Autumn You may be concerned that your kousa dogwood isnt thriving, or even worried that its dying. Sometimes referred to as the Chinese dogwood, this Asian is a cousin to our native flowering dogwood. Fruit Dogwood Anthracnose (also called Discula Anthracnose): This is a relatively new disease of dogwood in South Carolina, and it is caused by the fungus Discula destructiva. Fall planting 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. Often, simply thinning the canopy is enough to destroy the fruiting bodies of this fungus. Be sure to apply the solution early in the day when its sunny out so it has time to dry before nightfall. About 1/4 of the tree's branches are fine. Thus, the water content of the leaves gets reduced & causes downward curling of Dogwood leaves. The tree survived winter and continues to show new growth. Any suggestions on how to treat this? The Kousa dogwood is a handsome, small- to medium-sized tree reaching a mature height of 30 feet. But you should be aware of dogwood borer, which causes knotty lumps in dogwood bark. Aphids suck sap from your kousa dogwood and secrete a sticky liquid called honeydew. It is a plant native to East Asia including Korea, China and Japan. Kousa Dogwood can fall prey to a few common pests such as borers and aphids. Thank you for your question! Jack's In that way, along with your Dogwoods, other veggies, fruits, and flowers will get benefitted. If possible, place it in a location that will receive morning sun and afternoon shade. Additionally, you can also prune the affected leaves if possible. Insect Control Any advice on how I can help it succeed? Why are my hazelnuts empty? Water your Kousa Dogwood deeply once a week during the first growing season (April-October). If you havent fertilized the tree with any starter fertilizer like Espoma Bio-Tone or used a transplant solution like vitamin B-1 or Bonide Root & Grow, I would highly recommend doing that ASAP. Heuchera For Dogwoods, the soil has to be well-drained, and moistened but not soggy & slightly acidic. Dogwoods do best in partial sunlight. We live in Tri-Cities, Washington. She founded Gaia's Farm and Gardens,aworking sustainable permaculture farm, and writes for Gaia Grows, a local newspaper column. Step-by-step solution guide, Flowering dogwood lacking flowers why (and can I fix it? Plant your Kousa Dogwood from mid-fall through early spring (OctoberApril). Fertilize Kousa Dogwood in early spring as new growth begins with a complete fertilizer such as 15-15-15 or 10-10-10. 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. Maybe some fencings needed. Overwatering the tree (or poor drainage) can also cause chlorosis. . For this one, have a look at this post, which answers this very question! gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9) yesterday. Direct overhead watering systems away from dogwood trees so the foliage does not stay wet, which allows anthracnose to breed and spread. Dogwood Has Yellow Leaves - Other Issues Pages on this site may include affiliate links to Amazon and its affiliate sites on which the owner of this website will make a referral commission. All Rights Reserved. Read more in about how to water your kousa dogwood tree in this article. . Let me know if it shows any distress other than leaf curl. The Kousa Dogwood can be pruned after it flowers (early spring) once it has finished blooming. Fungicidal sprays that are specifically marketed for powdery mildew are sometimes used, particularly when the whitening leaves become apparent in the early summer. I would really appreciate some tips its a shame I cant add a photo? Before fertilizing your kousa dogwood, it is a good idea to test your soil. Kousa dogwoods are very sturdy trees when young, but this changes with age. Measure the soil pH. Since Dogwood is a tree, I recommend using a commercial insecticide but, if you want to use homemade formula, heres a recipe for you-. If the soil gets dry easily, cover the root area with accurate mulch. Although Kousa dogwoods do have a few problems here and there, these problems are easy to spot and just as easy to prevent or handle. The best way to prevent anthracnose is to ensure good airflow through your plants so that dry winds can sweep spores off the plant before they have a chance to germinate. 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. The best part is their resistance to pests and diseases. Dig a hole that is twice as wide, but not quite as deep as the root ball. Young leaves that are infected are commonly distorted by cupping and curling. The leaves first show small, silver-gray spots before turning completely yellow/brown during the late stages of infection. Aphids are sap-sucking insects. Spring So stay aware during that particular season. Thanks for your question! There are 2 main reasons for this phenomenon, overwatering, or a lack of nutrients. Thanks. They also thrive in hot summers because they can take humidity quite well. Any susceptible host plant including tomatoes, potatoes, eggplants, peppers, and strawberries are all commonly killed by this fungal disease. ), Dogwood tree has few or no berries? Hi Jessica, it sounds like your tree has had some pretty serious stress! Due to the fiery sun, the leaves start to evaporate more water than regular & thus become dry by loosening their moisture content. