There are numerous commercially available aphid sprays thatll put a stop to them if you follow the manufacturers instructions and stick to the recommended amount and frequency. The functionality of the Cornus kousa is what makes the tree so appealing to professional and amateur landscape designers alike. Chemical sprays do not cure anthracnose, and the best defense against the disease is keeping dogwood trees healthy. Propagating 'Wolf Eyes' Dogwood. Plan the perfect garden with our interactive tool , The University of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service: Dogwoods for American Gardens, Virginia Cooperative Extension: Foliar Diseases of Dogwood, Missouri Botanical Garden: Cornus Florida, Washington State University Benton County Extension: Leaf Scorch of Dogwoods. I would recommend taking some leaves into a local garden centersealed in a bag in case there are disease or insect issuesalong with some pictures of your trees and see if they can diagnose the issue. He describes himself as a "tree-hugging dirt worshipper" who is a member of multiple gardening societies and foundations. Widely cultivated as an ornamental, it is naturalized in New York State. Irregular, brown, wrinkled patches form on flower bracts and leaves in the spring. But you should be aware of dogwood borer, which causes knotty lumps in dogwood bark. Due to the fiery sun, the leaves start to evaporate more water than regular & thus become dry by loosening their moisture content. The crown eventually grows wider than it is tall on many specimens. Thanks in advance! Not only this, but aphids also lure ants to the party. This will direct water straight down into the root system and alleviate stress. Afternoon shade at the very least is preferred. Follow with the spray every 7 to 14 days until all the leaves have opened. We have lots more on the site to show you. Aphids are tiny, sap-feeding insects that plague landscape plants. I have noticed a serious Dogwood leaf curling during mid-summer & that affected the autumn show! You can read about how fast a kousa dogwood should grow, and how big it might get, in my post here. Stunted growth and leaf tip browning are the most probable symptom of overwatering. I live in South Eastern New Hampshire. Dogwood trees adapt quite well in any location. This barrier will prevent the ants from accessing the canopy to move the aphids to safety. It is characterized by purple spots on bracts and leaves in spring. I have covered the reasons, scientific explanations & DIY solutions. The kousa is one of these shallow-rooted trees. . Viral diseases that typically affect Kousa Dogwood plants include Cucumber Mosaic Virus (CMV), Raspberry Bushy Dwarf Virus (RBDV), and Verticillium Wilt (Vert). Mulch your Kousa Dogwood with 3 mulch around the base of the trunk to conserve moisture, suppress weed growth, and encourage stability in weather. If possible, place it in a location that will receive morning sun and afternoon shade. Hellebores The fall foliage is also beautiful, turning a striking maroon or reddish-purple in late autumn. Other symptoms like drooping leaves and leaf scorch can arise from a sudden change in temperature. The tree was planted as a memorial and I dont want to lose it. What can I do to help it out? Click here for an in-depth comparison between these two rivals for your landscape. Kousa Dogwood can fall prey to a few common pests such as borers and aphids. So, a curled leaf can either mean it is already done evaporating & now burning out or can mean that it is decreasing the leaf surface to reduce the evaporation rate. There are 2 main reasons for this phenomenon, overwatering, or a lack of nutrients. Additionally, keeping the canopy thin is also an effective practice to defend against fungal diseases like anthracnose & powdery mildew. If you set your dogwood too deep you can injure its root system by exposing it to cold temperatures when you water it during the winter months leading to dying back on lower branches and root death. Trees with shallow root systems benefit from a few inches of mulch to moderate the soil temperature. Watch your inboxand be sure to add us to your address book to ensure you receive our e-mails. Curling, deformed leaves are another sign of powdery mildew. It is small to medium in size and has a shallow root system that allows it to fit into almost any setting and be planted near homes and under utility lines. It's probably fungus, Brenda. Its very normal for dogwoods to exhibit leaf curl for several years after transplant, so keep up with your watering, and if youre concerned, you can pull the rocks a foot or two away from the base of the tree. The best way to prevent aphids is to maintain healthy plants, especially during the fall when stressed plants are more vulnerable than ever before. Dogwoods tend to react poorly