They will be found where honeydew and/or sooty mold (a fungus that grows on honeydew) are present. The dogwood leaves turn purple and red during the fall. Poor leaf color, unhealthy plant growth, twig dieback, and even tree death are typical symptoms of distressed dogwoods. There may be one or two generations a year. Read and follow all label instructions and precautions. Discula and spot anthracnose are fungal infections often found in dogwood trees. High-value trees can be protected by mulching, pruning, and watering during droughts, and applying a fungicide. It is believed to have started in the northeastern United States about 25 years ago, but has been spreading southward ever since. Most insect damage occurs on the trunk and branches of dogwoods. Tatarian dogwood is adaptable to most planting sites. It is a serious disease capable of killing large numbers of trees and most Cornus species can become infected. There are several scale insects, such as calico scale, cottony maple scale, and oystershell scale, that can become pests on dogwood. The larvae bore into the tree and feed in the phloem (tissues that move plant foods produced by leaves) and outer sapwood. Infection spreads into the shoots, main branches, and trunk causing brown sunken areas (cankers) to occur. Eggs hatch at this time and tiny white crawlers settle on leaf veins. The first evidence of the presence of the clubgall midge may be a wilted, deformed leaf. Always try less toxic alternative sprays first for the control of insect pests and diseases. By mid-June, they die, shrivel, and turn brown. Edited and revised by Christa K. Carignan, Coordinator, University of Maryland Extension, 12/ 2019. The adult is a day-flying clearwing moth. Upon hatching, the young caterpillar finds a suitable place to enter the tree such as a wound, scar, woody gall, or branch crotch. The dogwood sawfly is an occasional pest of dogwood. The galled twigs and terminals die prematurely and flowering is reduced. Prune out heavily infested branches. Its leaves look brown every year and it has not yet flowered. Crawler activity often coincides with the flush of new plant growth in the spring. It is about 5/8-inch long at maturity. disease is serious and results in tree death. The show begins with pretty four-petal flowers from spring into summer, followed by bright red and orange foliage in the fall. Additionally, there are less toxic spray fungicides that contain sulfur or copper soap, and biological control sprays for plant diseases that contain Bacillus subtilis. Kousa dogwood (Cornus kousa) is generally resistant to dogwood anthracnose and is a better choice for replanting in sites where dogwoods have died from this disease. I have a couple of dogwood trees, both are about 40 years old. This should be done after wilting occurs and before adult emergence in the spring. Damage on dogwood (Cornus florida) caused by dogwood club-gall midge.Joey Williamson, ©2013 HGIC, Clemson Extension. Apply according to the label instructions. As they grow, they will eat all of the leaf except the midrib. Inside the tree, they feed just beneath the bark, consuming the inner bark and cambium. The flatheaded appletree borer attacks a wide variety of shade and fruit trees. Tatarian dogwood is used as a border, mass, screen or specimen plant in landscapes. Table 1. I thought it started on one bush and it appears to now be on all 4. More information about growing dogwoods is available in HGIC 1010, Dogwood. Use pesticides only according to the directions on the label. The dogwood tree is commonly grown for ornamental purposes, often as a standalone tree. Small trees or individual branches can be girdled and killed in one to two seasons. These insects attach themselves to branches or leaves where they suck juices from the tree. Begin treatment in early May and repeat four times at three-week intervals. I thought it was drought stressed, so this season I really kept on top of watering it with a soaker hose. Dogwood trees grow quickly, with a fast rate of over a foot a year. They lay eggs under bark plates or in bark crevices on the main trunk or larger branches. Maintaining good tree health is the best way to prevent flatheaded appletree borer. Dogwood Trees are Prone to These Diseases and Problems. If you see the flowers of these magnificent white flowering dogwood trees it is not too surprising that these plants are so popular among gardeners. Spores are spread by wind to surrounding dogwoo… The borer is off-white in color with a reddish-brown head. Mature larvae overwinter in cells in the outer wood and pupate in the spring. On severely stressed trees, drying and browning of the areas between the veins and leaf drop can occur. Adult sawflies, which resemble tiny wasps, emerge during late spring and early summer. Dogwood Borer: The dogwood borer (Synanthedon scitula) is the larva (immature form) of a clearwing moth that resembles a wasp. The adult beetle emerges from infested twigs in the spring and the female lays her eggs in healthy twigs. As further infections occur, individual spots eventually merge to form larger spots. The shrub reaches a height of between 6 and 8 feet. ‘Cherokee Brave’, ‘Springtime’, and ‘Pygmy’ have partial resistance. Leaf symptoms develop first in the lower canopy and progress up the tree. Prune out and destroy the galls in summer before the maggots drop to the ground to pupate in the fall. Dogwood Borer (Synanthedon scitula) Adult. In response to the feeding and growth of the larva, a ½-1 inch long club- or spindle-shaped tubular swelling (gall) forms at the tip or along the stem. Photo: James Solomon, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org. They feed on sap by piercing the leaf or stem with their mouthparts and sucking. Powdery mildew on dogwood (Cornus florida) leaves.James Blake, ©2007 HGIC, Clemson Extension. € Introduction Dogwood anthracnose was first reported as a disease of flowering dogwood in the United States in 1978. Is this a fungus or disease that we should treat? Avoid using insecticides unless the plant is very valuable and in serious danger from scale. Photo: Bruce Watt, University of Maine, Bugwood.org. If disease is severe enough to warrant the use of fungicides, be sure that the dogwood is a valuable specimen and the spray equipment can provide good coverage. Examine the undersides of leaves for the flat, yellow, immature scales along the leaf veins. Ovisacs are white, cottony masses that contain eggs. Q. I have a dogwood tree in my yard I'm really concerned about. Repeat treatments in 10 days. Dogwood trees, scientifically known as the Cornus florida, are great for adding color to one's garden and landscape. They most commonly occur during the wet summer months, and may become so numerous that they cover the leaves by the end of summer. Do not plant in full shade. The yellowish larva that hatches from the egg begins tunneling in the pith, boring down the center of the twig, occasionally making a series of holes to the surface through which it expels sawdust. Rake and destroy … They are creamy colored and excavate large, irregular tunnels in the phloem on the main trunk and larger branches which die back first. Infected leaves exhibit marginal leaf scorch, dead patches, reddish discoloration, yellowing and premature defoliation. These plants are relatively hardy but they do have their Achilles heels. Scales vary in appearance depending on age, sex, and species. Adults emerge from dogwood trees around mid-May and continue throughout most of the summer. This is an armored scale and, unlike the cottony maple and calico scales, it does not produce honeydew. They drop to the ground where they survive the winter. Oil should be applied before new growth begins and again after flowering. In the front yard is a pink dogwood approx 25 ft tall and in the backyard a white one, approx 50 ft tall. This will depend on where you are located. The adults may be seen running over the bark of trees and fly when disturbed. The adult is an elongate (5/8 inch long) beetle with long antennae. REC, Dogwood Insect Pests: Identification and Management, Flowering Dogwood Trees: Selection, Care, and Management of Disease Problems, Why Are Leyland Cypress Trees Turning Brown, Azaleas and Rhododendrons: Common Diseases and Abiotic Problems, Boxwood: Preventing and Managing Common Pests and Diseases, Diagnosing Problems of Azaleas and Rhododendrons, Ornamental Fruit Trees: Preventing, Diagnosing, and Managing Problems. A number of factors other than insects or diseases can contribute to the decline of dogwoods in the landscape, especially mower injury, over-fertilization, and poor growing conditions. The female lays eggs on the undersides of the leaves. Crawlers are present in May. Symptoms on dogwoods may also be caused by diseases or abiotic (environmental) factors. A dormant oil spray may be applied in late winter. However, this is a sad story that seems to have a happy ending, as I'll explain in a moment. Permethrin is labeled for use by the homeowner against dogwood borer (see Table 1 for specific products). There is one generation each year. Prevention & Control: The best prevention is to keep trees healthy by fertilizing, watering, and mulching. The Flowering dogwood tree or the red twig dogwood are some of the most beautiful and easy growing shrubs you can grow. However, some scale species may have overlapping generations with an extended crawler emergence period, such as along the coast. Different cultivars, as well as different species and hybrids, offer a variety of flower and plant characteristics. Adults appear in summer and