dogwood fungus

Hi Seth. I have had similar problems with my Dogwood. Flowers would drop quickly and the leaves would soon turn a blackish-purple and drop. This year I have been spraying it with a fungicide and it's doing terrific. This spring has not been as wet either. So, I'd say go to a garden center and ask for a fungicide for your dogwood and follow the directions on the bottle.

-Felder

Sounds like you are lumping at least 2 issues:

2.) The black / brown spots on the leaves are probably dogwood anthracnose or septoria leaf spot. These are fungal diseases that might be controlled with fungicides, different cultural practices, etc. They are most driven by weather vagaries.

Cheers

We had a similar problem with our dogwood last year and acted too late to save lower branches then. This year we have sprayed the tree when budding and the upper branches seem fine. The lower branches affected last year have very few buds and leaves. My question is, will these lower branches fill out or stay sparse? Should I trim them or leave them if they stay sparse?

Thanks, John

I have at least 50 wild dogwoods with various stages of anthracnose. Some of the older trees are a foot or more in diameter. It can start on the leaves, twigs, or a bruised spot on the bark. As it works down the trunk, the bark breaks away exposing the wood. Eventually the whole tree dies. I had a state forrester look at them and he confirmed anthracnose. When I asked what I could do for them, he said "Nothing. Cut them up for firewood." Lord, I hate to lose those old pretty trees, but such is life. I wonder if the dogwoods will go the way of the American Chestnuts.

Bob S.