I just wondered if there was anything to do or check. This weeping
willow is maybe about 5 years old. Normally I don't do anything to it
and it grows like a weed. Maybe it was just a dry spring or something,
but this year, unlike any other year, or any other weeping willows
nearby, has just TONS of dead branches. Each one of the prunes in this
shot had zero leaves:
http://personal.bellsouth.net/d/r/dr...0-4060_IMG.JPG . A
lot of the branches, up to 3/4 in diameter were brittle and dry (only
right up against the trunk was there any moisture). This branch is the
biggest one I cut:
http://personal.bellsouth.net/d/r/dr...0-4061_IMG.JPG and
there were a few shoots near the base, but a few feet out, it would
crack in two by bending one time. But look at this pile I cut that had
zero leaves:
http://personal.bellsouth.net/d/r/dr...0-4064_IMG.JPG .
And that was just the ones I could reach. I scraped away the mulch and
didn't see any strangulation roots, which my wife read about. I looked
at the bark and there were these little 'boogers' on there. This is
the trunk:
http://personal.bellsouth.net/d/r/dr...0-4068_IMG.JPG .
And this is on a main branch that's about 3 1/2 inches in diameter:
http://personal.bellsouth.net/d/r/dr...0-4070_IMG.JPG .

I know these are some of the most hard to kill trees around, so unless
there's a clear problem ID and solution, I'll likely not do anything,
but I am curious about it, so if anyone has any ideas, I'd like to hear
'em. Thanks.

--Dale--

Here's some links you may enjoy.

KESLICK AND SON MODERN ARBORICULTURE
My resume is at http://mercury.ccil.org/~treeman/educat.html
Here are some links you may consider adding to your site. They are case
sensitive.

1. Techno Tree Biology Dictionary
http://www.treedictionary.com . Look up "logging".

2. Articles written by DR. ALEX L. SHIGO, one of the foremost authorities
worldwide on tree systems today online at
http://www.treedictionary.com/DICT2003/shigo/index.html

3. Literature Available by Dr. Shigo is he
http://www.treedictionary.com/DICT2003/treeinfo.html

4. Hard to get Documents
http://www.treedictionary.com/DICT20...get/index.html


If you have any suggestions please let me know. 610-864-5251

John A. Keslick, Jr.
Tree Biologist
http://mercury.ccil.org/~treeman/
Beware of so-called TREE EXPERTS who do not understand TREE BIOLOGY!
Storms, fires, floods, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions keep reminding us
that we are not the boss.

wrote in message
oups.com...
I just wondered if there was anything to do or check. This weeping
willow is maybe about 5 years old. Normally I don't do anything to it
and it grows like a weed. Maybe it was just a dry spring or something,
but this year, unlike any other year, or any other weeping willows
nearby, has just TONS of dead branches. Each one of the prunes in this
shot had zero leaves:
http://personal.bellsouth.net/d/r/dr...0-4060_IMG.JPG . A
lot of the branches, up to 3/4 in diameter were brittle and dry (only
right up against the trunk was there any moisture). This branch is the
biggest one I cut:
http://personal.bellsouth.net/d/r/dr...0-4061_IMG.JPG and
there were a few shoots near the base, but a few feet out, it would
crack in two by bending one time. But look at this pile I cut that had
zero leaves:
http://personal.bellsouth.net/d/r/dr...0-4064_IMG.JPG .
And that was just the ones I could reach. I scraped away the mulch and
didn't see any strangulation roots, which my wife read about. I looked
at the bark and there were these little 'boogers' on there. This is
the trunk:
http://personal.bellsouth.net/d/r/dr...0-4068_IMG.JPG .
And this is on a main branch that's about 3 1/2 inches in diameter:
http://personal.bellsouth.net/d/r/dr...0-4070_IMG.JPG .

I know these are some of the most hard to kill trees around, so unless
there's a clear problem ID and solution, I'll likely not do anything,
but I am curious about it, so if anyone has any ideas, I'd like to hear
'em. Thanks.

--Dale--

John A. Keslick, Jr. wrote:
Here's some links you may enjoy.
(snip)

Wow, That's a lot of data. I'm not sure my background, which has
little biology, will allow me to properly assimilate it.

Nothing specific, then, that might jump out at you the with the willow?
There are 3 others that are 100 yards away that had none of the die
back.

