hey jeanne it would be best.. for you .... to start your own post.. so replies can come to your email.. rather than appending a 5 year old post .. though i do appreciate that you most likely used the search function to find this old thing ... RENOVATION PRUNING of shrubs is simple.. just remove 1/3 the largest.. oldest trunks [though you start by removing any damaged trunks] ... and with no insult to the root system.. the rest will explode in growth next year ... google that term for more info.. but the first i saw is at the link ... very simply put.. PW is one of those shrubs that you could run over with the truck.. and will probably be just as big next year.. have no fear.. just do it ... and that reinvigorated growth might become a future problem ... but that said... its a rather ugly bush for its size.. but for a two week show in spring.. if it really doesnt fit in you garden.. you might want to think about just getting rid of it.. and using the space for something that will make your toes curl.. rather than have to be hacked to heck every spring.. its wildly over-mature ... and probably should go .. your choice.. and good luck ken ps: PW is one of the easiest shrubs to root ... your best bet.. might be to root some spring cuttings.. get rid of the old.. and just start over .... perhaps the best of both worlds ... Here is a link that might be useful: link

Hi everyone. This is the first time posting on this forum and I'm looking forward to getting some great advice on what's going on with my favorite tree, my willow. Today I notice down towards the base of the tree about 12-15 inches from the ground, there seems to be some sort of crack or hole in the tree with this wet black ooze coming out of it. I couldn't get close enough to try and smell it but the tree was really wet and squishy. I also noticed that some of the bark is peeling off and I didn't think that this was typical of this kind of tree. I do know that the past few summers the leaves have had black spots of them and then they turn yellow and fall off. The tree seems to be growing very well, but that might be because we made the HUGE mistake of planting our willow right underneath our septic tank leach lines. Oops. Not sure of we should rip the tree up now while it's still young or wait until there may or may not be a problem. Poor tree planning on our part. Anyway, I'm really concerned about our tree and as you know, the web can really confuse you on troubles that your tree may be having. So if anyone might know what's going on with our tree, I would be greatly appreciative and also if you could direct us in the right way to fix the problem if at all possible. Thank you so very much. Many blessings to you all.

Steve, go to the link below for some photos of American persimmon fruit and oriental persimmon foliage. These photos are on my personal web site. Here is a link that might be useful: Bittersweetgardens.com

Trooper, I would really appreciate pictures of those. To this day, I've still been searching for one - I found a somewhat more mature one finally, but that 40+ set of pussywillows (not black or other willow, right?) would be great to finally help me understand some specific details pertaining to their growth habit. Thanks! Steve