Pagoda Dogwood disease & what to do - Ask Extension
My Pagoda dogwood was young and about 4 ft tall in 2015 and grew healthy and vigorous to it's current height of about 15 feet, until the last year whe...
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Pagoda Dogwood disease & what to do #648437
Asked June 09, 2020, 4:30 PM EDT
My Pagoda dogwood was young and about 4 ft tall in 2015 and grew healthy and vigorous to it's current height of about 15 feet, until the last year when we see progressively more peeling bark, splitting trunks with orange coloring, many branches without leaves, and many leaves with browning tips. Much has already been pruned back, but it still is worsening to affect almost the whole tree. Please see the photos. 3 of the 4 trunks seem to be dying, all the way down to the base. Is this tree salvageble? And if so, how? Is this what is called golden canker?
If it is dying, do I need to dig out the whole root base? Can I plant another Pagoda dogwood in it's place or is the disease in the soil? Can I plant another tree instead, such as a Serviceberry?
Ramsey County Minnesota
Expert Response
Hi,
I’m sorry about your tree. This does look like golden canker. See this: https://extension.umn.edu/plant-diseases/golden-canker-pagoda-dogwood
More concerning is the rot at the base of the tree. I won’t speculate on what’s causing it, but I would be concerned about the stability of the tree. You can have an arborist come out and check the tree for a definitive diagnosis: https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/how-hire-tree-care-professional
If you take down the tree, do not plant another dogwood. See this: https://extension.umn.edu/tree-selection-and-care/recommended-trees-minnesota
I’m sorry about your tree. This does look like golden canker. See this: https://extension.umn.edu/plant-diseases/golden-canker-pagoda-dogwood
More concerning is the rot at the base of the tree. I won’t speculate on what’s causing it, but I would be concerned about the stability of the tree. You can have an arborist come out and check the tree for a definitive diagnosis: https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/how-hire-tree-care-professional
If you take down the tree, do not plant another dogwood. See this: https://extension.umn.edu/tree-selection-and-care/recommended-trees-minnesota