Questionwe have a weeping willow about 4 yrs old, i have noticed some black spots on the leaves, some of the leaves yellowing and some bare branches. Is the tar spots, or something more dreaded? And how can we treat it? thank you , and our location is Ga.
AnswerIt does sound like leaf spots but this late in the year I would do nothing except rake the leaves when they fall and destroy them by burying or burning. This will cut down the amount of spores that can infect the tree next spring. Then next spring spray the new foliage with a fungicide for leaf spots.
Spraying three times at two-week intervals with a copper fungicide (Hi-Yield Copper Fungicide, Ferti-lome Black Spot & Powdery Mildew Control) or mancozeb (Bonide Mancozeb Flowable, Southern Ag Dithane M-45, or Dragon Mancozeb Disease Control) starting when the leaves begin to unfurl in spring will provide control. Read and follow all directions on the label.
