Pest identification
What's eating my flowering dogwood?
Dogwood borer (Synanthedon scitula)
Signs: Larvae tunnel beneath bark at wounds or branch unions, causing oozing sap, bark sloughing, and progressive die-back.
Control: Avoid mechanical wounds (lawnmowers, strimmers) that provide entry points. Apply permethrin to the trunk in late spring. Remove heavily infested branches.
Dogwood club-gall midge (Resseliella clavula)
Signs: Woody club-shaped galls on the tips of young twigs; infested tips wither and die.
Control: Prune off and dispose of galled twig tips before adults emerge in spring. No effective chemical control; prompt pruning is the key.
Scale insects (Parthenolecanium corni — calico scale)
Signs: Bumpy tan-and-white scales on twigs; honeydew and sooty mould; weakens branches over time.
Control: Horticultural oil in late winter; systemic insecticide (imidacloprid soil drench) for heavy infestations.
Deer
Signs: Foliage, twigs, and flower buds browsed; bucks may rub velvet antlers on trunks, tearing bark.
Control: Tree guards on young specimens; deer-repellent sprays; fencing in high-pressure areas.
Keep flowering dogwood pest-free
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Flowering Dogwood pests — FAQ
What is eating my flowering dogwood?
Flowering Dogwood is attacked by dogwood borer, whose larvae tunnel under bark and can kill branches or whole trees. Dogwood club-gall midge causes woody swellings on twigs. Scale insects and aphids also occur. Deer regularly browse both the foliage and twigs. Dogwood borer is the most serious pest of established Cornus florida.
How do I get rid of dogwood borer (synanthedon scitula) on flowering dogwood?
Larvae tunnel beneath bark at wounds or branch unions, causing oozing sap, bark sloughing, and progressive die-back. Avoid mechanical wounds (lawnmowers, strimmers) that provide entry points. Apply permethrin to the trunk in late spring. Remove heavily infested branches.
How do I get rid of dogwood club-gall midge (resseliella clavula) on flowering dogwood?
Woody club-shaped galls on the tips of young twigs; infested tips wither and die. Prune off and dispose of galled twig tips before adults emerge in spring. No effective chemical control; prompt pruning is the key.
How do I get rid of scale insects (parthenolecanium corni — calico scale) on flowering dogwood?
Bumpy tan-and-white scales on twigs; honeydew and sooty mould; weakens branches over time. Horticultural oil in late winter; systemic insecticide (imidacloprid soil drench) for heavy infestations.
How do I get rid of deer on flowering dogwood?
Foliage, twigs, and flower buds browsed; bucks may rub velvet antlers on trunks, tearing bark. Tree guards on young specimens; deer-repellent sprays; fencing in high-pressure areas.