Dogwood Tree Diseases Anthracnose

Maintaining healthy dogwood trees by following the recommended cultural practices is the first line of defense in reducing any of these problems.

Dogwood tree diseases anthracnose. The fungus discula destructiva causes dogwood anthracnose leaf blight and canker. Early detection and disease management can help you to save your dogwoods from many deadly. This infection is caused by the fungus elsinoe corni. Dogwood anthracnose dogwood anthracnose can be prevalent in native dogwood populations in kentucky forests as well as in landscapes where dogwoods grow in shaded locations.

Dogwood anthracnose is a problematic disease that all dogwood owners must take seriously. And then later again in 1978 it was found in the northeast of the usa. It is popular for its exotic bright colored flowers. Dogwood anthracnose is specific to dogwood trees.

It was first detected in the northwest of the usa in 1976. The flowering dogwood cornus florida is a small deciduous ornamental tree that is native throughout the eastern united states although dogwoods are well adapted to south carolina they can be affected by many pests and diseases. Dogwood anthracnose discula trees the early symptoms of discula anthracnose begin in mid to late may as leaf spots with tan or purple borders. The dogwood tree is commonly grown for ornamental purposes often as a standalone tree.

In the past anthracnose was the most serious disease of dogwoods in the landscape and our forests but it is now less common. Dogwood anthracnose infects flowering cornus florida and pacific dogwoods c. It causes dieback or even death of infected trees. Spray all plants with a systemic fungicide labeled to control dogwood anthracnose examples include fungicides containing propiconazole e g banner maxx or tebuconazole e g.

The origin is unknown and in 1991 the fungal disease was identified as discula destructiva. If your tree is already infected the tips below are still recommended because they can help your tree fight the fungal disease and lower the chance of reinfection but are most effective in conjunction with fungicide treatments. Dogwood anthracnose is not to be confused with dogwood spot anthracnose discussed previously or shade tree anthracnose affects other shade trees but not dogwood. Kousa is also susceptible to infection but is highly resistant to the disease and typically suffers only minor leaf spotting.

Some dogwood varieties grow red berries during the early winter season. Dogwoods are low maintenance trees but they are susceptible to some garden diseases. This aggressive disease can result in tree death. The early symptoms begin in mid to late may as leaf spots.

From there they spread to the leaves young shoots and then the fruits. For trees diagnosed with dogwood anthracnose carefully prune out all dying and dead twigs and limbs to prevent the disease from spreading to the main trunk. Generally a tree infected with dogwood anthracnose will develop dark spots with a tar like appearance on. This fungal disease also has spread to dogwood trees in canada.

You can prevent dogwood anthracnose and make your tree stronger by getting preventative fungicide applications and following proper tree care maintenance. Despite the ease with which they grow there are a number of dogwood tree diseases and troubles that need to be taken care of. The first parts of the tree to be affected are the flower bracts petals.