Dying Dappled Willow: Don't Prune in Summer!

[@linebourdeau4995]

Good morning Laura, don't give up yet on your willow. Willows are not that easy to kill. Even the one that died last year still has a little branch growing. Thankfully, fall is here and the willow might recuperate. If you look at the bottom of the tree there are some little leaves sprouting. Keep us posted throughout the fall season. Good luck. Am hoping it will survive.

[@GardenSanity]

Thank you so much for your encouragement. 🙂 I need to get back to seeing the “glass half full” or perhaps “shrub half alive” mentality, and hope those little leaves continue to win out! I’ll definitely keep you all updated. Thanks again. ❤️

[@jessicakosak4138]

I was so sorry to read this title! I have looked at your row of dappled willows so often as they are my inspiration! I planted 9 along the back edge of our yard last summer and this year they took off and look awesome! So the original lives on as an inspiration! 😍

[@GardenSanity]

Thanks Jessica -- I truly do appreciate it! ❤ I love that you have 9 of them and that they are thriving this year! Wow! That made me smile and makes my heart happy indeed! 🥰🌿

[@karenroy357]

I love dappled willows. Just planted 2 small ones last year. I hope they grow as well as yours Such a pretty shrub Thanks for the pruning tip

[@GardenSanity]

You're welcome Karen! I have no doubts that your (currently small) Dappled Willows will grow into wonderfully larger, beautiful shrubs! Keep me posted!

[@Change4Good333]

I am so sorry about your dappled willow!😥 Mostly because it was the original one. I have killed a few plants myself every year, being a beginner gardener and one feels awful after so much dedication, love and work. Still learning from my mistakes. You are an awesome gardener! You'll get over this disappointment soon and your creativity will take over, again!💗🌷💗

[@GardenSanity]

Thanks so much. 🙂 I think that’s why I’m so upset about this, because it’s the original shrub. But like you described, this is part of being a gardener. We’re always learning, trying, succeeding, failing and trying again. Hope you’re right about my creativity, as this hit me hard. ❤️

[@naturalroots]

truly heartbreaking. we all must learn from our mistakes.

[@GardenSanity]

Thanks Lisa. Yes, this mistake was a doozy!

[@sammysworld5485]

Sorry to hear the sad news. I learned very quickly as a gardener that nothing is set in stone. I’ve killed my share of plants too. If it’s any consolation now the shrub next to it have more room to grow.

[@GardenSanity]

Thank you Sammy! ❤️ Love your “glass half full” approach of the other shrubs having more room to spread out! 👍 That’s a “shrub half full” mindset! 🙂 And yes, our gardens are always evolving, adapting and changing, which is why we love to garden. 🌸🐝🌿

[@juanisgarden5356]

That's so sad! I had no idea pruning in the summer could cause so much damage! Good information! Thank you!

[@GardenSanity]

Yes indeed Juani, it’s amazing what happens to moisture-loving shrubs and perennials when they are heat-stressed (from heat waves) and then pruned, which adds more stress to the plant. And by exposing the ground, I enabled the sun to dry the ground more and …. Oh I’m kicking myself, can you tell? 🤣🫤

[@deutschemama911]

I am so so sorry Laura!!! I have been following you for a while now. I also have a dappled willow shrub. It was looking really wild and wispy so I cut back the crazy looking branches. But only a little bit. I did that just a week ago.

[@GardenSanity]

Thank you! ❤️ Yes, it’s fine to cut back the crazy looking branches - I do that too. But I stupidly didn’t stop there and just kept hacking it. 🙄 The heat made me do a stupid thing! 🙃🙂 Well, gardening is definitely about growth and change, so I will plant one of my Dappled Willow seedlings in that spot if the shrub dies off. 🌱 💚

[@SunnyCLT]

One of my dappled willows died suddenly in May 2022. Fast forward March 2023, another one died within a day or 2. It was 5 ft tall. I pruned it lightly in Feb, a long with 4 other DWs. I don't think it was the pruning that killed mine. They are in nice moist well draining soil. No signs of insect damage. I hope it's not some new disease spreading. 🤞

[@GardenSanity]

Hmmm.... When you pruned it in February, did you see green (i.e. it was alive) inside the stems when you cut them? I'm really sorry to hear this, and assume yours were older shrubs, being that one was 5 feet tall. I hope it isn't a new disease either -- I've thought about that, and then I don't want to think about that...because it will be awful if that's the case. In my particular situation, I had exposed the roots to hot sun, and this completely stressed the plant and it died. No more Summer pruning for me at all. But you pruned yours at the proper time. 🤔I planted two Dappled Willow seedlings that I grew from my shrubs in place of the ones that died. They are growing nicely so far. Can you try growing some cuttings to replace the ones that died? I know it isn't a great solution to replace a wonderful 5 foot shrub. 😐 Thanks for sharing Ravi, and I wish I had an answer for you.

