[The Lawn Boy Pro]

My grandmother has a flowering dogwood on the west side of her house and while most of it is stil growing, there are quite a few branches that have no green leaves whatsoever. Yes the leaves WERE there, but are now crispy-fried. Its weird becasue under examination, I couldnt see any signs of loose bark where bugs could have made a home or anything. Should I cut off the dead branches, or just wait till next year and see if they come back?

 

[KenH]

Sounds alot like anthracnose. Look at some remaining leaves and see if you notice any black spots with a smoky purple rim. If it is anthracnose, its only a matter of time as control is tough. Just try to keep the tree in the best growingcondition possible. (Water and fert.)

 

[mdvaden]

If you do a bit of pruning at the same time, don't expose bark to sunlight too rapidly on a dogwood.

Raise the canopy slowly if the sunset will shine on the trunk.

 

[Team Gopher]

Does it look anything like this?

Here is a link to a site that discusses Dogwood diseases.

 

[The Lawn Boy Pro]

Nononononono. 3/4 of the tree is growing just dandy, the other 1/4 of it APPEARS to be completely fried. dead. burnt to a crisp. The leaves have no noticible diseases on them, no holes from bugs, etc. Its just appears to be dead. I just didnt know if I should cut it, or leave it-if it might come back next year?

 

[KenH]

Is it contained to consecutive branches on one side of the tree??? Is it a new tree???

Try to get a picture up here.

 

[polecat63]

Dogwoods are very susceptible to root rot. Have you had an abundance of rain this year or is their poor drainage where the tree is planted? If no visible sign of disease then this may be the problem. That, or some critter eating the roots or maybe some other problem with the roots. Just removed a 15 year old cherry tree with an odd root problem. Apparently the burlap wrapping was never cut loose, but the tree managed to live 15 years. Odd stuff.

 

[Rtom45]

Another possibility based on your description is fireblight. If this is the case, remove the entire infected branch and burn it. There is no chemical cure that I know of.

 

[GLAN]

Originally posted by polecat63
Dogwoods are very susceptible to root rot. Have you had an abundance of rain this year or is their poor drainage where the tree is planted? If no visible sign of disease then this may be the problem. That, or some critter eating the roots or maybe some other problem with the roots. Just removed a 15 year old cherry tree with an odd root problem. Apparently the burlap wrapping was never cut loose, but the tree managed to live 15 years. Odd stuff.

Nontreated burlap would have broken down by then. The green colored burlap is treated, will break down eventualy. Nylon wraps, well does nylon break down?

 

[polecat63]

Burlap was in tatters but the damage was done. The roots had girdled the tree in several areas. It was a mess.

 

[mdvaden]

So what side of the tree is this?

Is it facing what may have been a very hot sunset on a certain set of days?

Could a bush or tree have been pruned or removed, exposing that side to sunlight that did not shine there before?

Is it where any roof treatment could have splashed from raindrops?