Hello again Carl,

Thank you for reaching out to the UVM Master Gardener Extension. Hopefully you are able to submit a photo of the whole tree and fill out the diagnosis form, so we can get a better idea of what the problem might be. Please note whether the soil is well draining, whether you can see the root flare, and what the weather was leading up to the event. Did the roots stay waterlogged from rain events or was the sun so hot for days that the tree got scorched? Do you see any insects or bark damage?

In the meantime, I am sharing a link from the University of Maryland so you can see photos of some common ailments that occur with dogwoods. Young dogwoods take years to establish a good root system, even when the growing conditions are optimal. They then can get stressed easily if the conditions aren’t right. Please note what the article says about Leaf Scorch and farther down about the Dogwood Twig Borer. https://extension.umd.edu/resource/key-common-problems-dogwoods/

We hope to hear from you soon,

The other Lisa

Hi Carl,

Thank you for getting back to us so fast. The dogwood is a tree that is known for growing in partially shaded areas under bigger trees or along the edge of a forest. In full sun, when the weather gets really hot for extended periods of time, the tree can get very stressed. A recommendation is to attempt to tweak the growing conditions to try to make it happier. Some suggestions might be to get a soil test to see if the ph (5.5-6.5) or nutrients in the soil are balanced for optimal growing conditions, or to create some shade when the tree might need it. It is good to have mulch around the base of the tree but make sure it isn't actually touching the tree. The following article has some other reminders of how to care for a dogwood tree. https://extension.umd.edu/resource/growing-flowering-dogwood-trees/

Another thing, in the 3rd picture there are some red spots on the flower that could indicate Elsinoe Leaf Spot (Spot Anthracnose). This is something to keep an eye on because it can turn into a problem if the weather turns especially rainy. Please peruse the following article to see how it could be managed. https://extension.umd.edu/resource/dogwood-anthracnose/

An opinion by Anne Hazlerigg is: "I suspect the issue is winter damage. Pink dogwood really is a solid zone 5 plant. We have a few white dogwoods in our area, but pink is much less hardy in my experience. THat does not stop big box stores from selling them, however. The gardener did not say where the tree is located, but if it exposed to below -10F it will not survive and may struggle even in warmer years. It will likely make it more susceptible to spot anthracnose and dogwood anthracnose, two common fungal problems in this tree. I would suggest they continue to prune out damage and cross their fingers to see if it survives. Hopefully they are in a protected zone 5 spot!"

Thank you for reaching out and I hope your tree remains healthy!