[@willaerley7140]

Sorry, Laura! You’re exactly right, though. DW likes it head in the sun and feet in the shade. I hack on mine all the time, but it’s 8 feet tall and wide and just keeps growing. I struck out with DW cuttings. 3 of 5 grew roots in water. All 3 died when I put them in potting soil.

[@GardenSanity]

Thanks Will. I’m kicking myself for assuming one cooler day was OK for pruning. 🙄 I’m sorry your cuttings died once potted up. 🫤 At least you can easily try again if you want. Maybe try potting some stems directly? 🪴

[@9372463]

I have 4 willows planted last year but two of them are not blooming now. What do I do now???? I did not prune in the summer.

[@GardenSanity]

Hi Sharon, Where are you located? Are there leaves on the shrubs, but they just haven't turned pink yet? I'd like to help but would need more information.

[@lanabisson2675]

Maybe try to put some potted plants around the roots or maybe plant some ground cover like bugleweed around the roots. you can pull it up later if you want.

[@GardenSanity]

Thanks for these suggestions Lana. ❤️ I love Bugleweed - I have Ajuga Chocolate Chip in my front yard garden to keep rabbits away from my Fothergilla shrubs. 👍 i think at this point, since the temps aren’t as hot as they were, the roots don’t need to be covered now. The stress and damage was already done. Now it’s up to me to talk nicely to the shrub and remind it of all we’ve been through together. 😃🤞🙏

[@SnappyR]

So sorry Laura - we all make these mistakes in our gardens. Don't give up - if there is new growth, let it grow out all summer and let the shrub be until Spring - then you'll know what is truly left once it starts to leaf out - maybe it's in shock? Could it be the pruning but also the rocks as mulch? I love the look but certain gardeners have said they attract and hold heat. I don't really know. I want to use rocks in my wet areas but I'm just not sure how it all works. Hang in there - these willows are spectacular, especially with how many you've propagated!! If you have any advice on using these types of rocks (I think they are river rocks?), let us know.

[@GardenSanity]

Thanks so much Snappy! ❤️ I won’t give up, and you’re right I will leave it alone and see what comes back next Spring. 🌱 The river rocks are great for keeping moisture in the soil while reflecting the sun, since they’re basically white in color, so the soil underneath remains cool. If someone uses landscape fabric under rocks, then indeed there can be all sorts of issues. I’m not a fan of landscape fabric under rocks. I should do a video on this. 💡 In a very wet area, river rocks are great to use as they keep weeds down and the surface dry, unlike mulch which can stay wet and cause fungus to grow in such damp and wet soil conditions. It’s also an area where I don’t plan on digging to add new plants - which would be another reason not to use river rock. It’s a pain to dig up and then replace the rock. (Been there, done that!) 🙃🙂

[@SnappyR]

@@GardenSanity Oh I see - maybe I should consider this then - I've never used mulch in this wet area for that very reason - only in my beds that get full sun as the soil dries out quickly so maybe in these wet areas the river rocks may be a consideration!

[@GardenSanity]

I think it will be fine. Just use light-colored river rock. Using dark rock or black stones will indeed trap heat. And no landscape fabric. 👍🙂

[@SnappyR]

@@GardenSanity The wet area is the wettest area in the yard but also the hottest area with hot afternoon sun beating down - it's hard to find plants to fit this area but I have a red twig dogwood, a peony that seems fine so far, a hibiscus and a sage leaf willow - we will see how they do!

