Hello!
My wife and I moved into a new home last year that has several dogwoods on the property. This spring, the blooms came out in all their glory. Now however, two of the trees have blooms that are turning brown and falling off. Is this normal? Any advice or help would be appreciated!
Picture attached of what's going on...
Those round spots are often a sign of some kind of bacterial or fungal problem. Are the leaves OK?
Look into something like Anthracnose. (I do not know if Dogwoods (Cornus) get it).
The bees look fine, it's just the blooms that appear unhealthy.
I think what you have is Cornus Nuttallii, your picture shows the fruits (the green centre) and what most folks call the petals, are actually Bracts, these are white- cream and sometimes turning pale pink. the green fruits when mature look like small Strawberries.
If you cant find that by searching, look under the Genus, Cynoxylon, as it has been reclassified or something.
Dropping of fruit CAN be normal in some fruiting tree's / shrubs as the tree makes too many fruits, nature helps shed some so the others can grow on, BUT some fruit drop can be caused by shock, Have you pruned, cut branches or dug close to roots ????
Is the watering correct, maybe there has been a lack of water OR too much by heavy rain IF this is unusual in your area.fruiting tree's normally require an abundance of water to help swell the fruits.
If all this is NOT showing as the problem, then you need to search inside the fat green part of the fruit, look out for little insects, IF found, take them in a clear jar to the garden store, local county officers and have the bugs identified so you know what to spray to give the rest protection.
All Cornus are NORMALLY trouble free unless growing in the wrong type of soil, however as your are older/ well established then soil would not be my first guess BUT remember, after many years, the goodness / nutrients can be depleted and need renewing.
Hope this helps you throw some light on the problem, BUT it may just be nature reducing the amount of fruits.
Hope it's sorted out soon as these are lovely trees when in bloom and fruit, the birds love the fruits.
Good Luck and kindest Regards.
WeeNel.
