I have a weeping pussy willow that was lovely when I received it as a gift. I planted it in the ground and over the past few months the leaves have been dying off, but there are immature catskins along every branch. Is this normal? I transferred the plant from the ground to a large pot. The roots look great, so I am baffled by the leaf loss. My area of 'expertise' is in tropical plants, so I could really use some help here.
Here is a link that should provide some support.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/pussy-willow/weeping-pussy-willow-care.htm
Can I prune my pussy willow in the summer?
You can. It may reduce its blooming for next year, but will not harm the plant and the blooming will recover for the year after that.
This spring I planted a dwarf pussy willow tree and it has a break in the bark. Should I cut it back before the break so it grows straight? This would be about a foot from the ground.
This would be ok. We would recommend that you wait until early fall to do this.
I trimmed what looks to be a dwarf pussy willow in my yard last year. This year it came back with the pussy willows on the top branches in the spring but the under branches are all brown and dead. Should I remove these branches closer to the trunk? It is also leaning, as it is on a slope, so I have it staked with two pieces of wood and a bungee cord. I used the large shears to trim just the ends of the willow to allow air flow under it. Is this ok? I sort of made it look like an umbrella.
Yes, I would remove the dead branches. For more info on pruning these trees, this article will help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/pussy-willow/how-prune-pussy-willows.htm
Here it is the end of August and my Dad cut my pussy willow down to only about six inches off the ground! What can I expect now?
It will most likely come back, but you will probably not have catkins next year. We would recommend mulching it for the winter, just in case and to help protect the tender new growth that will happen due to the late pruning.
Can I dig up my pussy willow in the fall to transplant to a new location? Should I prune it first? It is in part shade and obviously wants full sun. When is the best time to do this?
Yes, you can do this in fall or spring, whichever you prefer depending on your climate. You will want to dig up as much of the rootball as possible, and when you move it to the new location, cut back the plant by about 1/3. Make sure to give it plenty of water and a phosphorus rich fertilizer after transplanting. This article should help reduce transplant shock: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/environmental/learn-how-to-avoid-and-repair-transplant-shock-in-plants.htm
Whendo you prune mature pussy willow bush? I am located in west central Ohio.
This article should help with that: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/pussy-willow/how-prune-pussy-willows.htm