[@GardenSanity]

@@SnappyR That's a nice variety of plants, and fingers crossed they all do well. 🤞🙂

[@amandarose90]

So sorry Laura, losing a plant is tough. I am new to the Dappled Willows and am currently having a difficult time with 3 I just purchased that are turning brown :( struggling to to determine what is happening. It gets ample sun and water yet my pink leaves quickly turned brown :(

[@GardenSanity]

Hi Amanda, Now it's my turn to say the same to you, as I'm sorry to read about your own Dappled Willow shrubs. Please let me know an update, as I realize it's been a month already. Often times there is transplant shock with new shrubs and perhaps that is what happened. They need a LOT of water in the beginning. Brown means they need more water, while yellow leaves can mean too much water. We've all been dealing with heat waves that have been awful, and these leaves can get brown on the edges and then just die off in scorching heat. How are they looking now? Any better?

[@chrismarchetti-olson6632]

Oh noooo!! I’m so sorry but don’t lose hope!! It’s almost fall and it may grow back in the spring. 😞

[@GardenSanity]

Thanks Chris. 🙂 We shall see, but I guess I’m preparing myself mentally if it doesn’t come back. (Yet still keeping some hope too!)

[@chrismarchetti-olson6632]

@@GardenSanity I’m going to say a little plant prayer. It’s crazy the way we get attached to our plants but we do!!! Trees are already changing colors here! Isn’t that crazy? I’m starting to transition everything for fall.

[@GardenSanity]

Thanks for the plant prayer Chris! Yes, it’s definitely for sentimental reasons I don’t want to lose this particular shrub. (The one I lost last year was OK and part of life.) I envy your colors starting to change. Here I noticed just my Little Henry Sweetspires starting to change and my Prairifire Crabapple Tree so far. 💚🌾🍂🍃

[@lighthope3519]

which fertilizer you are using on your dapple willow?

[@GardenSanity]

I use Plant-tone by Espoma -- a slow-release organic fertilizer, just once every Spring. I talk about fertilizers for Dappled Willow in my Pruning Dappled Willow video -- you can find the specific section in that video's description box beneath the video. I hope this helps!

[@jddd665]

so, if I understood well, you pruned it and didn't water it and it died because it wasn't watered? In other words, if you watered it, it would've survived?

[@GardenSanity]

Hi Joseph, I’m guessing you didn’t watch the entire video, otherwise you wouldn’t have asked this. 🙂 There’s a soaker hose visible early on in the video, and then I discuss the soaker hose as well as how the watering needs have changed over the many years since these were planted in 2010. In every video in my Dappled Willow playlist, the emphasis on how much water Dappled Willow needs is discussed. 💦 As for the mistake in mid-Summer pruning, this is also explained in the video about exposing the roots which is never good for Dappled Willow, which need their lower branches going into the ground (and roots) to remain shaded from the hot sun. And all of this was in the video! 👍😀🌱

[@jddd665]

@@GardenSanity I watched it twice :D. Planted 2 willows myself yesterday. They are grafted on a "stick" so roots always exposed. Drying out is not a problem in Ireland :D. The reason I commented is because others on YT filmed prunning in August. The folks in the garden center here told me to prune in late autumn only (Ireland). Go figure...

[@GardenSanity]

My apologies for completely misunderstanding your question. 🙂 My plants aren’t grafted like yours, but you also still have roots under the soil. And your soil never drying out in Ireland is what mine “was” like… so I envy your soil. I don’t have that anymore. (I can’t tell you how frustrating it is to need a soaker hose now.) Even though our growing seasons and climates aren’t identical, I still suggest pruning in early Spring versus August. One of the things I love about Dappled Willow is how it looks during the Winter with it’s red-color twigs. They aren’t as red as Red Twig Dogwood, but still nice. But pruning in August for you won’t negatively impact the plant, instead it will just give it a very groomed appearance for the Winter. Hope this helps! 😀

[@jddd665]

@@GardenSanity Ordered few of those also. My Sango Kaku acer is still very small and in a pot and I got impatient, so I ordered dogwood to have something red. 5 bare root, 1m long pieces coming on 18th

[@GardenSanity]

@@jddd665 Hi Joseph -- Just following up to see how all of these planted are doing for you.

[@carinaoliveira5850]

This is so sad to see :( I'm wondering if it had anything to do with the plants being so close together, or the magnolia's roots getting in the way? I'm a culprit of planting too close together (way worse than what you had mentioned), but that's cause I have a lot of young shrubs that I'd like to see grow into each other. But I followed your advice on planting these in spots where they have room to fill out. So when I bought a standard dappled willow, I made sure it's a spot where it can spread wide and tall. (My neighbour may or may not like the new growth however if it grows over our fence line LOL!!)