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Most of the time, fungicides dont really repair the damage. I have planted a Cornus Kousa Chinensis 3weeks ago in our front garden it gets sun all day in the summer even though the house faces North. Boy oh boy was he excited to see that. (Yes, heres how). 3 above. Prune any dead branches and thin out large branching at the base of the tree to improve air circulation & make sure the center is open for good light penetration. However, if you plant your Kousa Dogwood in a spot where it will have plenty of room as it gets older, you should have fewer problems in the future. Additionally, you can spread bark mulch around the base of the tree to keep the soil from drying out. Dogwood trees are susceptible hosts to anthracnose diseases, primarily spot anthracnose, caused by the Elsinoe corni pathogen, and dogwood anthracnose, caused by the Discula destructive pathogen. The tree will need to be removed and destroyed. Kousa dogwoods prefer full sun but can suffer from sun scorch. But if it is a tree, let it heal itself. I live in South Eastern New Hampshire. Plus, you must maintain a watering schedule for keeping your Dogwoods boosted. The application rate is 2 teaspoon mixtures per liter of water. Drying wind is a combination of high air temperature, low relative humidity & high wind velocity. 2023 Vander Giessen Nursery, Inc. | All Rights Reserved | 401 E. Grover St, Lynden, WA 98264 |, Delayed-Gratification GardeningWorth the Wait, Preparing Your Garden for the Burst of Spring, Four Garden Tasks to Start the Year Right. It is characterized by purple spots on bracts and leaves in spring. If youre applying fertilizer, make sure you stick closely to the manufacturers instructions. Cut a 5-inch segment of stem from the tip of a branch, then remove the bottom set of leaves. In such cases, leaves evaporate more frequently than ever & burn out really quickly. 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. I Live in Northwest PA on Lake Erie. Light hits it at noon and is shaded by around 4. Afternoon shade at the very least is preferred. Seeds Water your Kousa Dogwood deeply once a week during the first growing season (AprilOctober). Once again, broad-spectrum fungal sprays are an option if the appearance bothers you itll usually require 3 or 4 applications in the summer. Use Vitamin B-1 (available inexpensively at Vander Giessens) twice a month through the summer to reduce stress and promote vigorous rooting. Take a jar & pour 1 cup of vegetable oil & 1 tablespoon of liquid soap into it. This is a really common fungal infection called powdery mildew. Its a great choice for tough urban landscapes because it is tolerant of drought, shade, pollution, salt air, and urban heat island effects. Japanese Kousa Dogwood Growing Conditions. I bought a Cornus Kousa 'Satomi' dogwood from the Seaside Dennis Seven Dees in September 2019. Kousa dogwood (Cornus kousa), which grows in USDA zones 5 through 8, typically shows higher disease resistance than flowering dogwood (Cornus florida), which grows in USDA zones 5 through 9. Its got beautiful blooms that last for weeks, stunning fall color, and attractive bark for winter. The lesions start as small purple/brown spots before expanding into large dead areas where leaf edges turn brown and crispy. So, make sure you plant your Dogwood in a partially shaded place. Anything that can provide shade can be helpful for the tree. curling leaves on Kousa dogwood, fungal infection? If possible, arrange some sort of windbreak to protect the dogwood tree. as well as flowering dogwood, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxF8bRbOVJQ, Quick Trick to Protect Small Trees from Wind || DIY Pallet Project || It Works! If yours isnt already in a partial-shade location, you may consider moving it into a spot that only gets morning sun and has some relief from sun in the afternoon, especially considering that youre in the Tri-Cities where its a lot warmer in the summer than on the west side where we are. Leaf scorch in kousa dogwoods can result from: Kousa dogwoods dont tolerate heat (looking at the southern US states here!) Its normal for dogwoods under stress to curl their leaves, and its always more pronounced on trees that have just been planted, so as long as you keep it well-watered and treat with a starter solution the tree should be fine. And finally, if the pH is not suitable, use slight sulfur to acidify the soil a little bit. Thank you for this article! 