At that point, you’ll see large sections of bark separate from the tree, revealing the wood underneath.
Unfortunately, once there is peeling, there’s nothing you can do. The tree will eventually die and you’ll have to remove it. If this happens, don’t plant a dogwood in the same spot.
These pests will also feed on apple, flowering cherry, mountain ash, oak, and willow.
You can spray the tree with beneficial nematodes but you’ll need to get the timing right, before the larvae have tunneled into the tree.
Triple Threat Nematodes
Pick up the Triple Threat Nematode pack at Arbico Organics and follow the instructions as soon as you see larvae.
4. Canker
Twig and branch canker is caused by fungi in the Botryosphaeria and Diplodia genera.
The fungi enter through damaged areas in the bark or on the lenticels on branches, causing sunken, dark areas to form.
This can cause bark to peel or crack, and sap may ooze out. It also causes twigs and stems to dieback.
A sick tree might drop some of the wood in the infected area. And the specimen might be severely stunted, depending on the size and age. The trees or shrubs will also put out a lot of water sprouts or offshoots.
You’ll also see yellowing leaves and foliage drop.
It’s always best to consult with an arborist to confirm the presence of a disease, but you can peel away some bark to look for fruiting bodies.
Note that sunscald and drought can both leave a tree susceptible to canker. Trim away any symptomatic areas, if possible.
Then, treat the plant using a product that contains phosphorous acid. Just be super careful and follow the manufacturer’s directions carefully.
You can cause serious, permanent eye damage and painful skin burns if you come in contact with it. But used appropriately, it’s extremely effective.
OxiPhos Bactericide and Fungicide
OxiPhos is one such product that contains a combination of hydrogen peroxide and phosphorus acid, and you can find it available at Arbico Organics.
5. Drought
Many dogwood species like consistently moist soil and will suffer in extended periods of drought.
Drought tolerance can vary according to the species, all can stand a brief period of dry weather but when the days and weeks add up, peeling bark can become a problem.