Question From: Littleton, Colorado, United States
Q: Nancy, I have a pussy willow which is showing signs of what I know as fire blyte. Dead brown leaves clinging to to the branches, sparse growth this year and the junipers under it are browning because of the catkins that have dropped on their leaves. The willow is pretty big. Do I cut it down? I know blyte is pretty bad and I do have some fruit trees in the area. The large shrub is 20-25 ft. If pussy willow is prone to bacteria in wet seasons (like we had here in colorado last year) What's your advice? I used to be a florist and harvested much great branches in past years but am no longer doing that so losing it is not upsetting. Thanks Melanie
A: Pussy willows are hosts to wide variety of diseases and once they are in stress, it never ends. Unless you want to spray it with fungicide on a regular basis, I'd get rid of it. Best And Happy Yardening, Nancy
