I am surprised no tree expert has responded…… I am not one, but have the same tree. I have had it over 10 years. I live in Milwaukee, zone 5b. I have never had suckers at the base. The only problem I have had, is when the Japanese beetles come through, they eat the leaves down to lace looking. Thankfully none the last two years. I think you should post a couple pics so people can see clearly what’s going on. Get the best close-ups you can. That may be why you have not received a response from others. Good luck, I love mine so I hope it can be saved saved.

debra

The suckers will not be weeping pussy willow so they need to be removed. Can you show pictures of the tree? Possibly the graft has failed.

'We live at 8,150ft. in elevation in a riparian area.'

How cold did it get last winter? What usda zone are you in?

'I used a copper fungicide, I don't think it liked that at all'

What did you use the fungicide for? Was there some sort of growth appearing on the leaves?

I'm no expert either but there needs to be more information for anyone here to have an idea of what's going on.

Bill’s right……more info and pictures!!!

debra

USDA has us in zone 5b. I assure you we are not. We are on the valley floor on a river. I garden for zone 3 or 4. I read up on this & was advised to use a copper fungicide since the leaves were curling, turning brown & falling off. There's new healthy growth from the trunk, as can be seen in the photo. I do see some fine spider webs in the bare top & a tiny brown spider. Our coldest temp last winter was -14. I removed the suckers a couple weeks ago. I have another one about 6 ft from the sad one. It's doing fairly well. Is this one in the photo a goner?

What does the base of the tree look like? Is it suckering from there too?

I would say if there's new, healthy growth coming, the tree is not dead.

But, if all the new growth is below the graft, then you will not end up with a 'weeping' pussy willow, it will be whatever kind of willow they used for root stock, no doubt will be some sort of 'tree style' pussy willow.

Hard to tell without closer, clearer pictures, whether it was 'high grafted' or not. If high grafted (most likely yes), then the weeping part above that, on top, is most likely dead and what you will end up with is an ordinary style pussy willow.

Thank you everyone for your time. I'm sad to lose this little tree, but such is life. A.

If you have a lot of space in a wild area of your yard and would like an ordinary, big, non weeping pussy willow you could move it. They flower very early and are valuable for wildlife.

Why not plant another another one in it’s place? I absolutely love mine……

debra