Pink Flamingo willows

newmslandscapes

Hi all.

we have been pruning these pink flamingo willow trees for years now and since the hot weather last year the one on the left now has a
lot of deadwood and becoming unsightly. 

Any my idea what this is down too and what we can do to save it? Would be a shame not too

thanks 

purplerallim

I'm having the same problem with my flamingo willow this year @newmslandscapes it's all at the base, but there is new growth too so I'm hoping it will rejuvenate itself. It does appear to be thinning out early too so I hope next year it will recover.

Hostafan1

I always thought that to get the best colour, they were best cut back hard each year, as one would with Cornus?

Fairygirl

I thought the same as @Hostafan1, but the dead/dying growth is probably due to dry weather.   
Like any willow, they need adequate moisture, so if they aren't getting that, they'll be stressed, probably revert, drop foliage, and/or die back. 

newmslandscapes

I thought that may be the case a lack of moisture

Going forward would you remove the deadwood? Even though it will affect the appearance or shape?

Thanks

purplerallim

Mine has some new growth at the base, but taking out the dead will leave a bare patch. I will give it its usual whippy growth cut and see what new growth appears next year in spring, any that are dead then I will cut

Borderline

Water stress is often the issue, but you can prune them back now if the stems are dried up and brittle, but you should prune back the whole tree in early spring time. That throws up new stronger stems. That helps to rejuvenate the whole tree. Light pruning will eventually result in old and aged branches that can fail to leaf up.