The tree was planted as a memorial and I dont want to lose it. Whats going on? This watering problem is really a universal issue. 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. 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. Kousa dogwoods prefer full sun but can suffer from sun scorch. Parsley Seedlings Turning Yellow: How to fix this? Any advice on how I can help it succeed? Planting the Cornus kousa can do wonders for a landscape design by adding four-season interest, extending the bloom time in the spring, and attracting plenty of wildlife, all while having a form and traits that add to its versatility. If you catch it early enough you can simply remove the affected leaves or branches from the plant before the spores spread further into its tissues. It is small to medium in size and has a shallow root system that allows it to fit into almost any setting and be planted near homes and under utility lines. After a few years of establishment, they are well set in a garden. This disease thrives in warm, humid conditions so making sure theres a nice flow of air between your Kousa dogwood and surrounding vegetation will go a long way toward preventing an outbreak. Sometimes a blackish mold, which grows on the honeydew, will be apparent on the leaves as well. The most common way this happens is damage by weed trimmers and mowers the wound in the bark serves as an entry point for the borers. If the result indicates overwatering, then stop watering, let the soil dry out & then start watering again using a perfect dose. Thanks for checking! It grows best in hardiness zones 5 to 8 (Wayne County is in a zone 8). Let me know if it shows any distress other than leaf curl. fruit trees Hi Im in the U.K. Hampshire Kousa dogwoods seem to have some natural resistance to it (compared with flowering dogwood) so its unlikely to be of major consequence for your tree. Some leaves have started to turn red already. Newly planted trees need to be given a thorough weekly watering until roots are established. Among dogwood species, leaf scorch is a common malady that typically attacks trees that are drought-stressed, or wind- or heat-damaged. Summer Clean your pruners with rubbing alcohol or alcoholic hand sanitizer to sterilize them between cuts. If the soil gets dry easily, cover the root area with accurate mulch. You can control aphid infestation fairly easily if your trees small enough to get at. Often, simply thinning the canopy is enough to destroy the fruiting bodies of this fungus. A leafminer is a common pest in Kousa Dogwoods that feeds by chewing out mine tunnels, or spirals, through leaves. . The most common issue with kousa dogwoods. 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. Though the Cornus kousa is not considered drought-tolerant, it is more resistant to drought than native flowering dogwood. It is hard to find a gardener who hasnt gotten confused about watering at least once. was the tree stressed by an extreme winter.. on top of a late frost??? Overwatering the tree (or poor drainage) can also cause chlorosis. 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. Gardencue.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Read more in about how to water your kousa dogwood tree in this article. 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. So the leaves may not simply be curled up, but withered, distorted and sticky. Any susceptible host plant including tomatoes, potatoes, eggplants, peppers, and strawberries are all commonly killed by this fungal disease. Secondly, treat your Dogwoods by applying fungicides from time to time. Kousa dogwoods dry out easily because they have a shallow root system. Japanese Kousa Dogwood Growing Conditions. Kathleen Miller is a highly-regarded Master Gardener and Horticulturist who shares her knowledge of sustainable living, organic gardening, farming, and landscape design. Sever the remaining leaves in half, but leave them on the cutting. Prune off any infected leaves as soon as you see them. Neem oil can be hazardous if used improperly, so follow the label instructions carefully. 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. I have VERY sandy soil here in Northwest Indiana where my Kousa Dogwood is planted in full sun. 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. flowers The kousa dogwoods only real drawback is that it is not native, but this is offset by knowing that it does still play a part in the native ecosystem by hosting the spring azure, a North American native butterfly. To achieve this year-round appeal, however, does take some work. Dogwoods do best in partial sunlight. Can I fix it? Bonide Unique plants The tree didnt bloom all at once and the leaves are now curled. Hi Donna! 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. Otherwise, high wind velocity may cause some damage & also the hot air can get stuck into the canopy. Kousa dogwoods prefer full sun but can suffer from sun scorch. Synonyms are Benthamia kousa and Cynoxylon kousa. The bark is also starting to flake off. Jack's Classic Aphids can also be washed away with soapy water or any commercial insecticide. Daily 6-8 hours of masked sunlight will not cause, First of all, check whether you are over or under-watering by using a moisture meter (, I would suggest a well-set drip irrigation system. Light: Full sun to partial shade. As the site owner, I earn commissions for referring traffic and business to these companies, at no additional cost to you. ), Environmental disorders and infectious diseases may cause dogwoods leaves to cup and curl, and can threaten the trees health wherever it grows. Its very normal for dogwoods to exhibit leaf curl for several years after transplant, so keep up with your watering, and if youre concerned, you can pull the rocks a foot or two away from the base of the tree. Hands-On Gardening 2023. Thank you! Watch your inboxand be sure to add us to your address book to ensure you receive our e-mails. Kousa dogwoods are native to eastern Asia and can be found growing in Japan, China, Korea, and Vietnam. Direct overhead watering systems away from dogwood trees so the foliage does not stay wet, which allows anthracnose to breed and spread. If possible, place it in a location that will receive morning sun and afternoon shade. 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. This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. Bloom occurs in late spring. University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program, University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program: Dogwood, University of Minnesota Extension: Aphids in Home Yards and Gardens, University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program: Leaf Burn or Scorch. Allow the top 2 inches of soil to dry out between watering. From your photos it appears your dogwood has Leaf Scorch. Measure the soil pH & if the range is between 5.5-6.8, then it is okay. Youll know there are leafminers around when you see tiny green worms about the size of an apple seed that is sitting on your Kousa dogwood leaves early in the spring before twigs have fully hardened off. Verticillium wilt is caused by a soil-borne fungus that exists throughout most soils of landscapes and vegetable gardens alike. Before fertilizing your kousa dogwood, it is a good idea to test your soil. Q: Why does my dogwood have curled leaves? are known throughout U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 2 through 9, depending on species. Heres how these insects do the damage-. 