Weeping Willow tree (about 7 yrs old) is not as full as it normally gets. The main trunk and one of the main branches has nodules on the bark. The nodules are about 3/4 inch in diameter and look like a flower bud growing out of the branch, red and yellow in color. Several of the smaller branches off that main branch are dying, leaves turning yellow and falling off. I thought it could be new branches growing , but it appears to be killing the tree. Does anyone know if this is a fungus or pest? What can I do to save this tree, it's the centerpiece to my front yard! I've looked all over the web and can't find answers. Any help would be most appreciative! Thanks!

Reply to post by Scot, on May 25, 2001 at 09:08:50:

First suggestion is to find a qualified local arborist to check out the tree and make a diagnosis of the problem. The nodules you are seeing may have nothing to do with the problem. . . or they may be the culprit.

The International Society of Arboriculture maintains a current list of ISA Certified Arborists. The searchable list can be accessed at the ISA Web site, at:
http://www.isa-arbor.com

Reply to post by Scot, on May 25, 2001 at 09:08:50:

The symptoms of decline suggest a disease that is disrupting the food transport system within the tree. I would suspect one or more pathogenic organisms are already killing the tissues in roots and/or root crown, and possibly higher in the branches.
Salix babylonica is host to many fungus diseases that produce cankers. Crown Gall may have attacked the base. It is possible that the "nodules" you see are the fruiting structures of fungus. Depending upon the advancement of dead tissue, they may be saprophytic (living off of already killed tissue).
It sounds bad. You may have to remove the tree and be sure not to replace it with the same kind, due to the persistence of disease. Trees are often injured and infected during planting or in other ways. You would do well to make sure you understand how to protect any future tree from things like over-watering, mower and line trimmer injury, too deep mulch against the trunk, root injury/soil compaction, etc.
Some trees are very problematic in certain locations, and they must be sprayed and looked after all the time to keep down blight, etc. It is better, IMO, to find a well-suited tree for the site, that doesn't need heroic measures to keep alive.
Have you asked your local tree nursery for advice? Did you get the tree yourself locally?

Reply to post by Mark Goodwin, on May 25, 2001 at 09:08:50:

Any info on what diasease Salix babylonica is prone to? It would be practical to treat bonsai specimens, and this willow makes nice ones. But it is hard to keep them healthy.
S.b. "Rokkakudo" is one of the earliest named clones of plants know to horticulture, brought from Korea to Japan at the same time procelain technolgy was imported.

Reply to post by terry davis, on May 28, 2001 at 12:33:55:

Hi,

I have a Rokkakudo willow. I've had it for about 4 yrs. Granted 3 of those it lived as a bonsai, it's still 12" tall and it's spreading out on the ground over 3 ft in diameter. I realize that this previous bonsai is likely stunted, but what is this cultivar's normal mature height? I have taken a cutting and it is doing the same low weeping and not going up at all. I ended up taking it out of it's pot because I nearly lost the tree about 3 times. I promised myself that if it came back again I would let it live a normal life.
We have a large (40'+) regular willow of some kind that was damaged by an ice storm this winter. I took an interestingly curved limb that fell, it's about 4" in diameter, got it to root and it is now being trained as a bonsai. It sprouted and I was unhappy with the large leaf size. As an experiment I grafted on a new leader of Rokkakudo. It seems to have taken, as the scion now has new growth. I really want to keep the main plant of Rokkakudo going so I can continue to use off of it, but I don't really know how much room to give it. Thanks for any help.
Bye for now.


Indy