Why are the dogwood leaves turning brown? - Ask Extension
This tree was planted April '24 in an area where a birch tree was removed and stump ground in late September '22. The leaves started brown in late Jul...
Knowledgebase
Why are the dogwood leaves turning brown? #879778
Asked August 01, 2024, 3:18 PM EDT
This tree was planted April '24 in an area where a birch tree was removed and stump ground in late September '22. The leaves started brown in late July. What might this be happening, what would be the remedy? The tree is still under warranty.
Montgomery County Maryland
Expert Response
Your Kousa Dogwood is showing leaf scorch and heat stress from our intense temperatures and lack of rain.
To save it and have it flourish in future years we recommend following our watering instructions:
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/watering-trees-and-shrubs/
We'd widen that mulch circle and make sure that the mulch is no deeper than 3 inches and kept pulled back from contact with the trunk. See: https://youtu.be/abc57e3R_ew
You should be able to see a gentle widening or flare on the trunk before it goes into the mulch/soil. If it goes in straight like a telephone pole it means that the tree is either planted or mulched too deeply. Remove mulch and soil until you can see the root flare. Since it was just planted recently, if needed, wait until fall and re-plant it at the correct depth.
More about that here:
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/trees-planted-too-deeply/
Christine
To save it and have it flourish in future years we recommend following our watering instructions:
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/watering-trees-and-shrubs/
We'd widen that mulch circle and make sure that the mulch is no deeper than 3 inches and kept pulled back from contact with the trunk. See: https://youtu.be/abc57e3R_ew
You should be able to see a gentle widening or flare on the trunk before it goes into the mulch/soil. If it goes in straight like a telephone pole it means that the tree is either planted or mulched too deeply. Remove mulch and soil until you can see the root flare. Since it was just planted recently, if needed, wait until fall and re-plant it at the correct depth.
More about that here:
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/trees-planted-too-deeply/
Christine