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. Since Dogwood is a tree, I recommend using a commercial insecticide but, if you want to use homemade formula, heres a recipe for you-. 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. Ive watered religiously but it doesnt look good at all. This site is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Typically 3 or 4 applications, starting when the first leaves are opening, will be sufficient. You will notice yellow or burned lawn during that hot spell & which means, the soil is also getting affected. First of all, check whether you are over or under-watering by using a moisture meter (Our pick: Atree Soil Soil Tester Kits with Moisture, Light, and PH Test for Garden). Chemical sprays do not cure anthracnose, and the best defense against the disease is keeping dogwood trees healthy. As with powdery mildew, the mainstay of these conditions is cultural control gardening hygiene, by which we reduce fungal spores, and further spread. -David. If youre applying fertilizer, make sure you stick closely to the manufacturers instructions. If you dont want to compost them away from your Kousa Dogwood plants, then at least move them beyond the property line where the impact of these diseases will be minimized. 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. Let me tell you what happens in these situations. Kousa dogwoods may fail to thrive in excessive shady or waterlogged spots. Hazelnuts (also commonly called filberts) have quite a unique issue - empty hazelnuts are a common occurrence. & if the range is between 5.5-6.8, then it is okay. Make sure the soil has the right amount of nutrients in stock. Once again, broad-spectrum fungal sprays are an option if the appearance bothers you itll usually require 3 or 4 applications in the summer. Water: Average water needs, but will require irrigation during a drought, especially if planted in full sun. Pages on this site may include affiliate links to Amazon and its affiliate sites on which the owner of this website will make a referral commission. In that way, along with your Dogwoods, other veggies, fruits, and flowers will get benefitted. It would be difficult to use too many Kousa . Well, leaf curling is a defense mechanism of Dogwood leaves to avoid heat stress. 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. Low-maintenance shape. Jack's Once your Dogwood gets affected by aphids, it is better to spray with an ideal insecticide (our pick: Monterey organic Garden Insect Spray). for your garden. 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! Leaf scorch in kousa dogwoods can result from: Kousa dogwoods dont tolerate heat (looking at the southern US states here!) Features unique, dark pink to fuchsia blooms that span 4" to 5" (color is light pink for the first 1-2 years as the tree becomes well-established; best color results from placement in fertile soil and full sun) Blooms late May to early June. There is plenty of air circulation. The best way to prevent aphids is to maintain healthy plants, especially during the fall when stressed plants are more vulnerable than ever before. Kousa dogwoods are very sturdy trees when young, but this changes with age. Given that youre in a different climate than us (were in Northwest Washington state), I would recommend checking with a local garden center for their recommendations on how to treat your tree. After a few years of establishment, they are well set in a garden. It should be okay next year. Dogwood Has Yellow Leaves - Other Issues This disorder causes unsightly distorted and curled leaves that often have brown margins. 6 Common Branson Tractor Problems (+ How to Fix Them), When Do Azaleas Bloom? Spray it with a fungicide everyone couple of weeks. It also gets full sun. Water your Kousa Dogwood deeply once a week during the first growing season (AprilOctober). Theyre controlled, rather than cured. The leaves usually are also droopy, reddish, and curled. Thanks for getting in touch and for reading our blog post! Likewise, root damage, girdling roots, and trunk wounds all make it more difficult for the tree to transport nutrients. On the other hand, under-watering causes less water uptake, dried soil, and affects root growth & nutrient uptake. You may, however, want to add a small amount of compost around the tree to help hold some moisture. Prune any dead branches and thin out large branching at the base of the tree to improve air circulation & make sure the center is open for good light penetration. Direct overhead watering systems away from dogwood trees so the foliage does not stay wet, which allows anthracnose to breed and spread. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxF8bRbOVJQ), destructive to Cornus florida, the flowering dogwood, Kousa dogwood growth rate, size and spread (what to expect), Kousa dogwood not blooming well? Cut a 5-inch segment of stem from the tip of a branch, then remove the bottom set of leaves. Its fairly easy to identify. 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. We have had our Japanese Dogwood for about a year. 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). Take a jar & pour 1 cup of vegetable oil & 1 tablespoon of liquid soap into it. Kousa dogwood is a great choice of tree if you ask me. annuals A Dogwood tree needs nearly five years to establish its roots properly. Leaf scorch is most accurately classified as a disorder instead of a disease, and it is not infectious. Sometimes referred to as the Chinese dogwood, this Asian is a cousin to our native flowering dogwood. Water your Kousa Dogwood deeply once a week during the first growing season (April-October). These small, variably colored pests huddle together on the undersides of leaves, sucking the juices directly out of their tender tissues, says the University of Minnesota Extension. 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Your photos it appears your dogwood has Yellow leaves - other Issues kousa dogwood leaves curling! Rarely fatal to a dogwood tree, it is okay high wind velocity may cause some &., it is more resistant to drought than native flowering dogwood anthracnose, and it is hard to find gardener! To use too many kousa have had our Japanese dogwood for about a year to Asia. Pest in kousa dogwoods dont tolerate heat ( looking at the southern us states here )... And trunk wounds all make it more difficult for the tree stressed by an extreme winter.. top... Between 5.5-6.8, then it is not considered drought-tolerant, it is great! Dogwood leaves to avoid kousa dogwood leaves curling stress to lose it dogwood species, leaf scorch is a great of... Water needs, but this changes with age watering until roots are established a... Are known throughout U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 to 8 ( Wayne County is a.