Big dark bruise on willow

[Booga]

Hi all. Yesterday I spotted a large dark patch on 2 of my Cork screws, one is planted out the other in a pot.
I scraped the bruised area and it was really soft so I got a knife and carved it out, the bruise went into the hard wood a couple of mm.
other than that the tree looks healthy. I can take a pic of the small one thats planted out but that means im gonna have to lay down in the dirt
Let me know if you need a pic. Thanks in advance

[Craig]

Sounds like a section of dieback, a pic would be very handy. Down in the dirt for you

[Booga]

Sounds like a section of dieback, a pic would be very handy. Down in the dirt for you

Good onya Craig I spose you want one now , Back in a minnie with a pick I Googled heaps and came up with nothing so I hope you guys can help.
Dark isn tit, It has lost some bark at the base too circled in red

[bodhidharma]

Yes, unfortunately Salix matsudana are prone to dieback in a pot. It usually occurs from a lack of water and enough sun, also need constant feeding . Salix need constant water and sun and they will still dieback. On the plus side they do power on and the dieback section becomes deadwood. I have quite an old one and it has a lot of dead sections.

[Andrew E]

Dieback is very common on potted willows. As Bodhi said, not enough sun, water or food, or a combination of all three can be detrimental.
I read in a Koreshoff book that they should only be pruned at the end of the growing season? Maybe Bodhi can confirm or has a better idea.
I know one I had a lot of dieback after I pruned mid season. Just didn't like it. Turned up it's toes soon after but there were other issues as well, like lack of water!!
Cheers Andrew

[Booga]

Dieback is very common on potted willows. As Bodhi said, not enough sun, water or food, or a combination of all three can be detrimental.
I read in a Koreshoff book that they should only be pruned at the end of the growing season? Maybe Bodhi can confirm or has a better idea.
I know one I had a lot of dieback after I pruned mid season. Just didn't like it. Turned up it's toes soon after but there were other issues as well, like lack of water!!
Cheers Andrew

Thank Andrew I tthink you are right, those two with the die back have been a bit neglected mainly not enough feed I would say, and the smaller one only gets midday sun and onwards The one I have been working on is thriving It has been pruned almost from day 1 during the growing season.