Common Dogwood with Anthracnose: Prevention & Cure
Cornus sanguinea
Anthracnose on Common Dogwood: What to Know?
Anthracnose on Common Dogwood (Cornus sanguinea) is a fungal condition with high severity. Common Dogwood has moderate susceptibility to this disease. Anthracnose is a fungal disease caused by fungi in the genus Colletotrichum that affects many plants, including vegetables, fruits, and trees. The disease thrives in cool, wet conditions, causing dark...
Common Dogwood is a easy-care plant. Recovery from Anthracnose takes approximately 14 days with proper treatment.
Unlike bacterial infections, Anthracnose on Common Dogwood can be managed with organic fungicides.
ð What Does Anthracnose Look Like on Common Dogwood?
- âĒ Small irregular yellow or brown spots on leaves
- âĒ Dark sunken lesions on leaves, stems, flowers and fruits
- âĒ Water-soaked lesions that darken as they age
- âĒ Pink gelatinous masses of spores in lesion centers during warm, moist weather
- âĒ Spots that expand and may cover entire leaves
- âĒ Defoliation in advanced stages
â What Causes Anthracnose on Common Dogwood?
- â Caused by fungi in the genus Colletotrichum
- â Cool wet weather promotes development
- â Optimum temperature between 75-85°F (24-29°C)
- â Foliage wet for extended periods of time
- â Fungi overwinter in seeds, soil and garden debris
- â Spores spread through water droplets
ð How to Treat Anthracnose on Common Dogwood?
TLDR: Treat Anthracnose on Common Dogwood with quick treatment (~7 days) or organic (~14 days). Common Dogwood has moderate susceptibility to this disease.
Quick Fixes
Remove and discard all visibly infected parts
Remove and discard all visibly infected parts
Apply commercial systemic fungicide (azoxystrobin or mancozeb)
Apply commercial systemic fungicide (azoxystrobin or mancozeb)
Adjust irrigation to avoid wetting foliage
Adjust irrigation to avoid wetting foliage
Second application of systemic fungicide
Second application of systemic fungicide
Assess treatment effectiveness
Assess treatment effectiveness
Organic Treatment
Remove all infected plant parts and discard in plastic bag
Remove all infected plant parts and discard in plastic bag
Apply organic liquid copper spray to all plant surfaces
Apply organic liquid copper spray to all plant surfaces
Switch irrigation regime to drip, avoiding foliage wetting
Switch irrigation regime to drip, avoiding foliage wetting
Second application of copper fungicide or neem oil
Second application of copper fungicide or neem oil
Assess progress and remove any new lesions
Assess progress and remove any new lesions
Final organic fungicide application and ongoing monitoring
Final organic fungicide application and ongoing monitoring
ðĄïļ How to Prevent Anthracnose on Common Dogwood?
TLDR: Prevent Anthracnose on Common Dogwood with 8 essential preventive care practices.
- â Implement drip irrigation instead of overhead watering
- â Give plants enough room to breathe and reduce humidity
- â Remove infected plant material after harvest
- â Practice crop rotation between hosts and non-hosts
- â Choose resistant plant varieties when possible
- â Use western grown seeds not exposed to the disease
- â Avoid wetting foliage during watering
- â Ensure good air circulation around plants
ðą How to Care for Common Dogwood to Prevent Anthracnose?
ð§ How to Water
Keep soil evenly moist during the first year after planting; established plants only need watering in prolonged drought.
âïļ Lighting
Full sun to partial shade; more sun intensifies the red winter stem colour.
ðŠī Ideal Soil
Tolerant of most soil types (sandy, clay, chalk, loam) as long as it is reasonably well drained.
Frequently asked questions
Can Anthracnose kill my Common Dogwood?
How long does Common Dogwood take to recover from Anthracnose?
Is Anthracnose contagious to other plants near Common Dogwood?
Sources & References
- Anthracnose: Identification, Prevention & Treatment | Gardening Know How
- Anthracnose: How to Identify, Control, and Prevent Anthracnose | The Old Farmer's Almanac
- Anthracnose Disease: Symptoms, Treatment and Control | Planet Natural
- Anthracnose: Symptoms, Prevention & Treatment Methods
- How to Identify, Treat, and Prevent Anthracnose
- Cornus sanguinea - RHS
- Cornus sanguinea - NC State Extension Plant Toolbox
- Cornus sanguinea - BBC Gardeners World Magazine
- Dogwood (Cornus) Pests and Diseases - Gardenia.net
- Cornus sanguinea - Trees and Shrubs Online