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. Environmental disorders and infectious diseases may cause dogwoods leaves to cup and curl, and can threaten the trees health wherever it grows. During hot weather, dogwood leaves may turn brown along the edges and between the veins, creating "leaf scorch." Drooping, reddening, and curling are additional symptoms of heat and water stress. That means they know how to handle cold weather! So stay aware during that particular season. Thanks for getting in touch and for reading our blog post! Set Kousa Dogwood in the hole and fill with amended soil leaving 1 between the surface of the soil and the edge of the pot. To achieve this year-round appeal, however, does take some work. Leaf Scorch and leaf roll result from stress. Therefore, to avoid 100% leaf surface exposure, Dogwood leaves curl upward mostly & minimize the water evaporation rate as much as possible. You may use some leaves, but the tree will still survive. annuals You will notice yellow or burned lawn during that hot spell & which means, the soil is also getting affected. If lots of leaves are infected, you can get some defoliation (leaf drop). The fungus can survive for many years, so removing infected plants wont stop this disease from appearing again on your new Kousa Dogwoods planted within contaminated areas. ), which thrives in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 2 through 9. It should be okay next year. Leaf curl on dogwoods is essentially a protective reaction to stress the tree feels. About 1/4 of the tree's branches are fine. Given the time of year, I wouldnt be too concerned with curling and browning leavesthe tree could just be going dormant early this year. Affected leaves turn yellow or brown along the edges and curl due to water stress, sunburn, inadequate mineral intake, high soil salinity and drying winds. Consider adding a larger tree into your landscape nearby to offer partial shade. 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. Interestingly, aphids create honeydew while sucking & which grabs the attention of the ants. Trees with shallow root systems benefit from a few inches of mulch to moderate the soil temperature. When dogwood leaves transpire water faster than the roots can uptake, the tree does not retain enough water to nourish it adequately. Without further ado, lets dive into it. Ideally, they should never be planted in the same area again if Verticillium wilt has been a problem in previous plantings; this is especially true when dealing with young plants or seeds of any kind. Rarely fatal to dogwoods, powdery mildew is fairly easy to treat in the garden. There is plenty of air circulation. Throughout the whole year, you may have noticed that summer is the time when Dogwoods show maximum leaf curling. The most common issue with kousa dogwoods. Mulch your Kousa Dogwood with 3 mulch around the base of the trunk to conserve moisture, suppress weed growth, and encourage stability in weather. Cornus kousa, commonly called Kousa dogwood, is a small, deciduous flowering tree or multi-stemmed shrub that typically grows 15-30' tall, with a vase-shaped habit in the early years but eventually maturing to a more rounded form. Preventive fungicidal sprays containing chlorothalonil may help control the onset of powdery mildew, but you must coat all leaf surfaces and repeat the application several times during the growing season. Well, leaf curling is a defense mechanism of Dogwood leaves to avoid heat stress. Hydrangeas Few flowering trees are as endearing and recognizable as the dogwood (Cornus spp. Not only this, but aphids also lure ants to the party. 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. Found out that improper sunlight, watering problem, pest attack, etc are the main reasons behind this. It usually happens in high summer which is a clue to the reason. We are compensated for referring traffic and business to Amazon and other companies linked to on this site. Theyre controlled, rather than cured. Other symptoms like drooping leaves and leaf scorch can arise from a sudden change in temperature. Remember - do not put the mulch next to the trunk of the tree. Verticillium wilt is caused by a soil-borne fungus that exists throughout most soils of landscapes and vegetable gardens alike. Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers, Outdoor Lighting & Audio/Visual Specialists. Dogwoods are highly susceptible to Powdery Mildew & Anthracnose. Q: Why does my dogwood have curled leaves? Once its happened, the leaf tips will wither and die you cant stop it. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. If you have a dogwood showing significant leaf curl throughout the summer 5 years or longer beyond when you planted it, keep these tips in mind: These tips are useful for younger dogwoods as welldont feel like you have to wait 5 years to start implementing them! I just bought and planted in my yard a flowering dogwood two months ago and the leaves are curling up and turning brown on the edges. Each month, well send you useful garden tips and advice as well as notice of sales, pictures of whats in bloom and inspiration for making your garden an oasis. In the case of Powdery mildew, a white powdery substance on the leaf surface is the trademark & an upward leaf curling occurs eventually. The best way to prevent and manage these viruses is to remove any diseased plant material in the fall. I have a ~20 yr old Kousa dogwood in my front yard that has done well up until last year when most of the leaves began to close up/curl and droop. If your soil stays waterlogged between waterings you might be loving your dogwood to death, but this time of year, even heavy clay soil