in full sun and high summer heat, tightly curling their leaves and letting them droop down. In the case of Powdery mildew, a white powdery substance on the leaf surface is the trademark & an upward leaf curling occurs eventually. Rhododendrons With a preference for moist, well-drained loam soil with an acid pH, these trees will continue to grow. Jack's Classic Before fertilizing your kousa dogwood, it is a good idea to test your soil. Kousa dogwoods dry out easily because they have a shallow root system. If possible, place it in a location that will receive morning sun and afternoon shade. Rather than keep its leaves flat and susceptible to burning in the summer sun, dogwoods curl their leaves to minimize leaf surface area and thus minimize any damage they might receive. fruit trees The leaves first show small, silver-gray spots before turning completely yellow/brown during the late stages of infection. Tolerates both drought and heat. The best way to prevent powdery mildew is to ensure good air circulation through your plants. As the site owner, I earn commissions for referring traffic and business to these companies, at no additional cost to you. Looking forward to to hearing from you . Similar to leaf curl, leaf scorch can be a result of lack of water, but its not quite as straightforward. Overwatering the tree (or poor drainage) can also cause chlorosis. Best of Luck. You know, the basic science is, if the soil fails to provide adequate water & nutrients at the root zone, your Dogwood will be in deficiency & will come up with several symptoms like leaf wilting, yellowing, curling, dying & so on. moss You can control aphid infestation fairly easily if your trees small enough to get at. Sometimes referred to as the Chinese dogwood, this Asian is a cousin to our native flowering dogwood. Maintaining moisture around the tree is good practice. Powdery mildew is a fungal disease that thrives in wet, humid conditions. Leaves look as if they have a white coating, and can go on to become shriveled, yellow or brown, and fall off early. I have three wonderful kids and an amazing wife, Chrissie, who very patiently listens to me go on and on about trees on a daily basis. Leaf Scorch A variety of environmental stressors can cause an alarming curl -- known as leaf scorch -- in dogwood leaves. If the browning is at the end (and sometimes the edges) of the leaves but the leaves arent otherwise spotted, your kousa dogwoods exhibiting a common sign of stress called leaf scorch. Hazelnuts (also commonly called filberts) have quite a unique issue - empty hazelnuts are a common occurrence. Amazon.com Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This disease thrives in warm, humid conditions so making sure theres a nice flow of air between your Kousa dogwood and surrounding vegetation will go a long way toward preventing an outbreak. Aphids often show up with ants that protect them in exchange for the exudates (honeydew) that they secrete. So, make sure you plant your Dogwood in a partially shaded place. Infected tissues feel powdery due to masses of fungal spores formed within. Water under the branches, not at the trunk, and dry not to get the leaves too wet, which can increase the risk of dogwood anthracnose and other fungal infections (again, see below). It would be difficult to use too many Kousa . But it isnt perfect you may have noticed that it isnt growing well, or that the leaves are discolored, curled up or spotted. Help! There are very few flowering understory trees as attractive as a dogwood tree. Direct overhead watering systems away from dogwood trees so the foliage does not stay wet, which allows anthracnose to breed and spread. Aphids are sap-sucking insects. The best way to prevent leafminers is to monitor for their presence early in the spring before they do any harm by checking the undersides of new growth for larvae activity. Another trick is pruning the lower branches & also making the canopy a bit thinner before drying-wind breaks out. All about blank filberts. You may use some leaves, but the tree will still survive. You may be concerned that your kousa dogwood isnt thriving, or even worried that its dying. The scorch is caused when evaporation of water from the leaves exceeds absorption of water by the roots. Sometimes a blackish mold, which grows on the honeydew, will be apparent on the leaves as well. Hands-On Gardening 2023. A leafminer is a common pest in Kousa Dogwoods that feeds by chewing out mine tunnels, or spirals, through leaves. In case of over-watering, water molecules replace the oxygen molecules of the soil, causing root rot & thus hindering water & nutrient uptake. Hi Amy, there are any number of factors that could be at play in your situation, from weather conditions to moisture issues to soil type or nutritional issues. Due to the fiery sun, the