Willow Tree Limbs Dying After I Trim The Tree

Question

We occasionally trim our 3 year old Golden Willow tree 2 – 3′ off the ground so we can mow under it. When we do trim the long whispy branches, we see a large amount of the whispy branches dying afterward. We are not removing any large limbs, just the long thin ones that hang down to the ground. We do this a couple of times throughout the growing season because the tree grows very fast. It varies which limbs die, some of the ones we cut and some even higher up that we did not cut. It is so beautiful if we leave it long and hanging on the ground, but it is killing the grass under the tree and that is why we want to keep it trimmed. Is it normal to have so many dying branches? Am I doing something wrong when I trim them? Any advice would be appreciated as this is my first weeping willow tree ever.

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Answer 1

Every trimming will introduce a new infection if done at the wrong time, and with anything other than clean sterile shears.

It is likely that it is being pruned out of season, or with unsanitary implements. Make sure that you are pruning, either, in early Spring or during dormancy to avoid introducing infections.

This article will offer more information: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/willow/how-to-prune-willow-trees.htm