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Dead Ornamental Willow #146850

Asked August 13, 2013, 9:27 AM EDT

I went outside one morning and saw that the ornamental willow I'd planted looked like part of it was dieing. It also looked like someone may have sprayed something on it. Within a day the entire tree died, and droppings from the tree that fell on some ornamental grass underneath started killing that grass. Photo attached. It almost seems like spray or liguid was running down the trunk. Would a natural pathogen cause this or does it look like someone actually sprayed a dioxin on it? I have a few other pictures of entire tree but it looks like I could only attach the one file. Sincerely Richard Bazelow

Kent County Delaware

Expert Response

I do not know of any diseases that would immediately kill the tree and then release an exudate that would kill the grass below.  A misapplied herbicide is a logical explanation but I can't tell for sure if that is the cause.  
Susan Barton, PhD, SITES AP Replied August 13, 2013, 9:55 AM EDT

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