[@d.wilbur5164]

Laura, I'm so sorry that your willow might be dying. Give it time though. Also, I'm sure you've checked this but could that one not be getting enough water since it's further down the soaker hose? Glad you have more cuttings just in case!

[@GardenSanity]

Thank you. ❤️ Yes, it definitely gets enough water, but I appreciate your suggestion to check! I’ll continue to watch it and hope for the best. At least if I put a cutting in its place, it will be an offspring… so still related. (Looking for the bright side!) 🙂

[@kenbeverly4394]

Unfortunately my Willow’s look exactly like your one on the left. If I cut them back to the ground in late November ( I live in New Jersey) will they come back next year or am I wasting my time?

[@GardenSanity]

Honestly Ken, I'm not sure. Last year I had a Dappled Willow like this as well -- there's a video about it called "Dappled Willow in Fall: 8 Months After Coppicing" kzbin.info/www/bejne/b2nQdYurmcSogZY where you can see it. I decided -- as you'll see in that video -- to prune the dead stuff back. It didn't seem to matter as come Spring, there wasn't much left of the shrub except for a few stems. Those also died. 😐 So now I'm faced with this one, and I think I'm going to just leave it and see what happens. The stems that are already dark brown are dead and dying. My solution is in a recent video was to plant some Dappled Willow cuttings. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qJKkp4Gdh7aNpq8 (video link) 🌿 This way, since the shrub is most likely going to die off, I'll have a new one starting in its place...or at least next to it. Do you have any Dappled Willow that you could take some cuttings from? 🪴

[@kenbeverly4394]

Ty and yes I already took some cuttings that are doing very well in some pots. I would assume that I shouldn’t put them in the ground now with winter approaching? I was planning on just keeping them potted til springtime. Maybe I’ll put some in now and save some others and see what happens lol. Love these willows. Thanks again Ken

[@GardenSanity]

@@kenbeverly4394 Hi Ken, our weather here in NJ has been so whacky -- hot for a few days, then super-cold at night, then back to warm -- that I'm not sure (without knowing your exact landscape) what to advise. Some landscapes have warmer spots versus colder that get a lot of wind, so in some places your cuttings will do great and others not sure. But like you said, you can always see what happens. It doesn't hurt to wait until Spring!

[@loricawley54]

I’m so sorry, Laura, as I know it’s so heartbreaking to lose a big established shrub! Years ago, we had six large established boxwoods in our front flower beds that my mother-in-law planted. We live in my hubby’s childhood home now that his parents have passed away. The boxwoods got some kind of disease that I’m still not sure what it was, and back then I could kill a cactus unfortunately lol. They all ended up dying, and we had to pull them out of the ground. I cried bc I felt so bad that I’d killed the plants my MIL had planted. Do u think it might be possible to save it if u got some shade cloth and kinda swaddled the roots with it? Idk if that’s a viable solution, but thought I’d mention it. Sending big hugs and praying ur able to save it! 🥰🙏🏻

[@GardenSanity]

Thanks Lori. ❤️ You can definitely relate having lost those cherished boxwoods. 💔 They are dependable shrubs and we get used to seeing them every day, and we don’t obsess over them because we know they are good. And then that day we notice something is wrong… oh that’s a tough one. 🫤 I don’t think covering the Dappled Willow will help, but I appreciate the suggestion - and thanks for sharing your story. 🙂

[@ashleybryant4153]

Hi miss Laura. I was curious if with any dappled Willow if you can prune it into tree form? I didn’t know if you could leave one main in the middle and then trim is as needed to form that shape or if they are two separate plants? If you are able to trim into tree form, can you do a video on it? I have the bush, but I am in love with the tree as well. and want to have both.

[@GrizzlyGroundswell]

I bet if you coppice your original bush hard back say this December/Jan I bet it will come back strong. When you first showed it I thought you have vole or mole issues with something getting at its roots. It would be interesting to see if your getting drip line water seeking roots from the neighbors challenging your plants. So many options and yet they just battle on like the rest of us.

