Scorch appears along leaf edges and occurs when water is lost from leaves more rapidly than it can be replaced from the soil. As a result of moisture stress, the leaves on many trees have become dry and brittle. Scorch is more likely to occur when hot, dry winds accompany drought periods. In addition to leaf scorch, dogwoods are now showing wilt symptoms. Wilt has been especially severe since root systems of many dogwoods were damaged by too much rainfall earlier in the year, and roots haven't fully recovered.
Trees exhibiting wilt symptoms often develop reddish-orange to deep red colored leaves.
A color change in the foliage of weather-stressed trees isn't unusual. The weather over the remainder of the year could be a determining factor for many weather-stressed dogwoods. If you have trees in your landscape which are stressed-out from unfavorable growing conditions, consider watering those which are most severely affected. Water at the rate of about one inch per week. As a general rule, water each week it does not rain.