Dogwood Tree Leaves Curling
Caused by the fungus discula destructiva anthracnose thrives in moist shade.
Dogwood tree leaves curling. Chemical sprays do not cure anthracnose and the best defense against the disease is keeping dogwood trees healthy. This disease can spread up the leaf stem and infect the twigs bark and trunk eventually killing the tree if left untreated. Dogwood anthracnose is the most common disease that affects dogwood trees. Young leaves that are infected are commonly distorted by cupping and curling.
The many graceful shapes of dogwoods cornus spp are known throughout u s. When leaves are falling off dogwood in summer it could mean a serious illness improper siting or cultivation problems. Drought and water stress drought and water stress can cause leaf scorch as discussed above or it can lead to wilting especially in recently. Flowering dogwoods are understory trees that do not tolerate long periods of full sun.
This is a page about leaves turning brown on a dogwood tree. Department of agriculture plant hardiness zones 2 through 9 depending on species. Because anthracnose pathogens overwinter in fallen debris rake all fallen leaves and remove. Ask a question here are the questions asked by community members.
Provide additional moisture if required or afternoon shade noon to 5 p m. This infection strikes as soon as the flowers and buds open and creates small purple blotches on the faces of the curling leaves. Anthracnose can be treated by pruning the infected leaves limbs and branches from the dogwood taking care not to leave any infected material near the tree. If you have a dogwood showing significant leaf curl throughout the summer 5 years or longer beyond when you planted it keep.
For example pacific dogwood cornus nuttallii is a california native. 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. Leaf spots are the first symptoms of these diseases. Read on to see the answers provided by the thriftyfun community or ask a new question.
Leaf curl on dogwoods is essentially a protective reaction to stress the tree feels. While the leaves may brown before they fall in autumn brown leaves on a dogwood tree in other seasons is often a sign of poor health. Let s examine proper cultivation and conditions for the trees. The leaves are cupping up on my dogwood.
Treat with copper based. Prevent the fungus from returning by using a fertilizer designed for dogwoods once the leaves have opened and prune in winter to. One of the most common reasons for leaf curling on dogwood trees discula anthracnose is a fungus infection that can attack your leaves in the early part of the growing season. Symptoms begin on leaf borders with purplish blotches that eventually cover the leaf.
It is normal to see leaves falling in autumn but you should not see a dogwood tree dropping leaves in summer. In the heat of summer and or during periods of drought the edges of leaves may turn brown. Spray the dogwood with a fungacide making sure it is completely covered and repeat seven to 14 days later. How to treat a dogwood with leaf wilt.