Can this willow be saved? I may be cutting it down today or tomorrow.

[Hoosier]

These roots are horrible. I think the tree was planted too deep and now it's paying the price. The roots are crawling back up behind the bark pushing it off and now it looks like half of the trunk is dry exposed wood.

I cut through the roots that were pushing the bark off, but I think it may be a bit late and the tree is doomed. I need to cut this thing down ASAP if its indeed beyond hope.

Thanks
Alex

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c143/vtwindepot/land/IMAG2768.jpg

 

[MasterBlaster]

Willows are pretty tough, but I'd go ahead and put that one to sleep. However, if there's no significant dieback in the crown, and no targets to be damaged, and you really like the tree... leave it be, give it another season.

 

[old_soul]

if you wanted to save the tree why did you cut the roots first thing?

those were the only source of water/nutrients on that side, as the wood behind is clearly dead.

I doubt that roots "crawled up under the bark" but likely grew downward towards the soil.

Could be a girdling root under there? maybe sunscald. What does canopy look like

 

[Hoosier]

Thanks for the info guys.
The canopy is thin and dropping leaves more and more. I cut those roots because it looked horrible and it was clearly the reason the bark was falling off and gone. If the tree could have survived by leaving that mess I would have still cut them.

I doubt the bark can even come back on the other side. It's a front yard ornamental, that's no longer an ornament. From what I have been reading this afternoon it's got little hope of looking good again, so I guess its going to go in the truck now. I know these things are part weed, if it were down by a pond I would leave it but this one is getting kinda ugly.

 

[treeseer]

if you wanted to save the tree why did you cut the roots first thing? those were the only source of water/nutrients on that side, as the wood behind is clearly dead
I doubt that roots "crawled up under the bark" but likely grew downward towards the soil.

Totally true--the bark fell off cuz it was long dead. the roots were adventitious, growing downward from stem cells in scar (callus) tissue.

I'm sure you'll find a prettier tree for your front yard!

 

[old_soul]

Totally true--the bark fell off cuz it was long dead. the roots were adventitious, growing downward from stem cells in scar (callus) tissue.



Is that something common to other species or just willow. Have never noticed other trees doing this..........

 

[treeseer]

Seen in live oak, red maple...rarely seen but that does not mean rare. Common on Ficus. And they can be forced to form and emerge on old trees.

 

[BC WetCoast]

When I first looked at them, they sure looked like ivy stems, growing up under the dead bark. I've seen adventitious roots, often on willow, but never growing from the air, down to the soil. Usually there needs to be soil around the 'bud site' to initiate the root growth. Learn something new everyday.

 

[treeseer]

Usually there needs to be soil around the 'bud site' to initiate the root growth. Learn something new everyday.

Yes we can!

No soil needed; just the hormonal trigger, and shade.

 

[treeseer]

Usually there needs to be soil around the 'bud site' to initiate the root growth. Learn something new everyday.

Yes we can!

No soil needed; just the hormonal trigger, and shade.