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Silax Kilmarnock Willow advice

melloneywebstermelloneywebster Posts: 5
in Problem solving
My beautiful willows need your advice. 

They have 3-4itres of water every evening. The soil seems moist enough, but there are quite a few ants??? 

They struggled last year so I mixed some sand pockets and a few small stones into the pot soil as I thought maybe it was a drainage problem, and cheep Aldi compost. They also recovered from a major caterpillar infestation, simply me picking them off, one by one, daily for weeks and weeks. 

I'm new to caring for plants. 

Oh can't use pesticides as we have bunnies / cat. 

Thank you for any guidance 

Posts

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    You haven't mentioned what the problem is :)
    A pic or two would help.
    Welcome to the forum :)

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • melloneywebstermelloneywebster Posts: 5
    edited July 2022
    Thank you for the welcome. I think I uploaded too many photos and they failed to upload. I will try again but basically - leaves yellow and dropping off, some leaves look as if they have been air sprayed with black paint.
    I'll keep trying with photos 

    Much appreciated 
  • melloneywebstermelloneywebster Posts: 5

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    Best to upload 1 at a time and wait until the pic appears before uploading the next, this site isn't the best for uploading pics.
    Don't worry if they're sideways too - it's the site that does it, not you :)

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • melloneywebstermelloneywebster Posts: 5

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I reckon a lack of water.
    It's in a small raised bed, so it will get less water anyway.
    The leaves are stopping rain from reaching the ground, and when it does, the grass will be soaking it up.
    If you can clear the grass around it and keep it clear of weeds then give it a really good soak - about 4 bucketfuls 2-3 times a week until it recovers.
    If you can get some mulch to go in the area where the grass is that will help keep the moisture in the soil where you tree can get it.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • Slow-wormSlow-worm Posts: 1,630
    I agree. 3-4 litres isn't much for a willow, they're incredibly thirsty, that's why they grow on the banks of rivers and streams. I'd be giving it a couple of buckets a day, but first a really good soaking.👍
  • melloneywebstermelloneywebster Posts: 5
    Thank you both very much. I've got much to learn. 
    Gonna get the hose out now 😁!  
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