QuestionMY HUSBAND HAS HAD A WEEPING WILLOW TREE FOR APROX 5 YEARS THIS SPRING THE THE LOWER BARK ON THE TRUNK STARTED COMING LOOSE AND NOW IT LOOKS LIKE THERE ARE REDDISH DIME SIZE KNOTS GOING UP THE TREE. WHAT CAN WE DO TO SAVE THIS TREE.
AnswerSounds like borer damage. I would spray the lower trunk with an insecticide called Merit. This will kill the insect under the bark and wood. Borers usually attack trees under stress so I would fertilize the tree with 10-10-10 fertilizer at the rate of 1 lb per inch of trunk diameter scattered around the tree and watered in good. Fertilize just before a good rain and you will not need to water. This will improve the overall health of the tree and help prevent borer attack.
