Dogwood Tree Leaves Curling
On dogwood trees mycrosphaeria pulchra is the causal pathogen for powdery mildew.
Dogwood tree leaves curling. Check twigs branches and trunk for cankers or swollen sunken areas. Ensure your dogwood receives enough moisture. There are any number of diseases and pests that can stress your dogwood and cause dogwood leaf drop. The first sign of infection can often be seen on the leaves where you might see tan spots that develop purple rims.
Usually this is a symptom of water stress either under or overwatering or possibly transplant stress. Examine the dogwood for dark or tarlike spots or curled wilted and distorted leaves. Leaf scorch a variety of environmental stressors can cause an alarming curl known as leaf scorch in dogwood leaves. It is normal to see leaves falling in autumn but you should not see a dogwood tree dropping leaves in summer.
Wilted or curling leaves that may turn brown at the tips or edge a sparse canopy of off color and undersized leaves leaf scorch or yellowing leaves untimely fall color and early leaf drop even if you run a sprinkler in your yard your trees likely need additional water said rick castro of davey s northwest seattle office. Dogwoods need an acid soil that is rich in humus. Affected leaves turn yellow or brown along the edges and curl due to water. Leaves may also have necrotic veins and leaf margins and large necrotic blotches.
Leaf scorch affects dogwood when cultural needs are not being met. As the disease progresses the leaves may cup or curl upward. It is possible that the soil is simply unsuitable for the plant especially when the roots extend beyond the original hole. Leaves eventually curl and drop.
Curled wilted or distorted leaves along with dark or tarlike spots are common symptoms of dogwood anthracnose. This disease causes a white powdery coating on upper leaf surfaces. When leaves are falling off dogwood in summer it could mean a serious illness improper siting or cultivation problems. These are common symptoms for dogwood.
Hot dry and sunny weather burns leaves causing them to turn yellow then brown at the edges. If you see the white coating and cupped leaves on your tree fungicides cannot cure the disease which is already established. Answer from ngajuly 6 2000. Grow dogwoods in light shade with shelter from harsh winds.
Drought and winter injuries weaken trees and the anthracnose fungus mostly attacks during the cool wet spring and fall weather but it can occur during any season. Leaf curl on dogwoods is essentially a protective reaction to stress the tree feels.