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Winter damage to weeping willow

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From: Cheryl Laster City: Brighton, CO
Our beautiful weeping willow is barely leafing out this spring. Apparently the Denver area had a tough time in nov 2015. We had an odd winter and warm weather seemed to cause it to bud prematurely and then the buds dies when the cold came. The tips of the branches are brown and the buds all along the branches are dry and look dead. Most of the branch is still yellow in color, but I'm not sure if new buds will replace the dead ones or if I should give up on it. What are your thoughts?
	Extension Message From: Richard Hentschel Extension Educator, Horticulture DuPage/Kane/Kendall Unit hentsche@illinois.edu
Willows in general have a lot of insect and disease problems and are not the longest lived trees. Willows can generate new buds along existing stems and twigs. It may be another 3-5 weeks before you see new growth. Not uncommon to have tip dieback annually. if the tree is reasonably healthy and it was the cold that killed the buds, there should be new growth created. Contact your local Extension Service for a more localized response for your area.
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