Dogwood – Wilted and Losing Leaves

Q: We have lived in our home for twenty-seven years. For the first time our dogwood trees seem to be in trouble, looking wilted and losing their leaves. What can we do?

A: They may be goners. Some tree species are more susceptible to environmental stress than others. In my observation, dogwoods have a typical life span of twenty to thirty years. They suffer from summer heat and drought and can be afflicted by numerous leaf diseases. Your dogwoods have had a good life but I think it’s time now to decide if you can prune out weak branches and still have a nice-looking tree or whether it’s time to replace them with a vigorous new tree. There’s no shame to admitting that a garden plant has reached the end of its attractive life.