Table of Contents
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.
Can I plant a dogwood tree now?
Bare root and burlap dogwood trees should be transplanted in late fall or early spring. Container grown trees can be transplanted anytime of the year, provided they are watered regularly after planting. A dogwood should be planted about two-thirds the depth of its root ball.
How fast does a dogwood tree 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.
What is the best way to plant a dogwood tree?
Choose a site for your dogwoods that is well-drained but does not get extremely dry. Soil high in organic matter is best. Dogwoods can be planted in full sun or partial shade, though partial shade is best (morning sun in particular). Dogwoods are typically an understory tree in the wild.
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.
What is the lifespan of a dogwood tree?
It is a plant with four-season character – showy spring flowers, summer and fall foliage, fall fruit and winter branching habit. Trees can be used in groupings, as specimens or in naturalized areas. The average lifespan is 80 years. Flowering dogwood is rated hardy in USDA Zones 5 to 9.
How do you winterize a dogwood tree?
Prune your dogwood tree late in the year to prepare for winter. Use a saw to cut off any broken limbs. Remove any dead branches or overgrown sections. Prune your tree into a compact shape to allow for easy covering when freezing temperatures arrive.
How do you prepare a dogwood bush for winter?
Pruning them about six weeks before the leaves drop from the tree also tends to be best practice. Furthermore, remember to prune trunk sprouts as well during the fall season. Please note that if you do end up pruning your trees during late winter, flowering dogwood trees may bleed sap.
Are dogwoods 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.
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.
How do you start a dogwood tree?
Propagating Dogwood Cuttings Remove the bottom set of leaves from the stem. Cut the remaining leaves in half if they are long enough to touch the soil when you bury the end of the stem 1.5 inches (4 cm.) Fill a 3 inch (8 cm.) Role or dip the bottom 1.5 inches (4 cm.) Stick the lower 1.5 inches (4 cm.).
How much space does a dogwood tree need?
Young trees will need some room to grow, so you shouldn’t overcrowd the group. Standard-sized dogwoods may be spaced around 18 feet apart, although dwarf-sized dogwoods can be spaced closer together.
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.
Can you plant a dogwood in winter?
Dogwoods are transplanted into the ground in late winter, before new growth begins in the spring. To plant a dogwood, start by digging a hole in the ground two times the width of the root ball, and slightly more shallow than the root ball.
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 far away from a fence should you plant a dogwood tree?
If you’re planting near the house, check the mature width, then plant no closer than half of that distance. A Kousa dogwood, for example, will grow at least 20 feet around, so it should go no closer than 10 feet from the house wall.
