year. It does have beautiful branches and you can even force them in the winter for arrangements.
Fern
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