Episode 38: What’s Wrong With Our Weeping Willow?

About This Episode

On this week’s episode of Ask Grumpy, Steve Bender, Southern Living’s
Grumpy Gardener answers a reader’s question about a sick weeping willow. Plus, his plant ofthe week.

Question Of The Week

We've been told by a tree service that our 10-year-old weeping willow is diseased and has insects. They're asking an arm and a leg just to prune the dead limbs. What do you recommend?

Grumpy Gardener: I think an arm and a leg is just too expensive. I mean, maybe a leg, but not both an arm and a leg. The problem that you have with a weeping willow is quite common and that's because weeping willows are short-lived trees. They get lots of diseases and lots of insects and so it's not unusual to see them unhealthy. If they're asking an arm and a leg to prune the dead limbs, just cut the thing down. Weeping willows are not one of my favorite because they're usually planted in a spot that's not good for it. They get too big, the branches hang down to the ground and they just die on you. So, I would say cut your losses and cut that willow.

Plant Of The Week

Strawberry Bush

Now when I say strawberry bush, I'm sure most of you are thinking of strawberry fruit, the little vines that creep along the ground. Not talking about that. I am talking about a native Southern shrub that has a couple of nicknames. One of them is strawberry bush. You might also have heard of it is a plant called hearts-a-bustin' and it is a native species of Euonymus. Now, usually, I hate most Euonymus plants because they're very insect-prone and people plant all these garish golden ones all around their house. I just don't like them. This one grows out in the woods. It's a good plant for a naturalized area around your house. I have a woodland garden in the back. I got mine as a pass-along plant from a friend of mine who gave me a start and I planted it in the back, in the shade. Doesn't take any special care. Now, why do they call it strawberry bush or hearts-a-bustin'? Because it has a very unusual seed pod, it opens up in the fall. The seed pod on the outside will be red. Then, it splits open and the inside of the pod is purple and then it has about three or four, bright red seeds that are kind of shaped like drops of blood. Like I say, it doesn't take very much care. And also, in the fall, in addition to having these colorful seed pods on there, the leaves will also turn a nice pink and yellow color.So it's a pretty nice native plant that you can add to the right spot in your garden.

About Ask Grumpy

Ask Grumpy is a podcast featuring Steve Bender, also known as Southern Living’s Grumpy Gardener. For more than 20 years, Grumpy has been sharing advice on what to grow, when to plant, and how to manage just about anything in your garden. Tune in for short episodes every Wednesday and Saturday as Grumpy answers reader questions, solves seasonal conundrums, and provides need-to-know advice for gardeners with his very Grumpy sense of humor. Be sure to follow Ask Grumpy on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen so you don't miss an episode.

Editor’s Note: Please be mindful that this transcript does not go through our standard editorial process and may contain inaccuracies and grammatical errors.