What Is Wrong With My Dappled Willow?

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 and flowers covered with gray mold?

Do the roots, trunk, or branches have swollen, tumor-like growths on them?

Does the trunk or the branches sunken areas of dead tissue?

Are the leaves curled and distorted?

Are the leaves pale, mottled, and dropping early?

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 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 below 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.

Likely cause for these symptoms is a fungal disease - Botrytis blight. Other symptoms include brown to black spots that may appear on leaves and petals. You can only prevent Botrytis blight disease by planting sweet alyssums in areas with good air circulation. Water plants sparsely. Infected plants should be removed. Spray weekly with a copper fungicide until the disease is under control.

Bacterial disease Crown gall causes wartlike swellings. Gall bacteria are introduced into trees that are vulnerable due to wounds. If the plant is only slightly infected, prune off diseased growth. Cut down and destroy any severely affected trees.

Sunken areas of dead tissue on dappled willows are caused by cankers. Cankers can be caused by several different kinds of fungi. Mildly affected plants will recover if you remove and destroy all affected branches. Heavily affected plants can't be cured and you should remove the whole plant. Avoid damaging your plant with lawnmowers, trimmers, or pruning tools because the wounds are the best place for cankers to start.

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.

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.

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. The tree may die after repeated defoliation. 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.

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.