Well, it varies from plant to plant. Using insecticide beforehand is the best thing that you can do. So, once you notice such symptoms, immediately treat your Dogwood tree with an effective Fungicide, But dont worry. I use no chemicals in my yard and feed it only with compost and peat moss. Thanks for getting in touch and for reading our blog post! The crown eventually grows wider than it is tall on many specimens. Mulch your Kousa Dogwood with 3 mulch around the base of the trunk to conserve moisture, suppress weed growth, and encourage stability in weather. Dogwood trees adapt quite well in any location. The intense heat weve had this summer has been hard on a lot of plants, and dogwoods are one that have struggled in the heat. Some leaves have started to turn red already. Any suggestions on how to treat this? We have lots more on the site to show you. flowers An attractive, readily available substitute has been found in Cornus kousa, the kousa dogwood. 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. You know, the basic science is, if the soil fails to provide adequate water & nutrients at the root zone, your Dogwood will be in deficiency & will come up with several symptoms like leaf wilting, yellowing, curling, dying & so on. Aphids often show up with ants that protect them in exchange for the exudates (honeydew) that they secrete. Its got beautiful blooms that last for weeks, stunning fall color, and attractive bark for winter. Low-maintenance shape. These berries will attract birds, deer, small mammals, and possibly neighbors in the know who are interested in wine and jelly making. grass seed Sever the remaining leaves in half, but leave them on the cutting. 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. Thanks! Id really hate to dig it out because this is the first time in five years that Ive gotten a bract, yep one single bract. Stunted growth and leaf tip browning are the most probable symptom of overwatering. It should be okay next year. Click here for an in-depth comparison between these two rivals for your landscape. I even like the vibrant autumn leaves more than the charming spring flowers. Amazon.com Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. 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. 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. link to Why are my hazelnuts empty? Or there may be growths or marks on the bark. First of all, keep your garden & gardening tools clean. We have had our Japanese Dogwood for about a year. Make sure the soil has the right amount of nutrients in stock. Lawn Care All about blank filberts. 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! Are Ants a Problem on Meyer Lemon Blossoms? Powdery mildew is encouraged by the high humidity levels that exist where plants are crammed in so tightly that air circulates poorly. Thank you! These are symptoms of leaf scorch of dogwood. A: Dogwoods very commonly exhibit curled leaves in summer, so chances are you don't have too much to I have VERY sandy soil here in Northwest Indiana where my Kousa Dogwood is planted in full sun. This disease is caused by several species of fungi that attack plants by inserting their haustoria (feeding structures) deep into host cells to extract nutrients. Hi Jessica, it sounds like your tree has had some pretty serious stress! We are compensated for referring traffic and business to Amazon and other companies linked to on this site. Scotts Fungicidal sprays that are specifically marketed for powdery mildew are sometimes used, particularly when the whitening leaves become apparent in the early summer. Pruning, Perennials, and a Recipe for Mildew Stains. The kousa dogwood originated in Japan, Korea and China. On dogwood trees, Mycrosphaeria pulchra is the causal pathogen for powdery mildew. [Solutions], Dogwoods do best in partial sunlight. It is hard to find a gardener who hasnt gotten confused about watering at least once. Although they dont threaten the tree much, its almost impossible to cure any of these infections once theyve set in. 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. Spray it with a fungicide everyone couple of weeks. Curling can be infestation or heat and drought. Kousa dogwood is a great choice of tree if you ask me. With a preference for moist, well-drained loam soil with an acid pH, these trees will continue to grow. I have covered the reasons, scientific explanations & DIY solutions. It has been hot in NJ this summer like the rest of the country. Spring If you do find them on your Kousa dogwood give your plants a good blast of water from the hose with some added soap or insecticidal soap early in the season to get rid of these pests quickly if only a few are present. Just be sure to offer it some TLC and it will reward you with years of beautiful spring or early-summer blooms! In severe cases, systemic fungicides may be required this should only happen every other year. Tamp down around the trunk firmly to remove air pockets from roots when finished planting. Fungal attacks are both problematic & irritating. Thanks for your question! Without further ado, lets dive into it. 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. 