you may as well play the lotto with chosen numbers..

as easily as you will predict if any given plague will return the next year ...

ken

Remove all the leaf litter this fall.

Not sure about the mulch. What kind and how much do you have?

Dogwoods are picky fellas but worth it.

Have you had this problem diagnosed by a professional? Dogwoods are prone to a number of problems, several of which can masquerade as the much more serious anthracnose. These are pretty easily remedied by good cultural care combined with favorable weather.

But true anthracnose - Discula destructiva - actually becomes systemic to the tree and is far less influenced by weather than say spot anthracnose or septoria leaf spot. Once it infects the vascular cambium and you start experiencing any branch or twig dieback, it's pretty much all over but the shouting. It can take a good long time before the tree ultimately fails but it is inevitable.

If it is only the first time you have seen these symptoms, you may not have true anthracnose OR it has not been present long enough to be the serious threat it can become. Removing all debris, pruning out any epicormic sprouts, maintaining soil moisture and fertilizing moderately to ensure adequate mineral levels (but with low nitrogen) and mulching will help. Fungicidal sprays applied at budbreak may also be helpful.