Knowledgebase

Dogwood Leaves #871161

Asked June 02, 2024, 2:22 PM EDT

We have 4 dogwoods along the back edge of our yard that we had planted about 8 years ago. One of the dogwoods set buds last fall as usual. One other one only set buds on a few branches. The other two didn’t set any at all. Then, this spring, when the leaves budded out, the one that set buds had normal leaves. The one that only set buds on a few branches had normal leaves on those branches, but on the rest, had very slender, almost willow-like leaves. The other two with no buds, all the leaves were the slender, willow-like leaves. I’ve attached a couple of photos. Do you have any thoughts on what is going on with these dogwoods?

Anne Arundel County Maryland

Expert Response

The long, strappy, and distorted leaves are indicative of accidental herbicide applications. 

Herbicide injury to plants is called phytotoxicity. It could be weed killer used within your yard or possibly far from you. Some types of chemicals can harm trees when they are applied over the root system of a tree, while others can drift from sprays made on windy days, and on hot days, some can volatilize into a gas and travel.
This page explains more:  https://extension.umd.edu/resource/herbicide-damage-trees-and-shrubs/
It may or may not grow out of the damage.


Christine
Answered by theHome and Garden Information Center (HGIC), University of Maryland Extension. For timely gardening information and tips, subscribe to our Maryland Grows blog and quarterly newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Replied June 03, 2024, 3:59 PM EDT

Christine,

 

               Thanks for the reply.  I checked with our landscape company and they did use a herbicide to spray  a lot of weeds that were emerging around the dogwoods. Would a few rounds of heavy watering help flush out the herbicide?  Would pruning help sprout some healthier leaves?

 

 

 

Thanks!

 

 

 

 

 

<personal data hidden>

 

From: ask=<personal data hidden> <ask=<personal data hidden>> On Behalf Of Ask Extension
Sent: Monday, June 3, 2024 3:59 PM
To: Saje Haile <<personal data hidden>>
Subject: Re: Dogwood Leaves (#0141081)

 

The Question Asker Replied June 08, 2024, 3:42 PM EDT

Christine,

 

               Thanks for the reply.  I checked with our landscape company and they did use a herbicide to spray  a lot of weeds that were emerging around the dogwoods. Would a few rounds of heavy watering help flush out the herbicide?  Would pruning help sprout some healthier leaves?

 

 

 

Thanks!

 

 

 

 

 

<personal data hidden>

 

From: ask=<personal data hidden> <ask=<personal data hidden>> On Behalf Of Ask Extension
Sent: Monday, June 3, 2024 3:59 PM
To: Saje Haile <<personal data hidden>>
Subject: Re: Dogwood Leaves (#0141081)

 

The Question Asker Replied June 08, 2024, 3:42 PM EDT
Herbicide damage is a "wait-and-see" type of thing.
Sometimes plants can grow out of it with time.
You can keep it well-watered (if needed, we had a lot of rain recently) and keep it otherwise stress-free.
(Use a screwdriver and your finger to see if the soil is cool and moist several inches down around the tree.

 Damaged branches and stems can be pruned out.

Good luck.

Christine


Answered by theHome and Garden Information Center (HGIC), University of Maryland Extension. For timely gardening information and tips, subscribe to our Maryland Grows blog and quarterly newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Replied June 10, 2024, 9:45 AM EDT

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