I planted a weeping willow in December 2004 and has now doubled in height to approx 12 feet, but have found that the main trunk branch is bending to the right. I am afraid that there is not much that you can do at the present time to rectify the problem but hopefully new shoots will appear over the summer period.įirst of all what an excellent website and clarity in answers - keep up the great work! I would, especially if it is growing in a container, give your tree a boost with a general liquid fertiliser which will encourage new growth. Quite often Ian with Salix Integra you do get die back of the shoots during the winter period and any dead shoots need to be pruned back to new growth. Is this just the time of year or do I have a problem? Please help as I think this is a really informative site and thank you for sharing your knowledge. It looked really healthy and blooming however so far this year there is very little growth and the branches appear quite brown with few shoots or leaves. I was given a Willow tree, Salix Integra, in September last year which I repotted and placed in my garden. I am afraid that if there are no new leaves it could easily be that the new shoots have died but it is well worthwhile, with a pair of secateurs, to cut just one or two of the stems and if the stems are still green and not brown there is a chance that new leaves will appear. I feel Natalie that the sparrows will have been pecking the bark of your Twisted Willow for aphids and that the damage to the new shoots and leaves has been probably caused by the sealing grafts which have worked loose from the main trunk. Is there anything I can do to save it? Bill replies. It has no new leaves developing on the branches but some odd looking green shoots growing out of the trunk.

Last year however the bark was stripped and pecked by some of the many sparrows that live in my garden. I have a small twisted willow in a pot which has been very happy for the past 3 years. So, whatever the problem, we like to think Bill can sort it out…… at least that's the theory! Now, he's a regular course tutor at Alston Hall, Longridge and Lancaster Adult College.įor three decades, Bill has travelled the county with fellow judges as a regional judge for North West in Bloom. After training at the under the then Ministry of Agriculture, Bill spent over twenty years at the Department of Biological and Environmental Services at Lancaster University.

He has been answering BBC Radio Lancashire listeners' queries for over thirty years, which means he's been there nearly as long as the transmitter!

If it's green and needs watering, Bill can tell you about it. Warton's Bill Blackledge is one of the county's most popular and sought after gardeners.

Weeping Willow by Ruth White