feed on the foliage of host trees. This beetle has yellow/tan wing covers with a black line down the center and along the margins. If it is necessary to control high populations, apply a horticultural oil (2% summer rate) or insecticidal soap spray during the summer. Plant trees at the proper depth and in the best conditions possible. If this document didn’t answer your questions, please contact HGIC at hgic@clemson.edu or 1-888-656-9988. A summer rate (2%) spray of horticultural oil may be used in summer, if necessary. A tree planted this year will reach full-size in about a decade. They may be found on leaves or stems and look like small brownish, grayish or blackish bumps. Anthracnose Disease. For severe infections, fungicides containing chlorothalonil, thiophanate-methyl, or mancozeb can be sprayed (see Table 1 for specific products). Diseases And Pests Evergreen Trees Informative Tree Care Insect Pests of Pine Trees Pines – big and small – were the subject of a recent blog, and they are beautiful trees that bring a unique look to any garden, with so many to choose from. Refer to our pages on common dogwood diseases, abiotic problems, and tree care. New growth is covered with a fine, white, powdery coating, typically on the upper surfaces of the leaves. Join our mailing list to receive the latest updates from HGIC. Scales are unusual insects in appearance. We have all heard the fables about how even the smallest can bring down the mighty. Practice cultural techniques to prevent or reduce the incidence of plant diseases, including pre-plant soil improvement, proper plant spacing, crop rotation, applying mulch, applying lime and fertilizer based on soil test results, and avoiding over-head irrigation and frequent watering of established plants. However, immature forms, called crawlers, are susceptible. Heavy infestations of this scale may cause yellowing, wilting and eventually branch dieback. When powdery mildew persists and sprays are repeated, it is recommended to alternate fungicides to decrease the chance of fungi developing resistance. They touch other bushes (Arctic Fire Redtwig dogwood) that also appear to now have spots. Unfortunately, some common diseases can threaten the health of dogwood in both residential and commercial settings. Do not leave dead leaves attached to the tree. If spraying is required, always spray late in the evening to reduce the direct impact on pollinating insects. Maintain a protective covering of fungicide when new growth is present. Since dogwood borer adults may be present from late April through July, several applications may be needed for good control. Other common landscape dogwoods, such as Planting species and cultivars with some degree of disease resistance is an excellent option for managing this problem in the landscape. Thoroughly spray the trunk, major branches and any wounds on the bark. The caterpillar overwinters in its burrow under the bark and pupates in the spring. This insect usually does not cause serious problems. The best growing zones for this perennial shrub are 2 through 9. It most frequently attacks trees that are stressed or injured. Blighted gray or drooping leaves hang on the twigs and are often the first symptoms noticed during cool, wet weather. During this time, ¼ inch long white ovisacs may be found on branches and twigs. Several bark diseases affect the dogwood. These mature larvae will wander about in search of an overwintering site, generally in soft or decaying wood. Apply all chemicals according to directions on the label. Common flowering dogwood pests and diseases . All recommendations are for South Carolina conditions and may not apply to other areas. Commonly occurring insect pests of dogwood include the dogwood borer, dogwood club-gall midge, and scales. Symptoms of Discula anthracnose on dogwood (Cornus florida) leaves.Joseph O’Brien, USDA Forest Service, www.ipmimages.org, Canker on dogwood (Cornus florida) caused by Discula anthracnose (bark removed).Joseph O’Brien, USDA Forest Service, www.ipmimages.org. The flower bracts are usually attacked first and then the leaves, young shoots, and fruit of dogwoods, primarily during wet spring weather. Foliage: Both are small (⅛ to ¼ inch), angular to irregularly shaped and usually bordered by leaf veins. As the larva tunnels, the twig may break off or wilt behind it. If the cambium is destroyed, branches or the entire tree will die. Thin the canopy to increase air movement. Dogwoods have a very shallow root system, and thus are very susceptible to drought stress, especially newly planted trees in full sun. Prune the diseased stems out if they are untreatable as soon as you notice them. Adults emerge from dogwood trees around mid-May and continue throughout most of the summer. 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