What Is Causing The Leaves On My Red Twig Dogwood To Become Deformed?

Question

I’ve had a red twig dogwood on my property for the last 20 years. The last couple years I noticed that the leaves started to look funky. This year it’s in bad shape. I’m in Colorado, it’s planted on a slope facing north east and gets watered 3 times per week.

Answer 1

It sounds like overwatering may have gotten the best of them over time. This is an infection starting. Probably Dogwood blight. Though this cultivar is resistant, at some point it can contract the disease. Fungicide treatment will be necessary, and watering habit will need to be modified just a little.

Watering should be done when the soil is bone dry down to about 2 inches. This will have no schedule. A moisture meter may be necessary to determine the depth at which the soil is bone dry, and without moisture. Since the blight survives at the soil surface, you will need to balance the moisture to keep the deep roots moist, but the top, relatively, dry.

Here are some articles that will help:

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/info/using-fungicides-in-garden.htm

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/dogwood/dogwood-blight-control.htm

Answer 2

Thanks so much for your help! Blight makes sense because previous owners planted the shrub by a downspout. I have moved the downspout outlet and mulch around the base.