Any plant people here? Need help/info with dieing tree

[Linflas]

We have a weeping willow tree I gave to my wife as a birthday present that appears to be dieing in our backyard. The leaves did not come back as thick and vigorous this spring as they have previously and some have been dropping off as summer progresses. This tree was healthy and very full up until summer 2006 when we first noticed that it appeared to not be as full as previous years.

When hurricane Isabelle came through in September 2003 this tree was blown over but it didn't break but appeared to have just ripped some of the roots out of the ground. We stood it back up and staked it really well and it seemed to come back just like normal during summer 2004 and summer 2005. Is it possible that this somehow took this long to really affect the tree and is there something I can do to restore it back or is it done for?

Update:
Tree now
Tree summer 2004

 

[SoulAssassin]

How much rain have you been getting there? Can you post pics of the tree as a whole and some close-ups of the leaves?


disclaimer: I spend alot of time landscaping my yard but I kill half the stuff I plant.

 

[Linflas]

Originally posted by: SoulAssassin
How much rain have you been getting there? Can you post pics of the tree as a whole and some close-ups of the leaves?


disclaimer: I spend alot of time landscaping my yard but I kill half the stuff I plant.

It's been on the dry side so far but not really out of the ordinary compared to some years past since this tree was planted. I will stick some pics up when I get home from work, I may even have some when it was much healthier looking at home as well.

 

[SoulAssassin]

I would try to give it some more water, best time is early in the morning when the sun is just coming up but in the evening as the sun is setting is usually alright. Some 10-10-10 fertilizer on the soil from around the base out to the dripline probably wouldn't hurt. Check for bugs and such too.

Found this: http://www.ext.nodak.edu/extne...iscope/tree/willow.htm

 

[leftyman]

root damage can kill a tree..article

 

[JulesMaximus]

Yes, I'm part ficus on my Dad's side. How can I be of service?

 

[NuclearNed]

You seek Eli. Tree master he is. A PM you must send.

 

[RiverDog]

I'd put a good mulch like grass clippings around it to hold in the water as well.

 

[Linflas]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Yes, I'm part ficus on my Dad's side. How can I be of service?

Any Triffid in your family? :beer:

 

[Quasmo]

dye it orange

 

[Linflas]

Added requested pics to OP.

 

[bctbct]

Flood it, willows love lots of water.

 

[Eli]

It's amazingly hard to kill a willow tree.

First thing, do not give it any fertilizer. Never give a sick plant fertilizer unless you know exactly what you are doing.

Hmm. Based on the pics, I'd say that its too dry. As someone mentioned, willows love water. Perhaps its root system hadn't re-developed enough to support the tree through any dry spells.

 

[FoBoT]

update on the tree?

 

[Linflas]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
update on the tree?

About the same. We are watering it for about an hour each night and I am going to snip off a branch and try to root it in case the tree completely dies. Other than that I am at a loss for anything else to do.

 

[FoBoT]

is it still dying? any hope?
:camera:'s?

 

[Linflas]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
is it still dying? any hope?
:camera:'s?

No pics for now, my Coolpix 5700 is at Nikon getting repaired . It seems to be holding its own, I am going to cut away all the dead branches once the leaves drop. I'll be curious to see if it comes back in the spring. It is hard to describe but quite a few new branches have come out low on the main trunk and the lower inner branches still appear to be healthy. All the green that was up high in the Tree now pic I linked in the OP is gone but all the low green is still there plus new branches from the trunk between the ground up to the established branches.

 

[FoBoT]

maybe the extra water is helping