Watermark Disease or "Erwinia Salicis"

This bacterial disease has an devastating effect on the Willow Tree.  Once detected in the tree it has to be cut down and burnt and the stump treated. 

This is the only way to deal with it, as it can be transmitted by birds from tree to tree as well as through the trees root systems under ground (these methods are not scientifically proven). 

The photos here show what it looks like in a cross section of a tree and also if it were to be sawn into a blade, the black line is the watermark.  It renders the tree absolutely useless for anything except firewood, although we have had instances of trees recovering from the disease.

Honey Fungus or "Armillaria Mellea"

This is a fungus that will kill the tree.  It can travel to adjacent trees very quickly through the root system and is hosted in the ground by varieties such as blackthorn which it does not kill.  However it effects many other varieties with terrible speed and if not caught in the very early stages renders the Willow tree useless.  It turns the wood into a grey mass which is very light weight and contains no moisture.

Goat Moth or "Cossus Cossus"

This is a large moth that chews a hole through the bark of the tree.  Normally from the bottom where there is already a crevice in the tree or it can make a chamber under the outer bark.  It lays larvae in the metre long hole which feed on the surrounding wood.  This moth is quite rare and is only normally found in old or damaged trees where it can gain easier access.

Woodworm

This is the same woodworm that is abundant in the UK.  It is only really found in very old and / or damaged trees and even then just in the sapwood.  If there is any sign of woodworm in either a tree or a blade in the yard it is burnt immediately using this method ensures there is no risk to the graded blades.

Animal Damage

The animals we include in this are rabbits, hares, deer, horses and cattle. The rabbits, hares and deer will do most damage in the young sets once they have been planted. The bark is very tasty for these beasties so every precaution must be taken not to give them the opportunity to eat it.

Horses and cattle can do irrepairable damage to any age of tree which they get their teeth into.  There are tree guards on the market to deal with the smaller animals however horses and cattle need to be fenced off completely from the trees themselves. 

We have not mentioned sheep, because from our own experiance as long as sheep have a plentiful supply of food and the sets are rabbit guarded and have the side shoots removed they will not touch the Willow tree. 

This photo shows where a deer has trodden down the rabbit guard and eaten the bark, killing the tree.