Dogwood Tree Leaves Curling

There are any number of diseases and pests that can stress your dogwood and cause dogwood leaf drop.
Dogwood tree leaves curling. Check twigs branches and trunk for cankers or swollen sunken areas. On dogwood trees mycrosphaeria pulchra is the causal pathogen for powdery mildew. 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. Dogwood anthracnose is caused by the fungus officially known as discula destructiva and it might be helpful if i describe some of the symptoms.
Curled wilted or distorted leaves along with dark or tarlike spots are common symptoms of dogwood anthracnose. These are common symptoms for dogwood. Examine the dogwood for dark or tarlike spots or curled wilted and distorted leaves. This disease causes a white powdery coating on upper leaf surfaces.
It is possible that the soil is simply unsuitable for the plant especially when the roots extend beyond the original hole. Leaves may also have necrotic veins and leaf margins and large necrotic blotches. Hot dry and sunny weather burns leaves causing them to turn yellow then brown at the edges. Dogwoods need an acid soil that is rich in humus.
Answer from ngajuly 6 2000. Leaves eventually curl and drop. Usually this is a symptom of water stress either under or overwatering or possibly transplant stress. If you have a dogwood showing significant leaf curl throughout the summer 5 years or longer beyond when you planted it keep these tips in mind.
Affected leaves turn yellow or brown along the edges and curl due to water. Grow dogwoods in light shade with shelter from harsh winds. Ensure your dogwood receives enough moisture. As the disease progresses the leaves may cup or curl upward.
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. If you see the white coating and cupped leaves on your tree fungicides cannot cure the disease which is already established. Leaf scorch affects dogwood when cultural needs are not being met. It is normal to see leaves falling in autumn but you should not see a dogwood tree dropping leaves in summer.
The first sign of infection can often be seen on the leaves where you might see tan spots that develop purple rims. 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.