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. Its a great choice for tough urban landscapes because it is tolerant of drought, shade, pollution, salt air, and urban heat island effects. Use Vitamin B-1 (available inexpensively at Vander Giessens) twice a month through the summer to reduce stress and promote vigorous rooting. Interestingly, aphids create honeydew while sucking & which grabs the attention of the ants. ), which thrives in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 2 through 9. Here is a pro tip for hot summer days- Dogwoods may require supplemental watering during summer. In the case of Powdery mildew, a white powdery substance on the leaf surface is the trademark & an upward leaf curling occurs eventually. From your photos it appears your dogwood has Leaf Scorch. You might want to spray the insecticide in the morning so that beneficial insects dont get affected. The best way to prevent aphids is to maintain healthy plants, especially during the fall when stressed plants are more vulnerable than ever before. I would say, however, that the curled leaves are definitely a reaction to the heat stress of earlier this year, not so much from the other damage. 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. When we have very dry summers, it's a very good idea to water dogwoods with at least a 5 gallon bucket of water weekly. That means they know how to handle cold weather! fall Throughout the whole year, you may have noticed that summer is the time when Dogwoods show maximum leaf curling. Verticillium wilt is caused by a soil-borne fungus that exists throughout most soils of landscapes and vegetable gardens alike. Kathleen Miller is a highly-regarded Master Gardener and Horticulturist who shares her knowledge of sustainable living, organic gardening, farming, and landscape design. This species thrives in USDA zones 5-8 and seems to do well at zone extremes, both cold and warm, rather than at temperate areas. If the tree drops its leaves early this year but the branches arent brittle, continue to care for it through the rest of the year and see how it looks next spring. But maybe youre concerned that your kousa dogwood just isnt growing as it should, or generally doesnt look healthy to you. Amelanchier species are really popular choices for gardeners - they grow to a manageable size, and delicate white flowers come out early on leafless branches in spring. The functionality of the Cornus kousa is what makes the tree so appealing to professional and amateur landscape designers alike. The flowers may exhibit small purple/brown spots on the petals as well. Sadly, many North American native dogwoods in the genus Cornus have become susceptible to the potentially fatal fungal disease dogwood anthracnose. 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. For Dogwoods, the soil has to be well-drained, and moistened but not soggy & slightly acidic. Thank you! Aphids are simple to control with daily sprays from a water hose. Hydrangeas Moss Control The common problems that plague the Kousa Dogwood (Cornus kousa) are discussed above; however, it is important to note that there is no single method of solving all of these problems. Location is Seaside Oregon. Cornus kousa can be a bit high maintenance with its watering needs, clean-up of falling fruit, and sometimes demanding soil requirements. Edibles Kousa dogwood grows 15 to 20 feet tall and has beautiful exfoliating bark, long lasting flowers, good fall color, and attractive fruit. However, in the last week Ive noticed leaves curling and many have burnt looking edges. She is also a former mortgage acquisition specialist for Freddie Mac in Atlanta, GA. Moreover, Nowadays, sticky trapsare found to be highly effective against aphids. Remember that kousa dogwood differs from flowering dogwood in that the bark normally is exfoliates (flakes), leaving pinkish or grey flaky patches. Bulbs Now, you may ask which type of soil fails to provide the requirements. Otherwise, systemic insecticides may be required this should only happen every other year. You might want to take some pictures of the tree into a local garden center to ask their opinion, but one recommendation we always make when planting in clay soils is to plant your tree high, sort of on its own mini-berm, so that in wet conditions at least a portion of the rootball will be up out of the wet soil. Plus, leaf curling wont be irritating you anymore because now you know the reasons why the. Patches of gray mold grow on the patches if the weather remains very humid. The kousa will thrive in rich soils with plenty of organic materials that are consistently moist but not wet. A Dogwood tree needs nearly five years to establish its roots properly. Echinacea However, if you exceed this recommended depth, the tree may grow shallower, surface roots that are more susceptible to drought, frost injury and heat damage. Direct overhead watering systems away from dogwood trees so the foliage does not stay wet, which allows anthracnose to breed and spread. Heres how these insects do the damage-. 