The part that holes in it is already dead. Leave it alone.

Looks like planted too deep. (Should see basal flair at ground level.) Nothing can be done for that now

Hi Jean ... Thank you. Sounds very bad. I don't kmow what basal flair is. I'm sad for my friend.

Why is it too late to expose the basal flare? I have been going around doing that to allt he trees on my property and would hate to think it's a lost cause...

Is there anything safe she can use to treat this sweet tree she loves before the Tree Doctor comes in about a week?

==>> why would you treat it before the tree dr comes ???? ..

i suggest.. planting a new tree ... and transferring her love to that tree .. and then she can relax and watch and see whatever happens to this one ... but if all its going to do is bother her.. get rid of it now ...

ken

Something tells me that the symptoms have little to do with planting depth, particularly since some root crown flare is indeed visible. The decline is more than likely due to the disease/decay/loss of vascular pressure caused by the removal of a codominant leader. Sometimes its best to leave defects in form once they reach a certain stage of maturity.

Dogwoods don't usually react to disease well. It might live for years, slowly losing ground as the years pass. It certainly won't be an asset in the landscape. I've seen it happen many times. I'd start over.

Thank you kitasei ... I'll mention to my friend re the basal flare.

ken-adrian ... Whoah you're a heartless cookie.

Poor Dogwood, yes it is an old tree, at least 47 years old.

"The decline is more than likely due to the disease/decay/loss of
vascular pressure caused by the removal of a codominant leader."

It was almost certainly removed because 1/2 the tree was dead!

40-50 years is probably the typical lifespan of a typical Cornus florida planted in the typical manner in a typical suburban landscape...