Weeping Willow Trees

Question

We live in rural west Georgia, Zone 7B, with high clay soils. I have 15 acres with 2 small lakes and have tried countless times to plant weeping willows on the property, near the lake shores. So far all, save one, I have planted, have died. They die suddenly. It happens during each and every season, and has happened in native soils, and also in filled and prepped soil areas. It happens to them from 2 to 3 years after planting, to as long as 15 years after planting. The 15 year old tree was approx 20 – 25 ft tall, with a 7 – 8 inch diameter base.

If they are leafed out, the leaves turn yellow first, then with a week, they lose all leaves and are gone. In the winter (leafless) time, they suddenly switch from supple, flexible branches, to dry brittle, rattling branches. I am familiar with Ambrosia beetle damage we have noticed in other trees, but this is not the same, although the results follow a similar fast-acting pattern. I have dissected a few dead trees, and no staining or tunneling patterns were evident, only white, clear, wood grain patterns.

We bought this property back in the late 1980’s and started planting landscape starting then. I may have purchased a willow in a pot from a nursery, that imported this condition, since all of the weeping willows during the first decade came from stores. Later we propagated several from cuttings.

Answer 1

This seems strange. Have you taken a sample to your local extension service? They would be able to provide you with detailed information about your soil. This link will help you to find the closest one to you: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/extension-search/