Dogwood Tree Bark Fungus

Inside the tree they feed just beneath the bark consuming the inner bark and cambium.

Dogwood tree bark fungus. Dogwood cankers are commonly found on the main trunk area. The dogwood while common in usda hardiness zones 5 through 9 is most common in north carolina. The infection is manifested in the form of leaf spots and stem cankers. The disease also known as collar rot is caused by the pathogen phytophthora cactorum.

The dogwood leaves turn purple and red during the fall. The initial symptoms appear as medium to large purple bordered leaf spots and scorched tan blotches. Crown canker is a fungal disease that attacks flowering dogwood trees. Leaves of dogwoods infested with the dogwood borer will often turn red and drop early.

Rake and destroy fallen leaves. Fungi are the main causes of dogwood tree diseases. It is popular in home and commercial landscaping because of the early spring flowers and bright red berries. Florida are resistant to anthracnose and decline and should be used to replace dying trees.

Kousa and hybrids of kousa and native dogwood c. Caused by the fungus discula destructive dogwood anthracnose attacks the tree causing masses of spores to appear on the bark. For more information on crown canker on dogwood trees read on. The shoots are also killed in this disease.

A particular kind of canker disease called the diffuse canker is typical to dogwoods. Sadly many beautiful dogwoods are highly susceptible to fungal diseases such as powdery mildew which can cover leaves and infect young buds shoots and flowers dwarfing developing leaves and. In late summer a brown sawdust like borer frass insect waste may be seen near or below the. Fungal diseases can ruin the look of the tree and in the worse cases the tree will not survive.

One of the very common diseases of dogwood trees is the dogwood anthracnose which is caused by the fungus discula sp. The first symptoms of dogwood anthracnose are typically tan spots with. Protect trees from drought stress winter injury and dogwood borer attack. On affected trees leaves remain on the tree throughout winter.

Other symptoms of fungal infection include sunken areas on parts of the tree s bark and discoloration on the bark. It can kill the trees it attacks or can leave them vulnerable to lethal attack by other pathogens. Apply a fungicide during bud break to protect new flowers twigs and foliage. Thin trees with rot are likely to fall apart.

It is caused by the canker fungus that spreads inside the bark sucking away the bark s nutrition. If the cambium is destroyed branches or the entire tree will die. Bark sloughs off around holes on the trunk or branches. The main signs are rot on the truck of the tree which can mess up its structural integrity.

The disease appears as small leaf spots surrounded by a purple border and or large tan spots on the leaf margins.