Why Does My Pussy Willow Look Unhealthy?

Are the leaves covered with white powder?

Do the leaves have yellow, brown, or black spots?

Are the leaves pale on their upper side and are there any dusty blisters on the undersides?

Are the leaves curled and distorted?

Are the leaves cupped and distorted?

Do the leaves have holes, twigs may be girdled, silky bags hang from the branches?

Does the trunk and the branches have holes, tree look weakened, twigs may be dropping?

Are the leaves eaten, conspicuous tawny egg masses are present?

Are the leaves pale, mottled, and dropping early?

Are the leaves discolored?

Are the leaves skeletonized?

Are the leaves covered in coarse stippling and may appear silvery?

Are the leaves covered with small bumps?

Powdery mildew is a fungal disease that usually appears in damp places. Encourage good air circulation around the affected plants. Water plants from bellow to keep foliage dry. Any affected leaves should be cut off and removed. The appropriate fungicidal spray will protect your plant from further infections.

Your plant is suffering from a fungal leaf spot disease. Remove and destroy all infected leaves. Spray plants with sulfur or copper to prevent the disease from spreading, especially if the weather is wet. Prevent problems by thinning plants to provide good air circulation.

Likely cause for these symptoms is a fungal disease - Rust. Provide good air circulation around plants. Avoid making leaves wet when watering. All infected leaves should be removed. Spray leaves with sulfur early in the season to prevent rust or to treat mild infections.

Distorted and curled leaves are caused by aphids. These tiny insects cluster under leaves and on growing tips where they feed on plant sap. You can control them by washing them off the plant with water spray. Insecticidal soap should be used with severe infestations.

Cupped and distorted leaves on pussy willows indicate psyllids. The eggs and larvae of this tiny insect overwinter on buds and infest new leaves in spring. At the first sign of damage, spray your plant with insecticidal soap, or pyrethrin for serious infestations.

Adult male bagworms are black, clear-winged moths. Wingless females and larvae (caterpillars) live in distinctive 2-inch long bags of tough silk, camouflaged with bits of vegetation that hang from willow branches like ornaments. Handpick and destroy all the bags. If you notice crawling caterpillars you may have to use insecticide as they are really hard to get rid of.

Numerous borers attack woody plants, mining the inner bark and wood of branches and trunk. Prune off borer-infested branches. If you see borer holes in your trees, probe into them with a flexible wire or inject a solution of parasitic nematodes. After treatment, seal holes with putty.

Gypsy moth caterpillars sometimes mass on the foliage and devour it, defoliating the tree. Mature caterpillars have 5 pairs of blue spots and 6 pairs of red spots along the back. In light infestations destroy eggs or pick caterpillars by hand, in more severe cases spray plants with BTK or pyrethrin as the last resort.

Willow lace bugs are small square-shaped bugs, 3/16 inch long or less, with elaborately reticulated wings that resemble lacework. They cause leaves to turn yellow, then brown, and eventually die. Treat plants with a commercial pyrethrin spray or dust if the damage is severe.

Discolored willow leaves are caused by thrips. Severely infested plant parts should be pruned off and destroyed. Control thrips by introducing lady beetles or lacewings. Insecticidal soap helps in severe infestations.

Sawflies are known pests on pussy willow trees. The larvae are the most destructive stage. Control larvae as soon as you spot them by handpicking or spraying leaves with insecticidal soap. Use pyrethrin for severe infestations.

These symptoms indicate thrips. Severely infected plant parts should be removed and destroyed. Control thrips by introducing lady beetles or lacewings, their natural predators. Insecticidal soap helps in severe infestations.

Leaves covered by small bumps are caused by scales. These tiny, shelled insects often feed on the undersides of the leaves. Scrape off minor infestations with your fingernail. Prune out badly infested growth, or use a soft brush and soapy water to gently scrub the scales off the stems. Control scales by spraying insecticidal oil during the growing season.

Willows have weak, brittle wood. They often split or break in storms, especially under the weight of ice or wet snow. Erect windbreaks to shelter your plant from the wind.