I planted a red Dogwood (Cornus Florida) this spring. It is now
extremely sad looking, with ugly yellowing leaves with dark blotches.
I planted another one (not very close) this spring that is doing just
fine. Other nearby plants look fine (butterfly bush "Black Knight",
forsythia).

Its possible that its gotten too much water -- we've had an extremely
wet spring and early summer. I see a few mushrooms growing in the
mulch near the base. That doesn't seem like a good thing. Is that
bad?

Assuming it is getting too much moisture, what can be done? I
thought I planted it in a spot that would drain well -- there's a
small slope -- but maybe not. Is moving it or replanting an option
at this point? Is there any other problem that it could be having?

Swyck

Sadly, Cornus florida is prone to anthracnose, an fungal disease. It's
causing "dogwood decline" among these beautiful native trees. Your tree
could have been infected before you bought it, or it could have developed
after you planted it. It won't necessarily spread to the other tree--I've
got one dogwood that has been slowly dying for years, and another that seems
to be somewhat resistant. Do a google search, and you're bound to turn up
lots of information. I believe there are new cultivars out there that are
more resistant, and kousa dogwoods are a lovely substitute, although they
lack some of the charm and graceful branch structure.

The mushrooms probably just incidental. There's always fungal spores
around, and in a wet year you are bound to get some. They are not generally
a cause for concern.

Sue

Zone 6, Southcentral PA


wrote in message
...
I planted a red Dogwood (Cornus Florida) this spring. It is now
extremely sad looking, with ugly yellowing leaves with dark blotches.
I planted another one (not very close) this spring that is doing just
fine. Other nearby plants look fine (butterfly bush "Black Knight",
forsythia).

Its possible that its gotten too much water -- we've had an extremely
wet spring and early summer. I see a few mushrooms growing in the
mulch near the base. That doesn't seem like a good thing. Is that
bad?

Assuming it is getting too much moisture, what can be done? I
thought I planted it in a spot that would drain well -- there's a
small slope -- but maybe not. Is moving it or replanting an option
at this point? Is there any other problem that it could be having?

Swyck

In article , wrote:

I planted a red Dogwood (Cornus Florida) this spring. It is now
extremely sad looking, with ugly yellowing leaves with dark blotches.
I planted another one (not very close) this spring that is doing just
fine. Other nearby plants look fine (butterfly bush "Black Knight",
forsythia).

Its possible that its gotten too much water -- we've had an extremely
wet spring and early summer. I see a few mushrooms growing in the
mulch near the base. That doesn't seem like a good thing. Is that
bad?

Assuming it is getting too much moisture, what can be done? I
thought I planted it in a spot that would drain well -- there's a
small slope -- but maybe not. Is moving it or replanting an option
at this point? Is there any other problem that it could be having?

Swyck


I have no serious experience with dogwood trees so can't advise. But you
have my condolences. Stories like yours are so common, that's why when we
were putting in trees, we went with other things entirely, gorgeous though
dogwoods are, & as interested as I've been in the nubbly fruits of a
couple unusual species of dogwood.

-paghat the ratgirl

--
"Of what are you afraid, my child?" inquired the kindly teacher.
"Oh, sir! The flowers, they are wild," replied the timid creature.
-from Peter Newell's "Wild Flowers"
See the Garden of Paghat the Ratgirl: http://www.paghat.com/

On Thu, 24 Jul 2003 12:03:19 -0400, wrote:

I planted a red Dogwood (Cornus Florida) this spring. It is now
extremely sad looking, with ugly yellowing leaves with dark blotches.
I planted another one (not very close) this spring that is doing just
fine. Other nearby plants look fine (butterfly bush "Black Knight",
forsythia).

Its possible that its gotten too much water -- we've had an extremely
wet spring and early summer. I see a few mushrooms growing in the
mulch near the base. That doesn't seem like a good thing. Is that
bad?

Assuming it is getting too much moisture, what can be done? I
thought I planted it in a spot that would drain well -- there's a
small slope -- but maybe not. Is moving it or replanting an option
at this point? Is there any other problem that it could be having?

The problem, particularly for young dogwoods, is not enough moisture.
They have relatively shallow roots, so when the topsoil dries out, so
do their roots. I would Google on "dogwood disease" and see if you can
match any photos. Or "dogwood cultivation" and look for matching
symptoms. I can offer slight encouragement in that my (big, old)
dogwood suffered *something* 2-3 years ago which blighted the leaves
and severely reduced the following year's bloom, but it seems to have
recovered on its own. There are a few dead twigs yet to fall, but it's
lookin' good now (knock wood). I just read an article that said
some dogwood problems are due to advice not to plant in full sun, so
that they are often planted beneath other trees where rain
'runoff/drip down' encourges fungal diseases. Good luck. They are my
very favorite trees -- beautiful in every season.