IN THE GARDEN: Young dogwood should hold strong despite leaf damage

Q:  I have a young dogwood seedling that I received at an event in the spring, which was established quickly and was doing quite well in my garden in a protracted area under very large oaks. However, cuts started appearing in the leaves, then spots and it is looking progressively sicker (see reader's photo). Do you have any ideas on how I might save this young tree?

A : While I know you are concerned about your young dogwood, I do not think you are at risk of losing it. It still has plenty of leaves. The smaller spots look like a fungal leaf spot, but it isn't bad. The larger almost circular cuts on the leaves I believe were made by leaf cutter bees.