Dogwood Tree Leaves Curling
Ascochyta cornicola is a fungus that appears on dogwood foliage after unusually rainy springs attacking new leaves as they emerge.
Dogwood tree leaves curling. Blight begins with small brown centered gray spots that appear on leaf surfaces and distort leaf growth. Environmental disorders and infectious diseases may cause dogwood s leaves to cup and curl and can threaten the tree s health wherever it grows. It seemed to thrive initially. 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 entire leaf is eventually engulfed turns brown and black then withers. When leaves are falling off dogwood in summer it could mean a serious illness improper siting or cultivation problems. Leaf curl on dogwoods is essentially a protective reaction to stress the tree feels. When a dogwood tree does not receive adequate water the leaves of the tree begin to dry with the.
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. Leaf scorch is a common problem in dogwood tress and a sign that your tree is under water stress. I recently planted a small 6 flowering dogwood tree on my front lawn. One of the most common reasons for leaf curling on dogwood trees discula anthracnose is a fungus infection that can attack your leaves in the early part of the growing season.
The bark looks fine and the young branches appear to be a healthy light green near the leaves. 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. This infection strikes as soon as the flowers and buds open and creates small purple blotches on the faces of the curling leaves. Curled wilted or distorted leaves along with dark or tarlike spots are common symptoms of dogwood anthracnose.
However the leaves are now curling and feel dry to the touch. There are any number of diseases and pests that can stress your dogwood and cause dogwood leaf drop.