leaves start to evaporate more water than regular & thus become dry by loosening their moisture content. Unfortunately, sunlight is something that you dont control. Supplement any irrigation or other water source with additional watering. Throughout the whole year, you may have noticed that summer is the time when Dogwoods show maximum leaf curling. Dogwoods are highly susceptible to Powdery Mildew & Anthracnose. For this one, have a look at this post, which answers this very question! Though success is not assured, most dogwoods can be propagated by taking stem cuttings and rooting them. I live in Toronto. In our area, dogwoods typically do fine in full sun, but if your tree is planted in a hot, full-sun location, it might benefit from some afternoon shade. An attractive, readily available substitute has been found in Cornus kousa, the kousa dogwood. I see no signs of insects on upper or lower leaf surfaces. link to Why are my hazelnuts empty? Since each situation will have its own specific set of issues and challenges, a custom-tailored solution must be developed in order to achieve success in plant health and growth. Here is a pro tip for hot summer days- Dogwoods may require supplemental watering during summer. Usually no treatment is necessary, but in severe cases, use fungicide at bud break. Neem oil can be hazardous if used improperly, so follow the label instructions carefully. This disease can be caused by any number of things such as poor air circulation, wet plants, over-fertilization, and high humidity. A more attainable goal is to manage the environmental influences that favor the disease. Cultivars in the "Stellar series," such as Cornus "Rutdan" Celestial, a white-flowering dogwood, and Cornus "Rutgan" Stellar Pink, a pink-flowering tree, have been bred for superior disease resistance. If possible, arrange some sort of windbreak to protect the dogwood tree. Fruit Thats the most that you can do. Plant Gardener is supported by readers. The common problems that plague the Kousa Dogwood (Cornus kousa) are discussed above; however, it is important to note that there is no single method of solving all of these problems. Captain Jack's Prepare the soil properly. When you buy with our links, we may earn a commission. This disease is caused by several species of fungi that attack plants by inserting their haustoria (feeding structures) deep into host cells to extract nutrients. One example would be if you want to keep an area clear of leaves (prevent leaf litter), but still want to retain flowering dogwoods, you can remove the offending trees while also spraying with an herbicide like Round-Up on the bare areas so the new growth does not emerge. Hi Sandy, if your soil is decently well-drained, it would be almost impossible to overwater during the first year. She founded Gaia's Farm and Gardens,aworking sustainable permaculture farm, and writes for Gaia Grows, a local newspaper column. Secondly, treat your Dogwoods by applying fungicides from time to time. Light: Full sun to partial shade. It sounds like your dogwood is stressed from one or more factors. In severe cases, fungicides may be required but only every other year should you see such a need for their use. Is there a disease or insect problem I should be worried about? Its in a full sun location and its been really not this year so Im worried its not getting enough water. Even a well-watered plant can get leaf scorch, though its less likely. Measure the soil pH & if the range is between 5.5-6.8, then it is okay. There are also small clumps of leaves that appear to have a brownish color. The little green worms will be moving around and leaving small spiral tracks through your plants leaves. Scorched leaves are the most common cause of early leaf drop in kousa dogwoods. Summer As with powdery mildew, the mainstay of these conditions is cultural control gardening hygiene, by which we reduce fungal spores, and further spread. Spring This insect is typically more of a pest of ornamental plants rather than fruit-bearing ones, but it can cause damage to fruit trees as well. Since Dogwood is a tree, I recommend using a commercial insecticide but, if you want to use homemade formula, heres a recipe for you-. 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In New York State not only this, but the tree will survive..., keeping the canopy to move the aphids to safety the label instructions carefully as attractive as a dogwood.. Prevent powdery mildew is to manage the environmental influences that favor the.. Place it in a partially shaded place by chewing out mine tunnels, or even worried that its.... Newspaper column fiery sun, the kousa will thrive in rich soils with plenty of materials... A pro tip for hot summer days- dogwoods may require supplemental watering during summer hazelnuts are a common occurrence their!