Question From: M. Voelker - Luxemburg, Wisconsin, United States
Q: My Weeping pussywiilow tree has done thus twice this summer...the exterior leaves just seem to turn dry,brown and crispy overnight. Earlier this summer it was gorgeous and it started happening 1 day and after a week the entire top branch leaves were dead but the bark seemed fine. I watered the heck out of it and babied it as there was new growth continuing. It all came back and began to get beautiful and full again. Then mast week it happened again and now almost the entire tree has been affected. The bark seems fine,there's new growth and the underside stayed pretty good for a while but now it's not. What could be the problem? This is my second summer with it,last year it was fine. It's in south side with full sun. Nothing else in my perennial garden seems to have any problems so I'm sure my soil is fine.
A: The extended heat wave may have done it. When the temperatures climb too high trees trees cannot take up water fast enough and will drop leaves to save moisture. The only other thing may be collateral damage from pesticide spray. Those are my best guesses. Keep the tree watered and it should survive. Best And Happy Yardening, Nancy