38-year-old flowering dogwood dying branches top down

Question: My 40-foot flowering dogwood is losing leaves top down, from the ends of branches.  I removed a large dead branch, but more are appearing.  This spring it bloomed at the same time the leaves developed instead of before.

I apply Daconil antifungal seasonally and after extended rainfall.  That is the white residue on the leaves in my photos.  Only a few leaves have reddish spots on them.

I keep the tree watered under the entire dripline.  The roots compete with hosta, which I tried to give away in early spring with no luck.  This tree means everything to me.  I know it has lived longer than most, but can it be saved?

responder: Answered by the Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC), University of Maryland Extension. For timely gardening information and tips, subscribe to our Maryland Grows blog and quarterly newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Replied June 20, 2023, 11:50 AM EDT
response: It's difficult to determine from the symptoms alone what is causing damage to the tree. Daconil can help prevent some fungal infections, but not all, and it's possible a combination of overlapping stress factors have lead to decline. Has any herbicide been used around the tree's root zone (on either side of the fence) in recent years? If so, do you recall what active ingredients were in it? Some are more readily absorbed by tree roots and can lead to canopy dieback or foliage distortion.  Regarding watering, is the soil checked for moisture levels prior to irrigating? Ideally, the soil should become somewhat dry to the touch at a six-inch depth before a thorough soaking should be needed. Flowering dogwoods are sensitive to over-saturated roots, which is why we ask, since a wilted-like look is typical of trees experiencing moisture stress (whether too dry or too wet).  Do the dying branch tips have lots of scarring from old cicada egg-laying injuries from the mass emergence two years ago? If so, this might just be a delayed dieback from that damage, and new growth will gradually fill the canopy back in from points below that damage.  Are there any holes in the trunk (or thicker portions of the main branches affected by dieback)? Wood-boring insects like the aptly-named Dogwood Borer can kill branches by cutting-off their moisture and nutrient supply due to where that moth larva is feeding. These borers typically attack trees already under stress from other factors at the time the infestation began. Holes indicate at least one generation of borer adults have left the tree, though any inside the tree won't give much indication they are present unless found when splitting-apart infested wood that was pruned off. Dogwood Twig Borer, the pest listed just beneath the Dogwood Borer listing on the linked page, is another possibility.  For now, all you can do is to keep monitoring the tree for watering needs, prune off all leafless branches, and inspect the tree (and split-apart removed wood) for other symptoms. No insecticide will be effective if borers are currently inside the wood, nor would any treatment reverse herbicide exposure or a fungal infection in the roots or wood itself. If you prefer, you can also get an assessment from a certified arborist, whose second opinion can help with diagnosis and who can also look for sources of tree stress that can be addressed to prolong its life or help it to stabilize. Arborists can't cure every ailment or reverse decline, but in the event a treatment is warranted, they can usually apply them as they have a pesticide certification. Some arborists are employed by tree-care companies but others consult independently.  Miri

responder: The Question Asker Replied July 08, 2023, 3:28 PM EDT
response: Could someone please respond?I never received a reply. -------- Original message --------From: Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> Date: 6/19/23 10:43 AM (GMT-05:00) To: CHRISTINA LYNN <<personal data hidden>> Subject: Thank you for your Ask Extension question (#0106287)   Dear CHRISTINA, Thank you for using Ask Extension. A request for support has been created and a representative will follow-up with you as soon as possible. Questions are usually answered within two business days. You can view this question's progress online. YOUR QUESTION #0106287: 38-year-old flowering dogwood dying branches top down My 40-foot flowering dogwood is losing leaves top down, from the ends of branches. I removed a large dead branch, but more are appearing. This spring it bloomed at the same time the leaves developed instead of before. I apply Daconil antifungal seasonally and after extended rainfall. That is the white residue on the leaves in my photos. Only a few leaves have reddish spots on them. I keep the tree watered under the entire dripline. The roots compete with hosta, which I tried to give away in early spring with no luck. This tree means everything to me. I know it has lived longer than most, but can it be saved? Ask Extension offers one-to-one expert answers from Cooperative Extension/University staff and volunteers within participating Land-Grant institutions across the United States. If you wish to provide additional comments or information regarding the issue, please login to your account for a complete archive of your prior questions and answers.  This message for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for personalized professional advice. For specific local information, contact your local county Cooperative Extension office or other qualified professionals. eXtension Foundation does not recommend or endorse any specific tests, professional services, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned. Reliance on any information provided by eXtension Foundation, employees, suppliers, member universities, or other third parties through eXtension is solely at the user's own risk. All eXtension content and communication is subject to the Terms of Use which may be revised at any time.

responder: Answered by theHome and Garden Information Center (HGIC), University of Maryland Extension. For timely gardening information and tips, subscribe to our Maryland Grows blog and quarterly newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Replied July 10, 2023, 10:22 AM EDT
response: We are sorry that you did not receive our reply, which was sent on June 20th, 2023.  Hopefully this one gets through, but please check your spam folder.  Here was our answer:   "It's difficult to determine from the symptoms alone what is causing damage to the tree. Daconil can help prevent some fungal infections, but not all, and it's possible a combination of overlapping stress factors have lead to decline. Has any herbicide been used around the tree's root zone (on either side of the fence) in recent years? If so, do you recall what active ingredients were in it? Some are more readily absorbed by tree roots and can lead to canopy dieback or foliage distortion.  Regarding watering, is the soil checked for moisture levels prior to irrigating? Ideally, the soil should become somewhat dry to the touch at a six-inch depth before a thorough soaking should be needed. Flowering dogwoods are sensitive to over-saturated roots, which is why we ask, since a wilted-like look is typical of trees experiencing moisture stress (whether too dry or too wet).  Do the dying branch tips have lots of scarring from old cicada egg-laying injuries from the mass emergence two years ago? If so, this might just be a delayed dieback from that damage, and new growth will gradually fill the canopy back in from points below that damage.  Are there any holes in the trunk (or thicker portions of the main branches affected by dieback)? Wood-boring insects like the aptly-named Dogwood Borer can kill branches by cutting-off their moisture and nutrient supply due to where that moth larva is feeding. These borers typically attack trees already under stress from other factors at the time the infestation began. Holes indicate at least one generation of borer adults have left the tree, though any inside the tree won't give much indication they are present unless found when splitting-apart infested wood that was pruned off. Dogwood Twig Borer, the pest listed just beneath the Dogwood Borer listing on the linked page, is another possibility.  For now, all you can do is to keep monitoring the tree for watering needs, prune off all leafless branches, and inspect the tree (and split-apart removed wood) for other symptoms. No insecticide will be effective if borers are currently inside the wood, nor would any treatment reverse herbicide exposure or a fungal infection in the roots or wood itself. If you prefer, you can also get an assessment from a certified arborist, whose second opinion can help with diagnosis and who can also look for sources of tree stress that can be addressed to prolong its life or help it to stabilize. Arborists can't cure every ailment or reverse decline, but in the event a treatment is warranted, they can usually apply them as they have a pesticide certification. Some arborists are employed by tree-care companies but others consult independently.  Miri"   Christine