What's eating my yellow-twig dogwood?

Yellow-twig dogwood faces the same pest suite as its parent species Cornus stolonifera: dogwood borer is the primary threat, tunneling into canes and causing dieback that spoils the ornamental winter display. Scale insects and aphids are secondary problems. Deer and rabbits browse the striking yellow stems in winter.

Larvae tunnel under bark causing oozing sap, frass, and cane dieback; repeated attacks ruin the yellow stem display Hard-prune (stool) stems to the ground each spring to remove any infested material and stimulate fresh growth; apply bark spray in late May to protect new canes

Armored or soft scale clustering on yellow bark; reduces growth vigour and masks the ornamental stem colour Treat with dormant horticultural oil spray before bud break; prune and destroy badly infested stems

Clusters on emerging spring shoots causing leaf curl and honeydew deposits with sooty mold Hose off colonies; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil; encourage natural predators by avoiding broad-spectrum insecticides