[@GardenSanity]

Thanks for these suggestions Bonnie! As so many thin stems grew out of the major stump that was left from coppicing the shrub(s) back in 2021, I’m unsure what might grow back but I’ll try it. And yes, maybe it’s becoming “survival of the fittest” where watering is concerned! 🤣

[@GrizzlyGroundswell]

@@GardenSanity It is fascinating isn't it? I have similar challenges here. I put a garden on a down slope and even have a grey water seep into that garden area. But the willow I planted as wind breaks, mulberry, hazel and two large maple trees that surround that garden suck it dry during the heat of Summer. Even when it use to be soppy wet, but now its moist at best. The whole area has changed. I just water now where I did not have too, but I am also left wondering if by watering am I training those roots to grow to my garden? Its fascinating wrestling with these dynamics.

[@GardenSanity]

Now I have a better understanding of what you mean by encouraging those “other” plants to come and steal the water. You’re right, it IS a delicate balance, but of course the alternative is not watering at all…obviously not a choice. 🙃🙂 What’s funny is this area was so wet and swampy, that I never imagined we would ever need to water it. When the Dappled Willow was a huge living wall, we never watered it! But… never say never, right? 🤣

[@GrizzlyGroundswell]

@@GardenSanity Yes, same thing happening here. Wouldn't it be great to be able to see under the sod and figure out those battle fields? It is interesting.

[@GardenSanity]

Yes it would definitely be interesting to see underneath! Totally agree! I want to see root battles between the different shrubs and trees! 😅🌿🌳

[@SnappyR]

Another question as you are my go-to dappled willow expert - I have two and they are growing all willy nilly - the structure is gorgeous. This is the second winter in the ground - but they are in a great place where they are. For some reason they have held onto their leaves this winter. They are all brown and crispy, but they are holding on. Is this a common thing? Do you know why some shrubs hold onto their leaves even though they are dormant and their leaves are dead? Thanks Laura!

[@GardenSanity]

Sometimes the leaves don't fall off shrubs for a variety of reasons from one Winter to the next. It could be less windy, less storms, more mild temperatures compared to what's normal, or Mother Nature just decided to have it that way for a year. 😀 My Knockout Roses are like that this year -- they have all of their leaves still on the plant, when normally most of them would have fallen off by now. For us, I know we've had a warmer Winter than the past two Winters. I wouldn't worry about the Dappled Willow. Those leaves will fall off eventually! I realize you'd rather enjoy the reddish-tinted twigs and stems instead. Do they come off easily if you brush your fingers against them? If so, you could always take a leaf blower and blow the shrub to get more of them to come off. Sounds crazy, but just an idea! 😀

[@bhadz100]

Did it survive?

[@GardenSanity]

I'll keep you in suspense: watch my Early June Garden Tour: What's Blooming video from last month. You'll see and hear the outcome -- which has a surprisingly nice result! Hope you enjoy it! 🙂

[@Garden-Oasis]

Considering one died on its own without you doing anything to it, I’d suspect something is going on with the roots. I’d dig the dead one up and check for disease. I have several dappled willows and the only time one died on me was having to do with the roots not being able to send up water. One time a vole had eaten around the base of my dappled willow tree so it was unable to send up water and nutrients and another time it was crown gall that it had from the nursery. I only found these things when I dug up the dead willows. I’d check. Willows are hard to kill. There’s no reason yours should have died. And the fact that the one you cut is dying from one side is also suspicious. There is no reason it should be dying. I cut my willows back during the heat wave and nothing happened to them.

[@GardenSanity]

Thanks for your suggestions! 🙂 A few gardeners have also suggested it could be voles, and something I’ve never considered before as we’ve never had them before. But I do think it could possibly be a disease. We lost two of our Magnolia Jane trees two years ago, and our arborist could not find any reason as to what happened. The roots looked fine when dug up and removed. The remaining Magnolia tree is doing fine. I’ve been successfully growing and propagating Dappled Willows for such a long time…that’s why this hit me hard! 🫤🌿

[@helen1962]

Sometimes we screw up and lose. Sorry!

[@GardenSanity]

Life lessons indeed. 🙂 Thanks Helen! ❤️

[@carmelaaustin3594]

Maybe you didn't kill it, Maybe it had a disease like the other one

[@GardenSanity]

Thanks Carmela. 🙂 I just don’t think that’s it, only because the shrub looked gorgeous before I pruned it. But perhaps my pruning happened at the same time as a disease… But then if that’s the case, I’ll begin fretting at what is killing my Dappled Willow. Fun times while I obsess about it! 🙃🙂