What's wrong with my dogwood??

don't have a pic, but my young dogwood tree, planted last year at the end of the spring- about 6-7' high had a tree full of amazing white bracts at the beginning of the spring. most of the bracts got blown away by a thunderstorm about a month ago, and all are gone now. the leaves are very sparse though. on one or two branches there are nice large leaves but on most of the tree the leaves are only about an inch long. some are totally green and healthy looking but a few have brown tips. the tree is mulched, gets lots of sun and is watered every other day. should i kick the watering up to once a day even though it should be established? we've been having 60 degree days so far. only a few days above 70 since the spring began. and i fertilized it at the beginning of the season with hollytone

This message was edited May 23, 2006 12:42 PM

In our area, Dogwoods are understory trees. They like a bit of shade. They do need watering consistency until they are established. I would think they like your temperatures. They can be slow to leaf out, but the brown tips, I think, need watching. Check the dampness of the soil around the tree. Are you showing it too much love? We gardeners tend to do that. Happy gardening.

You're actually watering too much. I would cut it back to once a week at the most. Push the trunk and see if the tree has rooted in well. If not, you might need to re-plant it.

Dogwood anthracnose is a big problem on most of the east coast, I believe. Recommendations for dogwoods in infected regions is for full-sun.

Sc ott

what is dogwood anthracnose? i read everywhere how much water dogwoods need. so i just assumed more water. is it ok as long as its well mulched?

Discula Anthracnose?
Dogwood Borers?
Planted too deep?
Poor drainage?
Droughty or soggy conditions from improper watering?

Guy S.

Wow! I guess I am overwatering! I will cut down on my watering. The only problem is it is in a bed next to our front lawn and DH waters the lawn every 3 days or so. will send before and after pics.

Just had a "tree guy" come out this morning and he did identify it as anthracnose. He said there was nothing we could do about it now that the leaves were out. they usually spray the tree before the leaves come out as a preventative. He suggested that they do a deep fertilizing. How will that help if I already did it in the spring. I suspect it can't do any harm, but just wary since its kinda pricey and wondering if he just wants me to pay for the treatment.

Some rhetorical questions:

Was your "tree guy" credentialed in any way? Certified Professional Nurseryman? ISA-Certified Arborist? Master Gardener? Degreed forest pathologist?

Did he show you how he diagnosed anthracnose?

Did he tell you his profit margin on needless fertilizer soil injections?

Guy S.

so at the risk of seeming daft i will answer your rhetorical questions guy.

it was a tree company so i thought he was credentialled in some way. but the truth his he did seem kinda green (no pun intended).

i actually did the diagnosis of anthracnose before he got there from all the research i did on DG and from your answers. he just confirmed it.

the profit margins i can only guess at. but my gut just thought it didn't make sense to do his super duper chemical fertilizing. when my hollytone was probably enough.

so should i just wait until next spring and spary it before the leaves come out as he says? it is in full sun now.

Yeah, it sounds like you have the right idea. And be sure to dispose of all the diseased material (leaves, twigs, fruit) that come off the tree so there is less inoculum available for spreading the infection.

Guy S.