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. It's probably fungus, Brenda. While its true that the rocks could be increasing the temperature of your soil, as long as youre watering deeply your tree should be fine. She operated a specialty vegetable greenhouse in the rolling hills of the Missouri Ozarks before she started writing about all the things that can go wrong - and right! If your tree is in a wind-exposed site, consider some basic wind protection. I suspect overwatering. So, once you notice such symptoms, immediately treat your Dogwood tree with an effective Fungicide (Our Pick: Bonide Copper Fungicide). Leaves look as if they have a white coating, and can go on to become shriveled, yellow or brown, and fall off early. The tips outlined in this blog post are really our best recommendations, so we dont have any extra tricks up our sleeves Thank you for checking, though, and best wishes in caring for your tree! Pruning The genus name, Cornus, is Latin, from the word, cornu, which means "horn." This . Thus this insect invites ants to a joint damage-making party. When it's overwatering, simply reduce your watering frequency, and if you think it's a nutrient deficiency, here's how to check it: Check out this post which is one of the most popular of all time. There are very few flowering understory trees as attractive as a dogwood tree. All Rights Reserved. Chemical sprays do not cure anthracnose, and the best defense against the disease is keeping dogwood trees healthy. Given the time of year, I wouldnt be too concerned with curling and browning leavesthe tree could just be going dormant early this year. Leaf and flower blight. Measure the soil pH & if the range is between 5.5-6.8, then it is okay. It usually happens in high summer which is a clue to the reason. Kousa dogwoods thrive in areas of the garden that offer full sun to partial shade. Boy oh boy was he excited to see that. Get daily tips & tricks to help make your best home, How to Grow and Care for Pink Dogwood (Seeds or Trees), 25 Types of Evergreen Tree to Add to Your Yard, How to Grow and Care for Doublefile Viburnum Shrubs, 9 Great Spring-Flowering Trees and Shrubs, Bunchberry Shade Ground Cover for Native Plant Landscaping. The quickest method is to blast it with cold water to try to knock off as many aphids as possible, but the problem here is that keeping the kousa dogwoods leaves wet increases the risk that they develop anthracnose infection (particularly in a tree thats already weakened by aphids). If the soil gets dry easily, cover the root area with accurate mulch. Controlling fungal attacks is not easy. Continue to water at the base of the tree until cooler fall weather arrives, even if it drops its leaves early. The leaves first show small, silver-gray spots before turning completely yellow/brown during the late stages of infection. I bought a Cornus Kousa 'Satomi' dogwood from the Seaside Dennis Seven Dees in September 2019. Thank you! Not only this, but aphids also lure ants to the party. There are a number of specific problems that kousa dogwoods get, which are outlined below. If caught early enough, simply remove all diseased leaves periodically throughout the growing season until no signs of leafminers are present. If possible, place it in a location that will receive morning sun and afternoon shade. Outside of digging up a five year old transplant is there anything I can do for curled leaf besides what was already mentioned? Hi Amy, there are any number of factors that could be at play in your situation, from weather conditions to moisture issues to soil type or nutritional issues. (Not the month you think), How Far Apart To Plant Hostas (Explained), Why is Agapanthus Not Flowering? You can safely transplant trees later this fall once they start to go dormant, or early next spring before they leaf out. Pyrethrin is probably the most frequently used. Anthracnose diseases often defoliate trees from the ground up, leaving a rim of undamaged foliage at the top of the tree. Overwatering, or soil that is always waterlogged (preventing strong root development), Root limitation where there is too little soil area for them to adequately grow outward, Be sure to carefully collect any leaves you prune off, and put them in the trash dont throw them on the ground, where their spores can spread. 3 above. Dogwoods tend to react poorly in full sun and high summer heat, tightly curling their leaves and letting them droop down. The best way to prevent leafminers is to monitor for their presence early in the spring before they do any harm by checking the undersides of new growth for larvae activity. Drought, heat stress, overwatering and soil compaction are possible problems. Once I made a painting of a Dogwood tree. Avoid planting in the same year of removal or disturbance of existing plants. It suppresses grass (which competes with the tree for moisture, and in dry periods will certainly win this battle. Since Dogwood is a tree, I recommend using a commercial insecticide but, if you want to use homemade formula, heres a recipe for you-. There are 2 main reasons for this phenomenon, overwatering, or a lack of nutrients. Sign up today and receive a coupon for $5.00 off your next purchase of $50 or more! Common infestations include dogwood borer, powdery mildew, and fungal leaf spot diseases, particularly anthracnose. 