Metro Atlanta's dogwoods have taken on a lot of moisture this summer, and one thing we're seeing across yards right now is anthracnose: irregular brown blotches on leaves, sometimes spreading into twig dieback if it's been going on for a while.
The fungus thrives in exactly the conditions we've had, humid stretches with limited air movement through a dense canopy. Established dogwoods usually tolerate a mild case, but repeated years of infection or a tree already under stress can lose real vigor.
Pruning to open up airflow through the canopy and clearing fallen leaves that harbor the fungus over winter both help break the cycle. It's not usually a reason to remove a tree, but it is worth having an arborist look at how far it's progressed.
Have you noticed spotting or blotching on any dogwoods around your property this summer?
#TreeHealth #AtlantaArborist
An authentic close-up photo of dogwood leaves showing anthracnose blotching, ideally from a real job assessment.
Canva text suggestion: "Dogwood Leaves Telling You Something?" or "Humidity Season, Anthracnose Season"