Dogwood Tree Leaves Curling

One of the most common reasons for leaf curling on dogwood trees discula anthracnose is a fungus infection that can attack your leaves in the early part of the growing season.

Dogwood tree leaves curling. If you have a dogwood showing significant leaf curl throughout the summer 5 years or longer beyond when you planted it keep these tips in mind. On dogwood trees mycrosphaeria pulchra is the causal pathogen for powdery mildew. If you see the white coating and cupped leaves on your tree fungicides cannot cure the disease which is already established. Leaf curl on dogwoods is essentially a protective reaction to stress the tree feels.

Examine the dogwood for dark or tarlike spots or curled wilted and distorted leaves. Check twigs branches and trunk for cankers or swollen sunken areas. Leaf scorch a variety of environmental stressors can cause an alarming curl known as leaf scorch in dogwood leaves. Why do dogwood tree leaves curl.

This infection strikes as soon as the flowers and buds open and creates small purple blotches on the faces of the curling leaves. Rather than keep its leaves flat and susceptible to burning in the summer sun dogwoods curl their leaves to minimize leaf surface area and thus minimize any damage they might receive. Curled wilted or distorted leaves along with dark or tarlike spots are common symptoms of dogwood anthracnose. Drought and winter injuries weaken trees and the anthracnose fungus mostly attacks during the cool wet spring and fall weather but it can occur during any season.

As the disease progresses the leaves may cup or curl upward.