Table of Contents
Planting Dogwood Care A dogwood should be planted about two-thirds the depth of its root ball. The soil should be gently mounded around the sides of the root ball. Do not place soil directly over the top of the root ball, as this should be left slightly above ground level.
What is the best time of year to plant a dogwood tree?
The best time to plant white dogwoods is in the spring, when the soil is moist and before the tree growth begins. Choose a planting site that receives dappled shade. Pull any weeds and clear away any debris and turfgrass. Dig a hole that is roughly ⅔ the depth of the root ball.
Where do dogwood trees grow best?
In general, dogwoods grow best in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 8. Some, such as the redtwig dogwood (Cornus alba) and the pagoda dogwood (Cornus alternifolia), are hardy to USDA zone 2, although the latter is only heat-hardy to USDA zone 7.
How far away from the house should you plant a dogwood tree?
Locating small trees Medium-sized trees can be planted 15 feet from the house and generally 35 or more feet apart. Small trees, such as the flowering dogwood, may be planted as close as 6 feet from the house and about 20 feet apart.
How fast can dogwood trees grow?
Growth Rate: Dogwoods grow at a slow to moderate rate (about 20 feet in 25 years). Ornamental Features: Each species brings its own value to the landscape. The “flowers” of the flowering dogwood and kousa dogwood are not actually flowers, but bracts, which are modified leaves that look like petals.
Can you overwater a dogwood tree?
Virginia Tech tree authority, Bonnie Appleton at the Hampton Roads Research Center, said, “Overwatering could cause problems with dogwoods. They don’t like wet feet, and that could predispose the trees to other things, like anthracnose.
How do you care for a newly planted dogwood tree?
Place a layer of 3-4 inches of mulch around your newly planted trees, taking care to not pile the mulch too high on the trunk of the tree. You may fertilize your dogwoods at the time of planting and first watering, but do not fertilize again until the second year. Watering during winter is rarely necessary.
What kind of soil do dogwood trees like?
Soil: Dogwoods prefer partial sun and nutrient-rich, well-drained soil. Light: Because they grow in nature as understory trees, they prefer afternoon shade to shield them from blazing sunlight.
How often should I water a newly planted dogwood tree?
How to Water a Dogwood Tree Water a newly planted dogwood tree immediately after planting to help the roots and soil settle into place. Irrigate a dogwood tree once or twice weekly during the summer and autumn months. Apply a 3- or 4-inch layer of mulch around your dogwood tree to help maintain soil moisture.
How do I get my dogwoods to bloom?
Apply fertilizer to the soil to promote blooms. Use a general, all-purpose fertilizer. While dogwoods don’t require regular fertilization, adding some fertilizer can help the tree bloom. This is especially true for dogwoods that were planted in non-fertile soil.
How much room do you need for a dogwood tree?
Dogwood trees should be spaced 6 feet to 20 feet apart, depending on their mature size, according to the National Gardening Association. Depending on the cultivar, dogwoods can be 20 feet to 40 feet tall when full grown. You can plant smaller cultivars closer together than the larger species.
Can I plant a dogwood tree next to my house?
A well-developed, mature dogwood tree has a vaselike form, with branches that spread out gracefully from the center of the tree, making it one of the best trees to plant near a house according to the Missouri Botanical Garden. This helps visually integrate the tree into the landscape surrounding your home.
What plants go well with dogwood?
Choose woodland-origin, shallow-rooted spring-blooming perennials, like cranesbill (Geranium maculatum), sweet woodruff (Galium odoratum), dead nettle (Lamium maculatum) and astilbe (Astilbe x arendsii), rather than more aggressive woody shrubs to add more flowers when your dogwood is in bloom.
How many years does it take for a dogwood to bloom?
Dogwoods often take five to seven years before they begin to bloom in earnest. The good news is that if it takes a while to bloom, it’s because the plant is happy and healthy rather than because it’s under stress, and should keep blooming away for years to come.
Are dogwood trees good trees?
The Dogwood Tree is a majestic ornamental, well adapted to life in the United States. As long as you offer the tree plenty of water and sunshine, like most plants, the Dogwood will do just fine. There are over 50 species within the Cornus, or Dogwood, genus.
Can you plant a dogwood tree in the winter?
The best time to plant your dogwood is early spring or late fall. Dogwoods are deciduous, meaning they go dormant during the winter. This makes planting much less stressful for the tree, and a stress-free tree is a healthy tree. If you’re planting a young tree, it’s best to plant it in spring.
What kind of fertilizer do dogwood trees need?
Dogwood trees grow well with a 12-4-8 fertilizer ratio. The abundance of nitrogen, denoted by the first number, reflects this element’s importance to the tree. Nitrogen provides the basic structure for chlorophyll, the main pigment necessary for photosynthesis within the leaves.
Can dogwoods grow in wet soil?
In winter, the red stems contrast beautifully with snow or a gray and brown landscape. Shrub dogwoods prefer moist soils and they can tolerate standing water, seasonal flooding and clay soils.
