Why is the bark coming off my dogwood tree?
Christopher Pierce
Published Jun 02, 2026
Why is the bark coming off my dogwood tree?
Dogwood bark peeling off may be the result of tiny insects that do more harm than good. The dogwood twig borer is a nasty pest that gets into the vascular tissue of the tree and undermines the tissue. It lives in the tree’s tissue and causes bark upheaval in infested locations.
Can you overwater dogwood?
Virginia Tech tree authority, Bonnie Appleton at the Hampton Roads Research Center, said, “Overwatering could cause problems with dogwoods. They don’t like wet feet, and that could predispose the trees to other things, like anthracnose.
Why is the bark on my dogwood tree flaking?
They are quite winter hardy but are sensitive to mechanical injury and a variety of pests and diseases. For this reason, the tree bark flaking on dogwood trees may be the result of a canker, borer, string trimmer or fungal disease, to name but a few. The Kousa dogwood is an ornamental tree that is more cold tolerant than flowering dogwood.
Is it normal for dogwood tree bark to peel off?
When a Dogwood with Peeling Bark is Normal. The Kousa dogwood is an ornamental tree that is more cold tolerant than flowering dogwood. It has bark which peels off in irregular patches, revealing a mosaic of mottled colors underneath.
What kind of disease does a dogwood tree have?
Dogwood Tree Bark Disease 1 Dogwood Anthracnose. Caused by the fungus Discula destructive, dogwood anthracnose attacks the tree causing masses of spores to appear on the bark. 2 Rots. Phytophthora is a fungal pathogen that attacks dogwoods, causing various types of rots, which affect the crown, roots or collar of the tree. 3 Cultural Controls. …
What to do if your dogwood tree has canker disease?
If not treated, canker disease can lead to girdling, which can threaten the life of the dogwood. There is no chemical control for canker disease, but pruning damaged, diseased and dead limbs from the tree can help control it. When pruning, always sanitize the shears between cuts and only cut into healthy wood.
How to take care of a Kousa dogwood tree?
The bark of the Kousa dogwood is so attractive that you’ll want to selectively prune branches to show it off as part of your Kousa dogwood care. If the bark looks good, the mature branches are even better. The older the tree gets, the more the branches grow horizontally, giving the tree a spreading look that with a decorative canopy.
Why is the bark on my dogwood tree cracking?
The tissue beneath the bark breaks dormancy during the day, then freezes during the night, resulting in an elongated wound that appears discolored and sunken. Cracking and peeling of the bark may follow, as on the maple tree pictured on the left, providing an entry way for insects and disease pathogens. Lookalikes: Dogwood borer
Are there any problems with the Kousa tree?
While these deciduous trees often escape problems such as dogwood anthracnose and powdery mildew, they are not immune to health issues. Pay close attention to kousa dogwoods and put control methods into effect quickly at the first sign of a problem.
What kind of disease does Kousa dogwood have?
Crown Canker Disease Kousa dogwoods are also susceptible to crown canker disease, caused by the fungal pathogen Phytophthora cactorum. Though often worse on young or weak trees, this soil-borne disease can also affect healthy dogwoods.