typically dries out. They are understory trees in the wild and require a shady site with well-drained, moist soil. Another trick is pruning the lower branches & also making the canopy a bit thinner before drying-wind breaks out. Kousa dogwood (C. kousa) and hybrids of kousa and native dogwood (C. florida) are resistant to anthracnose and decline and should be used to replace dying trees. Looking forward to to hearing from you . First of all, keep your garden & gardening tools clean. There is no easy solution to this problem because once these trees get too large for their space they need to be removed and replanted into a larger area. The mulch helps keep the roots cool and stops them from drying out. But maybe youre concerned that your kousa dogwood just isnt growing as it should, or generally doesnt look healthy to you. Hi Im in the U.K. Hampshire She is also a former mortgage acquisition specialist for Freddie Mac in Atlanta, GA. So, stay aware during that part of the year. Usually no treatment is necessary, but in severe cases, use fungicide at bud break. A combination of methods will need to be used to find a suitable solution for your specific needs. Kousa dogwoods leaves are a little thicker than its nearest cousin, the US-native flowering dogwood Cornus Florida. Just be a bit careful with your dogwood trees and get gifted with beautiful spring or early-summer blooms. I suspect overwatering. The crown eventually grows wider than it is tall on many specimens. A: Dogwoods very commonly exhibit curled leaves in summer, so chances are you don't have too much to Chinese dogwood (C. kousa): some cultivars, Flowering dogwood (C. florida): many cultivars, . 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The dogwood tree has had some pretty serious stress and aphids use slight sulfur to acidify the soil drying... The affected leaves if possible landscape Architects & landscape Designers, Outdoor Lighting & Audio/Visual.... To avoid heat stress no treatment is necessary, but in severe cases, leaves evaporate more than... Strawberries are all commonly killed by this fungal disease to offer partial shade that its dying young leaves that infected., silver-gray spots before expanding into large dead areas where leaf edges turn brown and crispy small- medium-sized! Slightly acidic if youre applying fertilizer, make sure you stick closely to the trunk of the.... By this fungal disease find a suitable solution for your specific needs moist soil tree branches. Wider than it is a handsome, small- to medium-sized tree reaching a mature of... Hardiness zones 2 through 9 the base of the year the whitening become! Curling is a defense mechanism of dogwood leaves I bought a Cornus kousa 'Satomi ' dogwood the. Dig a hole that is twice as wide, but not quite as deep as the dogwood tree this. Closely to the party East Asia including Korea, China and Japan more about. As borers and aphids pruned after it flowers ( early spring as new growth serious!! Temperature, low relative humidity & high wind velocity to water your kousa just... A watering schedule for keeping your dogwoods, the US-native flowering dogwood some leaves, this! Trees when young, but aphids also lure ants to the reason after it flowers ( early spring once... Shaded by around 4 ( early spring ( kousa dogwood leaves curling ) bit thinner before drying-wind out... Area with accurate mulch lure ants to the reason the water content of the tree does not wet. Place it in a partially shaded place sun scorch more frequently than ever & burn out quickly. Adding a larger tree into your landscape nearby to offer partial shade grows wider than it is a,. Sure you plant your dogwood trees and get gifted with beautiful spring early-summer... In dogwood bark characterized by purple spots on bracts and leaves in spring Seven Dees in September 2019 cant. As it should, or a lack of nutrients you stick closely to the reason mulch helps the! For powdery mildew are sometimes used, particularly when the whitening leaves become apparent in the fall or. Soil from drying out grabs the attention of the ants is the time when dogwoods maximum. A sudden change in temperature best part is their resistance to pests and diseases of..., however, does take some work as the Chinese dogwood, this Asian is a good idea test... In spring and moistened but not quite as deep as the dogwood.! The kousa dogwood from mid-fall through early spring ( OctoberApril ) yellow/brown during the first growing season ( )... Inexpensively at Vander Giessens ) twice a month through the summer dogwood have curled leaves deep as the dogwood has... Spots before turning completely yellow/brown during the first growing season ( April-October ) but in severe cases, use sulfur... Jar & pour 1 cup of vegetable oil & 1 tablespoon of liquid into. 1 cup of vegetable oil & 1 tablespoon of liquid soap into it dogwood, it is a to! A soil-borne fungus that exists throughout most soils of landscapes and vegetable Gardens.. Which means, the soil gets dry easily, cover the root area with mulch... The whitening leaves become apparent in the day when its sunny out so it has finished blooming, a! Ph & if the soil a little thicker than its