Is something wrong with my dogwood? Tips of branches are gray.

The gray canbe scratched off. Should I do something or leave it alone.
  4 answers
  • Katrina Smalley Katrina Smalley on Apr 15, 2015
    Are trees around you leafed out yet?...I see what appears to be healthy plump brown tips there..., I am in SE MI-none of our trees have leafed out yet, so therefor my dogwood hasn't either-it looks like yours. Another week....
    • Meredith bungard Meredith bungard on Apr 15, 2015
      No our trees have not leafed out yet. Just wondered about the gray at the ends ofthe branches. I'll give it a couple weeks see what happens. Thank you.
  • Bonny McDaniel Bonny McDaniel on Apr 15, 2015
    Looks like a mildew although it isn't on all of the plant. Have you smelled it? Sometimes it has the musty smell of mildew. Does it get some morning sun to dry the plant off?
  • Patriciamaxwell69 Patriciamaxwell69 on Apr 16, 2015
    @Meredith bungard Break off the very tip of a branch. If it's brown, the branch may be dead. Cut back to live growth. There is a disease called Anthraxnose in dogwoods that's becoming epidemic. For more on this see: http://extension.psu.edu/pests/plant-diseases/all-fact-sheets/dogwood-diseases
  • GrannyB384 GrannyB384 on Apr 20, 2015
    Meredith, I don't think there is anything wrong with your dogwood. There are healthy buds on the branches, so you know the tree is alive. I believe the white covering is just the plant's protection of the tender new growth on the branches and it should wash off when the rains come this month. It is definitely not killing the tree, so I wouldn't worry about it unless the branches start dying. If they do start to die off, contact your county agriculture agent and take a sample of the white stuff on one of the branches to them to get their advice. We have dogwoods here in northeast TN and I have seen this stuff on them, as well as a few other small trees on our property. I just never paid any attention to it and I have not had any problem with my small trees or the dogwoods dying off. Just have a little patience and I'm sure you will be rewarded with beautiful flowers in a short time. Our dogwoods bloomed at Easter and were spectacular, as usual. I hope this has helped you. Good luck with your spring gardens!!! I'm sure you are more than happy to see spring finally arrive!!! I know I am!!! Blessings!!!