Help with Flowering Dogwood

[holograham]

This is an old wound also, probably happened same time as the other one. It just looked different to me because of the rot.
View attachment 1201990
Did you plant this tree and when was the mulch applied?
I've never seen a dogwood like this one - it's all branches and no trunk.

I did not plant it - previous owners - unknown age but pretty large tree. It's absolutely gorgeous when flowering.

I put mulch down late March of this year. The mulch ring was there before so I assume it was regularly mulched over the years.

 

[TNTreeHugger]

I did not plant it - previous owners - unknown age but pretty large tree. It's absolutely gorgeous when flowering.

I put mulch down late March of this year. The mulch ring was there before so I assume it was regularly mulched over the years.

I would take the advice Ath offered:

Yeah...keep digging. That isn't quite the pronounced flare we are looking for. Some of those little roots around the trunk will turn into girdling roots putting pressure on the trunk as the tree and roots both grow, so cut them.

The damaged area. Look closer, or get a closer pic...are there scratches in there? Wondering if a squirrel or rabbit chewed on the tree down there. For some reason it seems like squirrels like dogwoods. We've chewing damage on several.

 

[holograham]

I would take the advice Ath offered:

OK - I guess i dig it out deeper than my lawn level? It will look a bit odd.

 

[TNTreeHugger]

 

[TNTreeHugger]

https://www.walterreeves.com/landscaping/dogwood-planted-too-deep/

 

[TNTreeHugger]

https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/improper_planting_depth

 

[TNTreeHugger]

Your tree:

 

[fishdrivel]

Thanks - I did dig out the mulch against it. I doubt it was a mower due to the mulch ring around it. Wouldnt get close.

Here is an excellant article on canker
https://www.thetreecareguide.com/bark-canker-disease-identification-treatment-prevention/

 

[holograham]

Thanks - what is puzzling is why the issue now? The tree is obviously very mature. And the mulch layer added this year wasnt abnormally thick. Why the sudden issue on a tree that is probably 20 years old.

 

[ATH]

OK - I guess i dig it out deeper than my lawn level? It will look a bit odd.

Yep..

That's on whoever planted it too deep. Unfortunately, not uncommon.

 

[TNTreeHugger]

Might be a good idea to have a certified arborist in your area come and have a look at it.

https://www.treesaregood.org/findanarborist/findanarborist

 

[holograham]

Yep..

That's on whoever planted it too deep. Unfortunately, not uncommon.

So dug out deeper and found what appears to be a girdled root right below (slightly to the left) of the affected area.

 

[TNTreeHugger]

So dug out deeper and found what appears to be a girdled root right below (slightly to the left) of the affected area.

Good job! Looks like a girdled root to me.
I still don't see any root flares though.

 

[holograham]

Good job! Looks like a girdled root to me.
I still don't see any root flares though.

My hand started cramping - new to gardening and my soil is hard compact clay. Plus all these small roots make digging even harder.

 

[TNTreeHugger]

This video shows the value of a certified arborist. $600 sounded very reasonable for all the work they did.

 

[holograham]

This video shows the value of a certified arborist. $600 sounded very reasonable for all the work they did.

Good video - will look into having an arborist check it out.

 

[TNTreeHugger]

Good video - will look into having an arborist check it out.

If you can, let us know what they say.
Hope there's a way to save the tree.

 

[HavinFun]

How to Identify and Treat Common Dogwood Diseases on Gardener’s Path website by Joe Butler. The bark above the affected area on the center tree is cracking and checking. That is what Beech Bark disease looks like on my beautiful Beech trees. The article mentions a canker that gets in from a wound. I hope you have good luck treating it.