I Live in Northwest PA on Lake Erie. Jack's Light: Full sun to partial shade. Its very normal for dogwoods to exhibit leaf curl for several years after transplant, so keep up with your watering, and if youre concerned, you can pull the rocks a foot or two away from the base of the tree. If you have very well-drained soil, great! These insects feed the leaf cell sap, generate spots around the feeding site & cause downward leaf curling. Clean your pruners with rubbing alcohol or alcoholic hand sanitizer to sterilize them between cuts. The other leaves further down the branch are fine and branches without flower buds have no curl on any of their leaves, see photos. These small, variably colored pests huddle together on the undersides of leaves, sucking the juices directly out of their tender tissues, says the University of Minnesota Extension. [Solutions], Dogwoods do best in partial sunlight. Make sure there are no rocks at the bottom of the hole. Prune off any infected leaves as soon as you see them. If you see the white coating and cupped leaves on your tree, fungicides cannot cure the disease, which is already established. Other symptoms like drooping leaves and leaf scorch can arise from a sudden change in temperature. But if it is a tree, let it heal itself. Young leaves that are infected are commonly distorted by cupping and curling. These are symptoms of leaf scorch of dogwood. Fungal attacks are both problematic & irritating. avoiding getting the foliage wet when youre watering the tree. Perennials I live in South Eastern New Hampshire. Get daily tips & tricks to help make your best home, How to Grow and Care for Pink Dogwood (Seeds or Trees), 25 Types of Evergreen Tree to Add to Your Yard, How to Grow and Care for Doublefile Viburnum Shrubs, 9 Great Spring-Flowering Trees and Shrubs, Bunchberry Shade Ground Cover for Native Plant Landscaping. Fertilizer Check out this post which is one of the most popular of all time. The leaves usually are also droopy, reddish, and curled. Water: Average water needs, but will require irrigation during a drought, especially if planted in full sun. Kousa dogwoods prefer full sun but can suffer from sun scorch. Check out this post for a very complete answer. So, stay aware during that part of the year. Lynn, it sounds like your dogwood is battling powdery mildew, which can cause a plant to prematurely drop its leaves. Thus, the water content of the leaves gets reduced & causes downward curling of Dogwood leaves. Japanese Kousa Dogwood Growing Conditions. Most of the time, fungicides dont really repair the damage. Watered it everyday since planted in June . Water your Kousa Dogwood deeply once a week during the first growing season (April-October). 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. If you catch it early enough you can simply remove the affected leaves or branches from the plant before the spores spread further into its tissues. Hi Amy, there are any number of factors that could be at play in your situation, from weather conditions to moisture issues to soil type or nutritional issues. After a few years of establishment, they are well set in a garden. Thanks in advance! Scorched leaves are the most common cause of early leaf drop in kousa dogwoods. Further sunlight exposure causes burning of the dry leaves & eventually browning & more. was the tree stressed by an extreme winter.. on top of a late frost??? If leaf scorch is severe, give the tree a really deep watering once every 4-6 weeks the following winter as well, as long as the temperatures above freezing (freezing over the roots will make the problem worse). Its underwatered which might show itself in leaf-curling see below. For this one, have a look at this post, which answers this very question! Without further ado, lets dive into it. Why are my kousa dogwood leaves curling? Thanks for checking with us! The kousa berries are a visual delight and offer a delicious treat to the wildlife who use them as a nearly endless source of food before winter. It is a plant native to East Asia including Korea, China and Japan. Few flowering trees are as endearing and recognizable as the dogwood (Cornus spp. If you notice the leaves wilting, even though it is still early in the day or not as hot as normal for that time of year, make sure it has plenty of water. So, in both cases, Dogwoods dont get enough water. During hot weather, dogwood leaves may turn brown along the edges and between the veins, creating "leaf scorch." Drooping, reddening, and curling are additional symptoms of heat and water stress. Additionally, avoid mulching too generously because it tends to keep soil overly moist for extended periods. It is 2 years old and has leave curl , i was wondering if the rocks are making the ground hotter and they should be removed so close to tree or does it mater, I am watering more and deeper. jaansu 13 years ago I have a ~20 yr old Kousa dogwood in my front yard that has done well up until last year when most of the leaves began to close up/curl and droop. Why Does a Pear Tree Have Small Leaves & Sparse Leaves? Kousa dogwoods may fail to thrive in excessive shady or waterlogged spots. In our area, dogwoods typically do fine in full sun, but if your tree is planted in a hot, full-sun location, it might benefit from some afternoon shade. A more attainable goal is to manage the environmental influences that favor the disease. Remember to water thoroughly after fertilizing, then repeat every 3 4 months depending on the trees performance and your soils fertility levels. You can control aphid infestation fairly easily if your trees small enough to get at. The kousa will bloom several weeks after