--Dale--

On 15 May 2006 17:59:16 -0700,
wrote:

I just wondered if there was anything to do or check. This weeping
willow is maybe about 5 years old. Normally I don't do anything to it
and it grows like a weed. Maybe it was just a dry spring or something,
but this year, unlike any other year, or any other weeping willows
nearby, has just TONS of dead branches. Each one of the prunes in this
shot had zero leaves:
http://personal.bellsouth.net/d/r/dr...0-4060_IMG.JPG . A
lot of the branches, up to 3/4 in diameter were brittle and dry (only
right up against the trunk was there any moisture). This branch is the
biggest one I cut:
http://personal.bellsouth.net/d/r/dr...0-4061_IMG.JPG and
there were a few shoots near the base, but a few feet out, it would
crack in two by bending one time. But look at this pile I cut that had
zero leaves:
http://personal.bellsouth.net/d/r/dr...0-4064_IMG.JPG .
And that was just the ones I could reach. I scraped away the mulch and
didn't see any strangulation roots, which my wife read about. I looked
at the bark and there were these little 'boogers' on there. This is
the trunk:
http://personal.bellsouth.net/d/r/dr...0-4068_IMG.JPG .
And this is on a main branch that's about 3 1/2 inches in diameter:
http://personal.bellsouth.net/d/r/dr...0-4070_IMG.JPG .

I know these are some of the most hard to kill trees around, so unless
there's a clear problem ID and solution, I'll likely not do anything,
but I am curious about it, so if anyone has any ideas, I'd like to hear
'em. Thanks.

Hi Dale,

You haven't by any chance been using a Weed & Feed product
or some other form of broadleaf control close by have you?

Trees are broadleaf's and some are more susceptible to lawn
care products than others. Weeping Willows usually have
roots really close to the surface and could have troubles
with this.

--
Leon Fisk
Grand Rapids MI/Zone 5b
Remove no.spam for email

Leon Fisk wrote:

On 15 May 2006 17:59:16 -0700,
wrote:


I just wondered if there was anything to do or check. This weeping
willow is maybe about 5 years old. Normally I don't do anything to it
and it grows like a weed. Maybe it was just a dry spring or something,
but this year, unlike any other year, or any other weeping willows
nearby, has just TONS of dead branches. Each one of the prunes in this
shot had zero leaves:
http://personal.bellsouth.net/d/r/dr...0-4060_IMG.JPG . A
lot of the branches, up to 3/4 in diameter were brittle and dry (only
right up against the trunk was there any moisture). This branch is the
biggest one I cut:
http://personal.bellsouth.net/d/r/dr...0-4061_IMG.JPG and
there were a few shoots near the base, but a few feet out, it would
crack in two by bending one time. But look at this pile I cut that had
zero leaves:
http://personal.bellsouth.net/d/r/dr...0-4064_IMG.JPG .
And that was just the ones I could reach. I scraped away the mulch and
didn't see any strangulation roots, which my wife read about. I looked
at the bark and there were these little 'boogers' on there. This is
the trunk:
http://personal.bellsouth.net/d/r/dr...0-4068_IMG.JPG .
And this is on a main branch that's about 3 1/2 inches in diameter:
http://personal.bellsouth.net/d/r/dr...0-4070_IMG.JPG .

I know these are some of the most hard to kill trees around, so unless
there's a clear problem ID and solution, I'll likely not do anything,
but I am curious about it, so if anyone has any ideas, I'd like to hear
'em. Thanks.


Hi Dale,

You haven't by any chance been using a Weed & Feed product
or some other form of broadleaf control close by have you?

Trees are broadleaf's and some are more susceptible to lawn
care products than others. Weeping Willows usually have
roots really close to the surface and could have troubles
with this.


Yep, I nearly killed my shrubs with weed&feed.

Carl


--
to reply, change ( .not) to ( .net)

Leon, Thanks. That's a good thought that never occurred to me. Thanks
for getting me thinking along the "poisoning" lines. Zocor just about
poisoned my father-in-law to death recently, you'd think the thought of
poisons would be closer at hand. Anyway, I have used Roundup around
the beds, but I've been careful not to spray any foliage and I've not
used it during windy conditions. The mulch bed around this tree gets
Roundup, but that stuff is supposed to be working above ground,
becoming ineffective upon contact with the soil. I haven't used and
kind of weed b gone near that tree. I usually put some pre-emergent on
the adjacent lawn, but I doubt that would have any effect.

All,
One thing I did notice was something sort of funky (maybe fungus) at
the base of the tree, when I scraped away the mulch:
http://personal.bellsouth.net/d/r/dr...0-4075_IMG.JPG ,
http://personal.bellsouth.net/d/r/dr...0-4077_IMG.JPG .

The little I know about trees suggests anything that affects the area
just under the bark is serious, since that's where the flow of water
and nutrients happens. And it looks like that black stuff is not what
a happy tree would have. That black stuff is on the uphill side of the
tree, covering about 1/3 of the circumference.

I'll keep the mulch away from the base of the tree from now on, but I
wonder if this is something that needs treatment, or if it will recover
on its own.

--Dale--