10 year old willow tree, random spots that bark falls off.. - Ask Extension
Hello, I have a 10 year old willow tree that after a few years would get bark that falls off in random locations. I would make sure there are no bug...
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10 year old willow tree, random spots that bark falls off.. #925566
Asked March 07, 2026, 9:29 AM EST
Hello, I have a 10 year old willow tree that after a few years would get bark that falls off in random locations. I would make sure there are no bugs. I treated with a tree fungus powder. It would heal in that locations but now seem to be doing it 20 feet up in the branches. I cut off any dead branches that I see the dead spots.. the tree is very healthy and grows incredibly fast.. the dead spots are very random and the branches above are very healthy.
Carver County Minnesota
Expert Response
Your willow’s problems are fairly common for willows. Your description of care includes everything you should or could do except for providing more water. Please see the links for more information.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/willow/treat-peeling-willow-bark.htm
https://arboristnow.com/news/why-is-your-tree-losing-bark/
Answer for another client.
The damage to your willow sounds as though it may have started as sunscald. That typically occurs on the southwest facing bark of a tree which seems to match your description of your willow's location. The heat of the sun, particularly bouncing off of snow, following freezing weather causes the bark to crack; continued hot/cold fluctuations increase the damage. Willows are especially prone to sunscald and other damaging frost cracks
Willows are somewhat delicate trees and their typical position by the water suggests their reliance on plentiful water. It is not unusual for willows to have short life cycle. The appearance of the red buds from the cambium suggests adventitious roots appearing to attempt to increase the water source for the tree. These frequently fall off on their own after several weeks but they do suggest that your willow may be experiencing stress.
I will quote from an earlier expert's response by Alison O.on a similar situation that may be helpful:
"Sometimes when trees are drought stressed, the cells may shrink and the bark becomes loose due to the constriction of the cambial tissues (where the xylem and phloem and growth cells live). This can cause the bark to slough. Another factor could be sunscald, like you mentioned, which actually causes the bark to split due to freeze/thaw. Frost cracks, which are also temperature-related, can cause the bark to split.
The biggest thing to consider is if the wound is down to the cambium. It's hard to tell on the photos....if it was simply the bark that shed, the cambium may be fine. The bark acts like a protective barrier, of sorts.
That said, the trees have definitely been stressed in the past. Willows and globe willows are fairly short lived trees... They are susceptible to storm damage, and even though they grow quickly, can be easily damaged by winds. They are also trees that have a higher use needs, so may become damaged by drought or inconsistent watering.
Another possible factor affecting these trees is slime flux/bacterial wetwood, which is a disease stemming from stress (particularly drought): http://www.ext.colostate.edu/ptlk/1438.html
If these are trees you'd like to save, then bump up irrigation during the entire year--including fall and winter. They are growing in turf, so you may have to run the irrigation system a couple extra times per month to give the trees extra moisture. Make good pruning cuts and keep the trees as healthy as possible."
An Ask Extension Expert Replied May 03, 2017, 10:10 AM EDT
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/willow/treat-peeling-willow-bark.htm
https://arboristnow.com/news/why-is-your-tree-losing-bark/
Answer for another client.
The damage to your willow sounds as though it may have started as sunscald. That typically occurs on the southwest facing bark of a tree which seems to match your description of your willow's location. The heat of the sun, particularly bouncing off of snow, following freezing weather causes the bark to crack; continued hot/cold fluctuations increase the damage. Willows are especially prone to sunscald and other damaging frost cracks
Willows are somewhat delicate trees and their typical position by the water suggests their reliance on plentiful water. It is not unusual for willows to have short life cycle. The appearance of the red buds from the cambium suggests adventitious roots appearing to attempt to increase the water source for the tree. These frequently fall off on their own after several weeks but they do suggest that your willow may be experiencing stress.
I will quote from an earlier expert's response by Alison O.on a similar situation that may be helpful:
"Sometimes when trees are drought stressed, the cells may shrink and the bark becomes loose due to the constriction of the cambial tissues (where the xylem and phloem and growth cells live). This can cause the bark to slough. Another factor could be sunscald, like you mentioned, which actually causes the bark to split due to freeze/thaw. Frost cracks, which are also temperature-related, can cause the bark to split.
The biggest thing to consider is if the wound is down to the cambium. It's hard to tell on the photos....if it was simply the bark that shed, the cambium may be fine. The bark acts like a protective barrier, of sorts.
That said, the trees have definitely been stressed in the past. Willows and globe willows are fairly short lived trees... They are susceptible to storm damage, and even though they grow quickly, can be easily damaged by winds. They are also trees that have a higher use needs, so may become damaged by drought or inconsistent watering.
Another possible factor affecting these trees is slime flux/bacterial wetwood, which is a disease stemming from stress (particularly drought): http://www.ext.colostate.edu/ptlk/1438.html
If these are trees you'd like to save, then bump up irrigation during the entire year--including fall and winter. They are growing in turf, so you may have to run the irrigation system a couple extra times per month to give the trees extra moisture. Make good pruning cuts and keep the trees as healthy as possible."
An Ask Extension Expert Replied May 03, 2017, 10:10 AM EDT