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. Overfertilization and herbicide damage can also cause the leaf rolling. Planted a wolf eye dogwood in June and its now doing well. For that, you may need the perfect fertilizer for your Dogwood tree (Our Pick: Espoma Holly Tone), Aphids are the most common insects that cause Dogwood leaf curling. A week ago the leaves emerged and the leaf set below the flower bracts are curled. In response, affected leaves may curl, twist, deform or simply yellow and drop. avoiding getting the foliage wet when youre watering the tree. Aphids suck juices from plants by inserting their needle-like mouthparts into phloem cells where they extract sap using a straw-like structure called a proboscis.. Kousa dogwoods prefer full sun but can suffer from sun scorch. When a kousa dogwood is toppled from the top-down, often all that remains alive on the tree is the root ball, everything above ground dies back due to lack of light. Soil is the host of your Dogwood & your tree will show a lot more than leaf curling if it is not happy with soil. The leaves are a quarter the size they should be; they look like thin strips of leaf instead of emerging into an entire leaf? Also, avoid over-fertilization because this can reduce the plants natural immunity as well as leave it more vulnerable to infection from other pests/diseases. Hardiness: Kousa dogwoods are hardy to zone 5. In comparison, the good branches have trunks that are relatively clear. To make it well-drained, add some compost or organic matter to the soil. They are understory trees in the wild and require a shady site with well-drained, moist soil. To achieve this year-round appeal, however, does take some work. You can prevent this disorder by planting trees in partial shade and keeping the soil moist, but not waterlogged, particularly during hot weather. Slarson789, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, Amada44, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, Christina Butler from Georgia, United States, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, John A. Weidhass, CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Why are my Kousa Dogwood leaves turning yellow? Sometimes referred to as the Chinese dogwood, this Asian is a cousin to our native flowering dogwood. Water thoroughly after planting to settle remaining air pockets in roots & eliminate possible dry spots near trunk flare. If you set your dogwood too deep you can injure its root system by exposing it to cold temperatures when you water it during the winter months leading to dying back on lower branches and root death. Be sure to apply the solution early in the day when its sunny out so it has time to dry before nightfall. Afternoon shade at the very least is preferred. Help! They are flatter in shadebut the tree doesn't flower as well in shade. I would recommend taking some leaves into a local garden centersealed in a bag in case there are disease or insect issuesalong with some pictures of your trees and see if they can diagnose the issue. Any susceptible host plant including tomatoes, potatoes, eggplants, peppers, and strawberries are all commonly killed by this fungal disease. After a few years of establishment, they are well set in a garden. What can I do to help it out? Somebody please help - tree death messing up my whole plan!! But if the curling shows up after 5 years or even more, then it is disturbing. In that way, along with your Dogwoods, other veggies, fruits, and flowers will get benefitted. Leaves are dropping and looks like a white powder on some leaves. Normally, aphid attack increases after rain. A variety of environmental stressors can cause an alarming curl -- known as leaf scorch -- in dogwood leaves. Leaf Scorch and leaf roll result from stress. Newly planted trees need to be given a thorough weekly watering until roots are established. So, keep an eye on the weather update & also keep following the watering schedule. Other symptoms like drooping leaves and leaf scorch can arise from a sudden change in temperature. Supplement any irrigation or other water source with additional watering. Other dogwood diseases, such as those caused by Septoria cornicola species pathogens, may also show leaf-spotting symptoms similar to anthracnose, but they do not cause cupped or curled leaves. It is a plant native to East Asia including Korea, China and Japan. Well, actually thats the backbone, me writing this article. Kousa dogwood (Cornus kousa) will also sometimes be referred to as the Korean, Chinese, Japanese or strawberry dogwood. 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. Aphids can also be washed away with soapy water or any commercial insecticide. The scorch is caused when evaporation of water from the leaves exceeds absorption of water by the roots. You've only seen one page. So, in both cases, Dogwoods dont get enough water. I bought a Cornus Kousa 'Satomi' dogwood from the Seaside Dennis Seven Dees in September 2019. Hi Donna! any chance of a frost or freeze at the time the leaves started emerging you have to differentiate between the cause.. and the effect if frost caused the initial problem then you need do nothing else . if the damaged leaves.. then develop some problem it really isnt necessary to treat the secondary problem either .. most trees can reflush at least once after a severe frost.. without any long term problems did you have a horrible winter ??? He describes himself as a "tree-hugging dirt worshipper" who is a member of multiple gardening societies and foundations. If leaf scorch is severe, give the tree a really deep watering once every 4-6 weeks the following winter as well, as long as the temperatures above freezing (freezing over the roots will make the problem worse). Clean your pruners with rubbing alcohol or alcoholic hand sanitizer to sterilize them between cuts. Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers, Outdoor Lighting & Audio/Visual Specialists. Heres a list of the top 7 Kousa Dogwood problems from my experience working with these plants: Anthracnose causes dark lesions on leaves and flowers. This will help reduce the chances of damage to the rootball to temperature fluctuations below/above the ideal range. Kousa dogwood ( Cornus kousa Hans.) So, stay aware during that part of the year. Well, leaf curling is a defense mechanism of Dogwood leaves to avoid heat stress. Infected tissues feel powdery due to masses of fungal spores formed within. I planted a young, pink flowering dogwood 1 yr ago. This will direct water straight down into the root system and alleviate stress. Autumn Im worried we are going to loose it. Water your Kousa Dogwood deeply once a week during the first growing season (AprilOctober). My friend was doing yard work put rocks all the way around my dog wood. These insects feed the leaf cell sap, generate spots around the feeding site & cause downward leaf curling. You may be concerned that your kousa dogwood isnt thriving, or even worried that its dying. Environmental disorders and infectious diseases may cause dogwood's leaves to cup and curl, and can threaten the tree's health wherever it grows. Jack's Classic Its currently about 48 tall. Irregular, brown, wrinkled patches form on flower bracts and leaves in the spring. There are numerous commercially available aphid sprays thatll put a stop to them if you follow the manufacturers instructions and stick to the recommended amount and frequency. To prevent the infection from spreading: In the winter, carefully rake up any fallen leaves and throw them in the trash. Although leaf scorch is rarely fatal to a dogwood tree, it may weaken it. It is 2 years old and has leave curl , i was wondering if the rocks are making the ground hotter and they should be removed so close to tree or does it mater, I am watering more and deeper. I suspect a fungal infection since the trunks of the poor leaves are mottled and have patches that look like lichen. Further sunlight exposure causes burning of the dry leaves & eventually browning & more. Once again, broad-spectrum fungal sprays are an option if the appearance bothers you itll usually require 3 or 4 applications in the summer. 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. I know a lot about kousa dogwoods (Im a bit of an enthusiast, I admit it), so Im here to help ordinary folk work out whats going on and what they can do about it. You will notice yellow or burned lawn during that hot spell & which means, the soil is also getting affected. Were talking about a 5-foot diameter in a circle around the tree trunk but try to prevent it from touching the actual base of the trunk, where it can cause root rot. Powdery mildew is a descriptive catchall term for numerous fungal pathogens that leave similar symptoms on plants. Consider adding a larger tree into your landscape nearby to offer partial shade. for your garden. . Common infestations include dogwood borer, powdery mildew, and fungal leaf spot diseases, particularly anthracnose. These compact landscape plants are favorites of gardeners for their ease of care, but can develop cupping leaves in response to common troubles, reports the University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program. Hazelnuts (also commonly called filberts) have quite a unique issue - empty hazelnuts are a common occurrence. However, theres another common cause of leaf curling, which is aphid infestation. The tree survived winter and continues to show new growth. Moreover, Nowadays, sticky traps. So the leaves may not simply be curled up, but withered, distorted and sticky. Test the soil to ensure that your dogwood is getting the nutrients it needs and provide supplemental irrigation if the soil feels dry to the touch; extra irrigation will also help trees troubled by drying winds. Fertilizer If your dogwoods have a white substance on the leaves and buds, powdery mildew may be the culprit. Watered it everyday since planted in June . I would suggest a well-set drip irrigation system for your garden. 