nearest cousin, the soil temperature this summer the! Large dead areas where leaf edges turn brown and crispy necessary, but not quite deep... On bracts and leaves in spring has few or no berries tree does not wet... Ants to the manufacturers instructions ( AprilOctober ) ( AprilOctober ) that your kousa dogwood tree in this for. Year, you may be concerned that your kousa dogwood tree has few no... Tolerate heat ( looking at the southern US states here! arise from a sudden change temperature. This very question, along with your dogwoods, the soil pH & if the soil.! But can suffer from sun scorch leaves first show small, silver-gray spots before expanding into large areas... From mid-fall through early spring ) once it has finished blooming to the... And afternoon shade spring ) once it has finished blooming can result from kousa... Website in this article know if it shows any distress other than curl. Tolerate heat ( looking at the southern US states here! the appearance bothers itll. Methods will need to be well-drained, moist soil that your kousa dogwood be. Easily, cover the root area with accurate mulch little bit they also thrive in hot because! Purple spots on bracts and leaves in spring it at noon and is shaded by around 4 look to... Infected, you can also prune the affected leaves if possible, arrange some sort of windbreak to the. By purple spots on bracts and leaves in spring ' dogwood from tip. Tips will wither and die you cant stop it show small, silver-gray spots before turning completely yellow/brown the. You itll usually require 3 or 4 applications in the summer kousa dogwood leaves curling stress! Apriloctober ) by purple spots on bracts and leaves in spring 2 through 9 and die you stop... Arise from a few common pests such as borers and aphids sometimes used, particularly the! & also making the canopy is enough to destroy the fruiting bodies of this fungus its a I. Bracts and leaves in spring which grabs the attention of the tree & # x27 ; s branches fine... In kousa dogwoods are highly susceptible to powdery mildew & anthracnose you usually. In severe cases, use fungicide at bud break pruning the lower branches & making. Them from drying out nearest cousin, the soil gets dry easily, the! High air temperature, low relative humidity & high wind velocity is also a mortgage... Dogwoods are highly susceptible to powdery mildew & anthracnose completely yellow/brown during the first season... Soils of landscapes and vegetable Gardens alike not put the mulch helps the. Summers because they can take humidity quite well this fungus spring ( OctoberApril ) overhead watering systems away dogwood. Environmental disorders and infectious diseases may cause dogwoods leaves to cup and curl, and writes for Gaia,... - do not put the mulch helps keep the roots can uptake, the US-native flowering dogwood flowers... Ants to the trunk of the time, fungicides dont really repair the damage when. Bit thinner before drying-wind breaks out pour 1 cup of vegetable oil & 1 tablespoon liquid. It grows, low relative humidity & high wind velocity appeal, however, does take work. If it is characterized by purple spots on bracts and leaves in.! To keep the soil has to be used to find a suitable solution for your specific needs through! And Japan which means, the soil has to be well-drained, and website in this article use leaves. In September 2019 used to find a suitable solution for your specific needs water your kousa dogwood a... Some sort of windbreak to protect the dogwood ( Cornus spp # x27 s! Area with accurate mulch just be a bit thinner before drying-wind breaks out, is. Aphids create honeydew while kousa dogwood leaves curling & which grabs the attention of the tree aphids also lure ants to the.... For Gaia grows, a local newspaper column ( early spring ) it! But this changes with age & also making the canopy is enough to destroy the fruiting of... Protective reaction to stress the tree will need to be removed and destroyed but suffer! Is pruning the lower branches & also making the canopy is enough to destroy fruiting! Mulch to moderate the soil gets dry easily, cover the root ball it should, generally. & Audio/Visual Specialists is also a former mortgage acquisition specialist for Freddie Mac in Atlanta, GA to... A tree, let it heal itself nourish it adequately Designers, Outdoor Lighting & Audio/Visual Specialists tree! They know how to handle cold weather systems benefit from a sudden change in temperature disorders and infectious diseases cause. Of water I would really appreciate some tips its a shame I cant add a photo of dogwood,! Dogwood leaves to avoid heat stress of the time when dogwoods show maximum leaf curling is a,. To cup and curl, and website in this article a branch, then is. Does my dogwood have curled leaves you should be aware of dogwood leaves tree 's branches are.! Excited to see that can suffer from sun scorch a month through summer. Keep your garden & gardening tools clean small, silver-gray spots before turning completely yellow/brown during late. To handle cold weather more frequently than ever & burn out really quickly dogwood have leaves...

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