problem with dogwood tree

6 years ago

i have a dogwood tree that was planted 5 years ago. the temps have been extremely hot and humid, highs into the triple digits. it has been dry too, but i didn't think i would have to water it if it's already established. the leaves look wilty and some are yellow and brown. what is wrong with my tree? what should i do to stop it?

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gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

6 years ago

Dogwoods - by nature woodland understory trees - have never been considered particularly drought tolerant and one in full sun with hot and dry summer temperatures is going to respond accordingly. Water it!!

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Comments (8)

Marion_ 6b
Original Author
6 years ago
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ejperryman, Tampa might be too far south for dogwoods. They're really more prevalent in North Florida. We tried some in Merritt Island, on the east coast of Florida and north of you. When we purchased non-specific C. florida from one of the local stores, they mildewed badly and eventually died. We did find a named C. Florida cultivar "Weaver" (from mailordernatives.com) that didn't seem to have the powdery mildew problems and was doing ok (we moved before it got very big, so no telling long-term how it would do.) It's supposed to be a little better for farther south than some of the other cultivars. Ours were growing as understory trees with slash pines and scrub oaks--that far south you probalby don't want to let them get a lot of sun. There are a lot of native options you could consider if the dogwoods don't work out. The Florida Native Plant Society (FNPS.org) is a good source for information regarding native plants. One that should grow well in your area is Firebush (Hamelia patens). It gets red-orange flowers that hummingbirds and butterflies love, and the foliage turns red in the fall. If it doesn't freeze, it can grow into a small tree, and is a great native understory plant. If you want to try a spray, a mixture often used on roses for mildew is about 4 tsp baking soda, 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil, and a tsp of dishwashing liquid soap in a gallon of water sprayed your plants. Shouldn't hurt anything, might help--and won't hurt you, either. Like most sprays, try to do it when the weather's not going to be too hot--try for less than 80-85 degrees if you can or it might burn your plants.
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Thanks for your response. There is some compost at the base but it is not high at all. I think the angle in the photo makes it look like it is high when in fact it is not. However, I can certainly remove it if you think that will help. There are no deer here. There was moss in many areas and so I pulled some of that off. Below the moss I saw a couple of what looked like tiny slugs almost 2 to 3 feet up the base of the tree. Could they have been damaging the bark? We have had a very rainy winter so maybe that did not help either. The branch was taken off a few years ago. The tree has been in full bloom every year up until now. Thanks.
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where are you ... i am not sure i would try to move a tree that size ... digging is no real problem ... lifting it.. and moving it around the house is a huge problem ... think 2 or 3 foot rootball.. that could easily run a couple 3 hundred pounds ...... and then getting it in the hole.. and moving it around .. for final positioning ... and then the final problem of how do you secure it upright for the 2 or 3 years that is has no roots to hold itself upright .... when you can simply cut this one flush to the ground ... and use a stump killer and be done with it ... and if you want one in back.. go buy one for under a hundred bucks ... work smart not hard .. imo ... keep in mind.. plants are planted.. to hide the foundation.. NOT on the foundation ... and that was the mistake made here .. it is also a plus... to not plant things so close that plants stain or keep siding wet .. or if that was a painted surface.. allowing room to paint when it need be done .. btw.. whats the surface below the porch railing ... put all that together.. and i would not be planting anything right where the stump will be.. and that is why i would forego digging it out ... you have set yourself firmly in a box .. trying to move it.. think outside that box ... btw ... one of the problems i see.. is the thing has been sheared into that shape for a very long time .. and it will take years of pruning.. to get it back to a natural form ... good luck ... ken
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User
6 years ago
Sometimes when the spring season is good and a tree puts on a nice full, flush of leaves, then later in the season the rains stops and temps rise, the tree finds itself not able to muster enough water to support the canopy.

This happens more with trees that like water like Birch, Maple, Dogwood etc, when they have never went through drought before.

I'd just soak it down and keep it watered regularly until the rains return. You might loose the leaves as the look pretty crispy but the tree should rebud at least for next year and possibly push some leaves yet this year.
KennsWoods
6 years ago
The tree looks like it has been growing well. Give it a long, slow deep watering.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
6 years ago
it has been dry too, but i didn't think i would have to water it if it's already established.

==>>> correct ... but geez.. cut it some slack..

put the hose on a bare trickle.. and let it run for a few hours ... that ought to get it into fall ...

i was in severe drought... from grass greening.. until a week or two ago ... i KNOW when i am in severe drought.. when my 17 year old lilacs start doing what your tree did ...

in the case of old overgrown lilac.. i ignore them.. and the first good rain perked them right up ... besidees.. im not dragging hose around 5 acres to water 15 different plants ...

in your case.. one tree ... water it DEEPLY ... hence the trickle idea ...

i bet.. if you go dig a hole somewhere.. a foot deep.. you might find.. there is no moisture 8 to 12 inches down .... care to test that hypothesis ... yeah. sure you will ... when its not a hundred freaking degrees... lol ... ;)

ken
0
tete_a_tete
6 years ago
'Sometimes when the spring season is good and a tree puts on a nice full,
flush of leaves, then later in the season the rains stops and temps
rise, the tree finds itself not able to muster enough water to support
the canopy...'

This ^

I'd set up the sprinkler this evening. It needs a long, slow, gentle watering.
0
Marion_ 6b
Original Author
6 years ago
i gave it a slow deep watering this evening. the temp hit 101 degrees today and with the dew point at 78 the heat index was 114. by next week we should be back to the typical summer days with 90 degree temps, high humidity, and a chance of a storm in the afternoon lol. thanks for the help.
cearbhaill (zone 6b Eastern Kentucky)
6 years ago
Once mine get saggy like that even when they do perk back up they never look as happy as they did in the earlier part of the summer. It's just when it is this hot everything starts to look tired by early August. So while it may perk back up don't expect the foliage to return 100% to it's super happy verdant look.
0

problem with dogwood tree

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

Comments (8)

Marion_ 6b
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KennsWoods

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

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problem with dogwood tree

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

Comments (8)

Marion_ 6bOriginal Author

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KennsWoods

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

tete_a_tete

Marion_ 6bOriginal Author

cearbhaill (zone 6b Eastern Kentucky)

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Marion_ 6b
Original Author

Marion_ 6b
Original Author