What determines when the life of a weeping willow tree is over?

On Sunday there was a loud crack and a large branch broke off my weeping willow tree, even though there was little or no wind, it thankfully hasn’t done any damage, there are no signs of a previous crack and so it appears to have suddenly failed, see the pic. The strange thing is that there is a much longer branch that I was beginning to worry about that appears to be ok, but I have arranged for a tree surgeon to remove both branches, balance the tree and reduce the height and width slightly, but he didn’t make any negative comments about the tree, and I didn’t ask if it should be cut down.

I am now concerned about a failure of the tree that would cause serious damage, as most articles talk about a 30 year life for a willow with possibly 50 years if the tree is well looked after, but I have done very little to the tree. Last year, from late spring to autumn I filled my wheelie bin every two weeks with leaves, as the tree was forever shedding them, although this year it hasn’t done that at all, so taking some drastic action now will save me a lot of work but consequently, I may not be able to provide a winter home for the hedgehog/s nesting under my shed!

I planted the willow as a sapling around 30 years ago, consequently I wonder if I should have it cut down or perhaps pollard the tree? I was wondering if anyone has advice about pollarding a 30 yo willow, as most of the pictures on the internet seem to show fairly young trees? Many of the current branchlets are probably 15ft/5m long making an attractive “curtain” to look out upon from my house, so I wonder if the long branchlets would also form if the tree was pollarded?

Previously I posted this thread and it was suggested that I needed to consult an arboricultural consultant, but harmonyarb said that they can only give advice “along the lines of what the 'likelihood of failure' is [low, medium, high etc.]”:-

How to find a competent person to determine if my tree is in a safe condition.

Subsequent to that thread, I emailed the Arboricultural Officer in the council, who had written to me, asking if he would recommend some competent persons to carry out an inspection of my willow tree, but he didn’t even have the courtesy to reply, so I assumed that he was just going through the motions and I didn’t take any further action at that time.

I will be sad to have it cut back/down but c’est la vie!

 

That is true and that is what is in the report. Having used an aboriconsultant a couple of times recently, the first time I went round with him and had a general chat about the trees their health etc, he said the ones he looked at where in good health and not likely to fail;this was in his report in a more factual way probabilities, explanations notes etc. The second time he did a more general survey rather than looking at a particular group of trees and again the chat as he was packing up was more informative to me than the report which gave risk levels for the trees most were low level except for one strip that were moderate risk.This report was the basis for an application for permission to remove these trees which the consultant drafted and submitted.
So it may well be worthwhile for you as the report will give you an idea as to whether you can leave alone or need to remove. At the end of the day it's still your decision.
The leaves dropping last year were probably down to the drought last spring/summer stressing the tree and the branch just dropping off could be related to this.
I've never found the council tree officers to be much help.

 

Thanks very much Shiney, it was very kind of you to spend so much time loading all your pics, I am very grateful, and thanks to all the other contributors too, it certainly gives me food for thought.

I can’t get far enough away to get a decent pic, but this is the best that I can do:-

 

My specific advice is to ensure the contractor you consult/employ is locally recommended and locally resident, with a residential address thats not a caravan on a transit. Much grief results from itinerant treefellers, especially avoid any who coldcall upon you.

 

Weeping willows are notorious for randomly tearing out limbs. You have a few options:

• A crown reduction, as your tree surgeon offered. This will reduce the end-loaded weight of the branches and prevent further tear-out.
• Pollard - Removal of all branches, just leaving the main scaffold limbs to re-sprout next year. (Willows nearly always bounce back from a good hiding and you'll be more able to control the length the new shoots get to with more regular maintenance).
• Remove the tree completely and never have to deal with the threat of impending branch failure and near-constant leaf-drop. Replant with something more robust and manageable.
• Do nothing and see what (if anything) happens next!

 

Sorry for the delay in replying, I went with the tree surgeon’s advice and they cut back the tree presumably in what TreeTreeTree described as a crown reduction, so I still have my curtain of branchlets giving me a pleasant outlook.

Edit, that tree surgeon cost me twice that of another who gave me a quote, but he seemed more competent.

 

One of my favourite folk songs tells us the reason why the willow tree is so prone to breaking.

 

I've always thought that, like the ash, it was because the willow was a nasty old so and so.