Is this dogwood OK?

[bstewert]

Owner is asking about this dogwood, thinking it's sick. Seems like most dogwoods look like this at this time of year. Also, just for fun, a nice-looking fungi on a nearby apple tree.

 

[SouthSoundTree]

Looks like is sucking in its pigments for next season.

 

[bonner1040]

When I dont know whats wrong I tell the customer its dying, and to remove it of course!

only kidding

but thats why fall is my favorite time of year, "see how the leaves are brown? Thats definitely dyeing."

 

[SouthSoundTree]

Got an email today about a " sick" chestnut.

 

[arborworks1]

Looks like a leaf spot disease to me. Have you checked the ph around the tree? I've found that they don't tolerate low ph soils very well.

 

[bstewert]

Haven't checked the ph of the soil. Looked up diseases of dogwoods on google and didn't find anything to match this, so maybe it's just normal for this tree in this spot. Some lawn guy sprayed the tree last year with a general spray they said. But when I asked if the guy ID'd something specific, they didn't know.

 

[SouthSoundTree]

Whats a general spray?

Did these symptoms just show up recently, or have they been present all season?

See any other dogwoods in town? How do they look this time of year?

 

[bstewert]

They said some all-purpose fungicide, whatever that is. It looked like that last year, that's why they asked for treatment. We have several dogwoods at our house, and they don't look as bad. I'll look around the neighborhood. I'm thinking that's just what they do.

 

[SouthSoundTree]

Do you know about dogwood anthracnose, Bob?

http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/howtos/ht_dogwd/ht_dog.htm

Could it be DA with seasonal leaf color change?

 

[bstewert]

I looked at that, but it seems more like a powdery mildew without much powder. I think some of ours has the anthracnose, but I've been throwing a lot of my shredding mulch on the trees this past year, and everyone looks better. No fertilizer at all, just mulch.

 

[SouthSoundTree]

FWIW, for anthracnose, I've read to be sure to remove fallen leaves, prevent drought stress, and be sure to remove trunk suckers.

They seem to have some DA-resistant stock now, again, FWIW.

 

[arborworks1]

I had spot anthracnose on my dogwood. I sprayed it with neem oil for 1 month. It's doing better now.

Drought stress is the key for anthracnose, according to everything I've read and personnally seen, IMO.