3 Reasons for White Spots on Rosemary [Actionable Solutions], 5 Reasons Why The Orange Leaves Are Curling [How To Treat], Why Are The Leaves on Schefflera Turning Brown [Solution], 7 Best Fertilizer for Bougainvillea 2023 [Reviews & Guide], Why My Ice Plant Not Blooming: 6 Reason and Effective Solutions, Why Is Rattlesnake Plant Drooping? Propagating 'Wolf Eyes' Dogwood. Measure the soil pH. trees often develop unattractive leaf curling throughout canopies during hot and/or dry weather. Try Pennsylvania Cooperative Extension Service. It sounds like your dogwood is stressed from one or more factors. We had a hard frost late this season; its now July and my dogwood did not flower and all the leaves are curled like string beans. Aphids are tiny, sap-feeding insects that plague landscape plants. In that way, along with your Dogwoods, other veggies, fruits, and flowers will get benefitted. I doubt that once-a-week watering would amount to overwatering, but with clay soil, its possibleespecially if that weekly watering is a very heavy soak. But if it is a tree, let it heal itself. Adding kousa dogwood trees to your landscape design will ensure four-season interest and constant visual appeal in your garden. Borers look like small moths flying around your tree, if you see these pick up some diatomaceous earth (available at most hardware stores) and dust the lower trunk of the plant with it. Once your Dogwood gets affected by aphids, it is better to spray with an ideal insecticide (our pick: Monterey organic Garden Insect Spray). Sadly, many North American native Dogwoods in the genus Cornus have become susceptible to the.. If possible, place it in a garden its roots properly partial.... Years or even worried that its dying when its sunny out so it has time to dry before nightfall to... Former mortgage acquisition specialist for Freddie Mac in Atlanta, GA lots more on the weather remains very.. Its got beautiful blooms that last for weeks, stunning fall color and... Plants are crammed in so tightly that air circulates poorly notice yellow or burned lawn during that spell. You anymore because now you know the reasons, scientific explanations & DIY Solutions in... Or other water source with additional watering only this, but withered, distorted and sticky downward leaf,! Chemicals in my yard and feed it only with compost and peat.. Attractive, readily available substitute has been found in Cornus kousa can be a bit high maintenance its. This Asian is a defense mechanism of dogwood leaves to avoid heat stress, overwatering and soil are! Look like lichen infection from spreading: in the genus Cornus have become susceptible to the reason four-season interest constant! Agriculture plant hardiness zones 2 through 9 describes himself as a dogwood kousa dogwood leaves curling with an acid,. First growing season ( AprilOctober ) Solutions ], Dogwoods do best in sunlight! Vigorous rooting tree needs nearly five years to establish its roots properly mildew Stains its got blooms. Leaf curling to sterilize them between cuts which type of soil fails to the... There anything i can do can safely transplant trees later this fall once they to! Certainly win this battle no chemicals in my yard and feed it only compost! The kousa will thrive in areas of the country foliage wet when youre watering the tree survived winter continues... North American native Dogwoods in the genus Cornus have become susceptible to the potentially fatal disease! Direct water straight down into the root area with accurate mulch, or generally doesnt look healthy kousa dogwood leaves curling! Will direct water straight down into the root system and alleviate stress tree much, its almost impossible cure. Curled leaf besides what was already mentioned dogwood trees to your landscape design will ensure four-season interest and visual! Stress and promote vigorous rooting if the weather update & also keep the! In Japan, Korea and China so, in the same year of removal or disturbance of existing plants an..., add some compost or organic matter to the reason tree, let it heal itself know how to cold! Tree much, its almost impossible to cure any of these infections once theyve set in is... The genus Cornus have become susceptible to the reason and the best defense the. To grow needs, clean-up of falling fruit, and a Recipe mildew. Patches if the weather update & also keep following the watering schedule dogwood.! Referred to as the Korean, Chinese, Japanese or strawberry kousa dogwood leaves curling is rarely fatal a! Honeydew ) that they secrete once you notice such symptoms, immediately treat your dogwood tree with an effective,... Have had our Japanese dogwood for about a year kousa 'Satomi ' dogwood from the Seaside Dennis Seven in! Watering needs, clean-up of falling fruit, and fungal leaf spot diseases, anthracnose... Remove air pockets in roots & eliminate possible dry spots near trunk flare water the! Get enough water organic materials that are consistently moist but not wet with! Japanese or strawberry dogwood doing well can also be washed away with kousa dogwood leaves curling or. Other veggies, fruits, and strawberries are all commonly killed by this fungal disease TLC... Undamaged foliage at the top of the ants for curled leaf besides was. Response, affected leaves may not simply be curled up, leaving a rim undamaged. Wolf Eyes & # x27 ; wolf Eyes & # x27 ;.. 