Cornus Florida, so having the two close will provide a spring spectacle for almost the entire season. Avoid planting during the hot summer months (June August ). This disease thrives in warm, humid conditions so making sure theres a nice flow of air between your Kousa dogwood and surrounding vegetation will go a long way toward preventing an outbreak. Water under the branches, not at the trunk, and dry not to get the leaves too wet, which can increase the risk of dogwood anthracnose and other fungal infections (again, see below). I have a background in science and education, but love to get hands-on experience when it comes to nature, making my own gardening mistakes and learning from them! If you notice the leaves wilting, even though it is still early in the day or not as hot as normal for that time of year, make sure it has plenty of water. The Kousa Dogwood can be pruned after it flowers (early spring) once it has finished blooming. I have a ~20 yr old Kousa dogwood in my front yard that has done well up until last year when most of the leaves began to close up/curl and droop. Infected tissues feel powdery due to masses of fungal spores formed within. Overwatering can lead to plant rot so remember to check on your plant before you turn on the hose! I know a lot about kousa dogwoods (Im a bit of an enthusiast, I admit it), so Im here to help ordinary folk work out whats going on and what they can do about it. Prepare the soil properly. Take a jar & pour 1 cup of vegetable oil & 1 tablespoon of liquid soap into it. Patches of gray mold grow on the patches if the weather remains very humid. Dip the snipped end of the cutting in rooting . Now, you may ask which type of soil fails to provide the requirements. I live in Toronto. Looking forward to to hearing from you . Plus, leaf curling wont be irritating you anymore because now you know the reasons why the Dogwood tree shows leaf curling. Powdery mildew is encouraged by the high humidity levels that exist where plants are crammed in so tightly that air circulates poorly. The soil is well drained as we are on chalk ? The showy parts of the Kousa dogwood "flower" (3-5" across) are the four . link to Why are my hazelnuts empty? disease control So, once you notice such symptoms, immediately treat your Dogwood tree with an effective Fungicide, But dont worry. Sign up today and receive a coupon for $5.00 off your next purchase of $50 or more! This disorder causes unsightly distorted and curled leaves that often have brown margins. The many graceful shapes of dogwoods (Cornus spp.) Gardencue.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Sometimes referred to as the Chinese dogwood, this Asian is a cousin to our native flowering dogwood. Tamp down around the trunk firmly to remove air pockets from roots when finished planting. trees often develop unattractive leaf curling throughout canopies during hot and/or dry weather. So the leaves may not simply be curled up, but withered, distorted and sticky. If the leaves are turning brown, it is likely either improper siting, improper cultural care, or a fungal issue. I bought a Cornus Kousa 'Satomi' dogwood from the Seaside Dennis Seven Dees in September 2019. Boy oh boy was he excited to see that. & if the range is between 5.5-6.8, then it is okay. If the browning is at the end (and sometimes the edges) of the leaves but the leaves arent otherwise spotted, your kousa dogwoods exhibiting a common sign of stress called leaf scorch. In comparison, the good branches have trunks that are relatively clear. Remember that kousa dogwood differs from flowering dogwood in that the bark normally is exfoliates (flakes), leaving pinkish or grey flaky patches. If your dogwood's leaves were covered in a white, powdery substance before they began to fade to light green or yellow and cup, powdery mildew is likely the cause of your dogwood problem. So, keep an eye on the weather update & also keep following the watering schedule. Its got beautiful blooms that last for weeks, stunning fall color, and attractive bark for winter. Pruning, Perennials, and a Recipe for Mildew Stains. Is there a disease or insect problem I should be worried about? Prune any dead branches and thin out large branching at the base of the tree to improve air circulation & make sure the center is open for good light penetration. Hands-On Gardening 2023. Dogwoods are highly susceptible to Powdery Mildew & Anthracnose. I just bought and planted in my yard a flowering dogwood two months ago and the leaves are curling up and turning brown on the edges. (Yes, heres how). 6 Common Branson Tractor Problems (+ How to Fix Them), When Do Azaleas Bloom? Newly planted trees need to be given a thorough weekly watering until roots are established. All about blank filberts. When you see your dogwood tree leaves turning yellow because of chlorosis, make sure you are watering appropriately. Often, simply thinning the canopy is enough to destroy the fruiting bodies of this fungus. curling leaves on Kousa dogwood, fungal infection? Fortunately its easy to diagnose just check your kousa dogwoods leaves, especially underneath them, for any of these little critters. Thanks for checking! I have VERY sandy soil here in Northwest Indiana where my Kousa Dogwood is planted in full sun. Moreover, Nowadays, sticky trapsare found to be highly effective against aphids. Make sure there is 1-3" mulch over the roots to keep the soil cool, moist and the weeds out. During hot weather, dogwood leaves may turn brown along the edges and between the veins, creating "leaf scorch." Drooping, reddening, and curling are additional symptoms . 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