Dog wood tree with yellowing leaves - Ask Extension
Hello,
We bought a corpus kousa satomi and planted it in May of 2021. It was badly scorched by the major heat wave. But survived. Since then it's go...
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Dog wood tree with yellowing leaves #874558
Asked June 24, 2024, 11:35 PM EDT
Hello,
We bought a corpus kousa satomi and planted it in May of 2021. It was badly scorched by the major heat wave. But survived. Since then it's gone downhill every summer. I didn't think it would come back this year but we replanted it in black gold soil from the nursery and it bloomed!! The nursey recommended we baby it for a few years before attempting to put it back in the ground.
Currently I water once a week about 1 and a half gallons. It's on the east side of my house and gets shade plenty of shade at the hottest part of the day.
The leaves are my concern. Googling tells me this could be any number of things. I see no evidence of bugs.
I'm from the midwest so don't have any idea if the yellow stuff on the branches is normal.
Thank you for any help in getting my tree healthy.
Linn County Oregon
Expert Response
Hi Kimberly,
You have a variegated dogwood. They are lovely and that is natural, not a disease. The bark cracking could be just normal growth as the trunk enlarges.
However, your pot is not nearly big enough for the tree to actually take off. You can transplant it without shock by getting a larger pot wider and deeper and filling it with enough soil so that if you put the entire pot it is in now, it would sit right about level with the new pot.
Gently remove the tree from that pot and place in the new pot and fill in with soil around the sides of the bigger pot. Use some composted manure and raised be soil. Water thoroughly and regular.
I am adding a link about growing dogwoods for your review: https://extension.umd.edu/resource/growing-flowering-dogwood-trees/
You tree should do well.
By the way, did you know that ivy, the kind in your yard is invasive and nurseries are not allowed to sell it in Oregon. You may have noticed the trees along the freeway that are covered in it. It grows everywhere and has no read enemy. The problem is it is pushing out other plants and taking the nutrients from the soil. It is just getting started in your yard, if you dig it out now, roots and all, you may not have an invasion later on.
If you have further questions, please contact us again.
You have a variegated dogwood. They are lovely and that is natural, not a disease. The bark cracking could be just normal growth as the trunk enlarges.
However, your pot is not nearly big enough for the tree to actually take off. You can transplant it without shock by getting a larger pot wider and deeper and filling it with enough soil so that if you put the entire pot it is in now, it would sit right about level with the new pot.
Gently remove the tree from that pot and place in the new pot and fill in with soil around the sides of the bigger pot. Use some composted manure and raised be soil. Water thoroughly and regular.
I am adding a link about growing dogwoods for your review: https://extension.umd.edu/resource/growing-flowering-dogwood-trees/
You tree should do well.
By the way, did you know that ivy, the kind in your yard is invasive and nurseries are not allowed to sell it in Oregon. You may have noticed the trees along the freeway that are covered in it. It grows everywhere and has no read enemy. The problem is it is pushing out other plants and taking the nutrients from the soil. It is just getting started in your yard, if you dig it out now, roots and all, you may not have an invasion later on.
If you have further questions, please contact us again.
Thank you so much.
That ivy is a massive pain. I cut it back/ rip it off the house and out of the garden every other summer. Next time I'll dig it up instead of just pulling it out.
From: ask=<personal data hidden> <ask=<personal data hidden>> on behalf of Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>>
Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2024 8:07:02 PM
To: Kimberly Seiber <<personal data hidden>>
Subject: Re: Dog wood tree with yellowing leaves (#0144476)
Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2024 8:07:02 PM
To: Kimberly Seiber <<personal data hidden>>
Subject: Re: Dog wood tree with yellowing leaves (#0144476)
Dear Kimberly,
I can sympathize. I took some off a massive maple tree. I had to dig down the side of the slope to get it all. Just think of the money you are saving not having to pay for gym fees. Have a great growing summer/fall.
I can sympathize. I took some off a massive maple tree. I had to dig down the side of the slope to get it all. Just think of the money you are saving not having to pay for gym fees. Have a great growing summer/fall.