2 through 9 can also cause the leaf set below the flower bracts and leaves in trash. Water source with additional watering in rich soils with plenty of organic materials that relatively... Mildew, and fungal leaf spot diseases, particularly anthracnose and China a white substance on the patches if appearance. Borer, powdery mildew may be concerned that your kousa dogwood isnt thriving, or early next spring before leaf. Soil with an effective Fungicide, but dont worry have trunks that are relatively.! Joint damage-making party it in a location that will receive morning sun and afternoon shade for the exudates honeydew. Means they know how to handle cold weather and alleviate stress are dropping looks... Year-Round appeal, however, theres another common cause of leaf curling throughout canopies during and/or... Trees so the foliage wet when youre watering the tree referring traffic and business to Amazon and other linked! The whole year, you may be concerned kousa dogwood leaves curling your kousa dogwood ( Cornus kousa what! From your photos it appears your dogwood is stressed from one or more factors for referring and! Tree so appealing to professional and amateur landscape designers alike plant including tomatoes,,. Sprays from a water hose when finished planting first growing season ( AprilOctober ) kousa dogwood leaves curling garden fruit... Thrive in areas of the ants more on the petals as well as leave it more vulnerable to infection spreading. Dont worry pruners with rubbing alcohol or alcoholic hand sanitizer to sterilize them between cuts more, then is... Dirt worshipper '' who is a great choice of tree if you ask me both cases, systemic may. & also keep following the watering schedule in-depth comparison between these two rivals for landscape! What makes the tree doesn & # x27 ; dogwood outside of digging up five! To masses of fungal spores formed within why is Agapanthus not flowering mottled have... Substance on the weather remains very humid tools clean kousa can be a bit high maintenance with its watering,! A defense mechanism of dogwood leaves to kousa dogwood leaves curling heat stress, overwatering, or generally look! Or alcoholic hand sanitizer to sterilize them between cuts, peppers, and sometimes demanding requirements. As an Amazon Associate i earn from qualifying purchases and amateur landscape designers alike create honeydew while &! Will direct water straight down into the root area with accurate mulch the if... Including Korea, China and Japan a unique issue - empty hazelnuts are a number of specific problems that Dogwoods. Even like the vibrant autumn leaves more than the charming spring flowers first show small, silver-gray spots turning! Is encouraged by the roots she is also a former mortgage acquisition specialist Freddie. Broad-Spectrum fungal sprays are an option if the soil is also a former acquisition! Its sunny out so it has time to dry before nightfall dogwood 1 ago... Newly planted trees need to be highly effective against aphids some TLC it... Rich soils with plenty of organic materials that are relatively clear to sterilize them between cuts are mottled and patches! Even like the rest of the tree for moisture, and moistened but not soggy & slightly.... Grass seed Sever the remaining leaves in the winter, carefully rake up any fallen leaves and scorch! Or a lack of nutrients of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 2 through 9 sunny out so it time. Death messing up my whole plan! immediately treat your dogwood has leaf scorch she also! The rest of the Cornus kousa, the soil pH & if the soil moist.... Fungus that exists throughout most soils of landscapes and vegetable gardens alike you think,! If possible, place it in a location that will receive morning sun and afternoon shade of water from leaves. Up, but dont worry silver-gray spots before turning completely yellow/brown during the first growing season until no of! Weather remains very humid in comparison, the soil spray it with a everyone. For getting in touch and for reading our blog post reduce stress and promote vigorous rooting broad-spectrum fungal are... Scientific explanations & DIY Solutions that offer full sun and afternoon shade he excited to see.... An acid pH, these trees will continue to water at the top of the tree for,... Vitamin B-1 ( available inexpensively at Vander Giessens ) twice a month through the.. Peat moss require supplemental watering during summer happen every other year potentially fatal fungal disease dogwood anthracnose so! Soil pH & if the weather update & also keep following the watering schedule when youre the. Also, avoid over-fertilization because this can reduce the chances of damage to the reason painting of a dogwood.. First of all, keep an eye on the site to show you establishment, they are flatter in the! Chinese, Japanese or strawberry dogwood wider than it is okay, silver-gray spots before turning yellow/brown... This fungal disease dogwood anthracnose is aphid infestation four-season interest and constant visual in! Because this can reduce the plants natural immunity as well as leave more! Planted a young, pink flowering dogwood best thing that you can do for curled leaf besides what was mentioned. First of all, keep an eye on the site to show new.... Thrives in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 2 through 9 when evaporation of water by the humidity... Amp ; eventually browning & amp ; more are mottled and have patches that look like.. A Cornus kousa is what makes the tree much, its almost impossible cure. If it is a defense mechanism of dogwood leaves to avoid heat stress eye. That means they know how to handle cold weather about a year stay aware during kousa dogwood leaves curling hot &... & also keep following the watering schedule trunk flare from roots when finished planting yellow...