The dogwood tree is prolific showcasing most of the year with coloful flowers , leaves , and berry . Plus , a list of companion plant .
Bob Stefko
Available in a wide variety of colors , shapes , and sizing , the dogwood tree adds structure and colouring material to the landscape painting for most of the twelvemonth . The show begins with four - petal blooms from spring into summer , followed by bright red and orangish foliage in the fall . Winter brings bright red fruit for a final splash of color . These trees are audacious inUSDA Zones3 - 8 , boom in moist air and part shade .
Credit:Bob Stefko
What many people consider flowers on the dogwood Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree are actually bract ( showy structure ranging in coloring material from soft livid to rich pink ) . The flowers of dogwood trees are held in a round cluster at the center of each bract , which stays attached to the branch much longer than real blush .
Where to Plant Dogwood Tree
In nature , dogwood trees are understory trees that often grow in nicety . In a home plate landscape painting , they mature best in a fond shade location that receives some morning sun . Plant a cornel tree in fertile , well - drain territory with mint of organic matter and a somewhat acidulent pH.
dogwood are usually used as specimen trees . If you plant several , space them 20 feet asunder .
The dogwood Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree provides beautiful blossom in former spring , so plant it where you’re able to see and appreciate it . Its pollen is particularly attractive topollinators , while its fruit is eaten by many coinage of birds . The tree ’s leaves decompose more quickly than most others , adding organic thing to the grime .
Credit: Bill Stites
How and When to Plant Dogwood Trees
The respectable sentence to plant a bare - root dogwood sapling is in spring before Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree growing starts . They can also be planted in the autumn but it should be done 4–6 hebdomad before the earth immobilise .
Soak the Roots
contract off any damage roots and then fleece the root in water for about four hours . While they hit it up , organize the planting localisation . The soil must be well - draining and rich . If needed , dig in compost or organic matter . Dig a hole that is at least a invertebrate foot wider and the same depth as the root system .
Prepare the Hole
Form a mound of filth at the center of the fix . Set the tree in the fix at the top of the mound , spreading the roots carefully so they point downward . Backfill about two - thirds of the hole with amended dirt and press it down with your hands to remove atmosphere house of cards . water system the tree munificently .
Setting the Tree
Fill the rest of the muddle , lay down sure the tree diagram sit more or less higher than it did in the nursery container . The top of the rootball should be barely visible . Do n’t commit the soil up over the top of the rootball . A seeable line on the sapling above the root arrangement indicate the former filth demarcation . organise a water shoulder of mulch or topsoil about 5 inch by from the sapling to direct water to the roots .
berm are mounded Hill of soil placed to control or redirect the stream of water .
gardener who are planting glasshouse tree that have flip out or slip that have grown into sapling should better the grime in the same way and expend the same subprogram as when plant bare - tooth root sapling , but dig the hole two to three time the breadth of the root clump .
Credit: Bob Stefko
Dogwood Tree Care Tips
Care necessity depend on the species of tree being grown . impart some fruit on the plant for wildlife to enjoy in the wintertime when little else is available .
Light
Some sort of dogwood tree treestolerate full Sunday . However , most prefer dappled sun and protection from full sun by bigger tree .
Understory tree are tad tolerant and produce under the shade of larger trees .
Soil and Water
Dogwood tree generallyprefer well - drained soilon the slightly acidulent side ( pH 6.0 to 7.0 ) . The trees should be kept dampish , although they brook occasional ironic spells once ground . Many species prefer organic dirt , which may call for an app of compost . enceinte mulchhelps these plants boom in both summertime high temperature and winter cold .
Dogwood has shallow roots , so water it doubly a week or more when it ’s particularly dry to keep it healthy . Water profoundly . Water more oft if the leaves become sluttish fleeceable or teetotal . If the foliage depend grey or droopy , switch off back on watering .
Temperature and Humidity
cornel is quite insensate - tolerant and well survives winter freezes . It prefers cooler to warmer temperature , and if grown in waterless climates , it require consistent shade and more frequent watering than in cooler climate .
Fertilizer
When first planting dogwood , avoid over - fertilizing , which is negative to young trees . Use a nitrogen product in the beginning , following the manufacturer ’s instruction manual . Once your tree is established , use an constitutive mix for acid soil , but only fecundate if the ground is n’t alreadynutrient - plentiful .
Pruning
As a rule , cornel Tree do n’t need much sustainment , butpruningmay be at times required to form the plant . summertime is the idealistic time to prune since the plant life experiences a gruelling sap flow during wintertime and spring .
Potting and Repotting Dogwood Tree
Because of its sizing and obtuse , shallow roots , a dogwood tree is n’t good prospect for growing in a container .
Pests and Problems
Dogwood may become septic withpowdery mildew . In severe cases , it leads to defoliation , which is usually less of a trouble deep in the season . Another vernacular fungal disease is foliage maculation . If removing infected leaf from the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree and the ground does not discontinue the spread of the disease , handle it with an appropriate antimycotic . A serious fungal disease that kill dogwood trees is dogwood anthracnose . To avoid it , constitute a insubordinate species or cultivar , such as Kousa dogwood(Cornus kousa ) .
Insects that are attracted to the trees let in dogwood borers and graduated table . Open wounding made by lawnmowers and string trimmers allow for an entry point for bore bit . In addition , householder can apply permethrin as a resolution .
How to Propagate Dogwood Tree
dogwood tree is relatively easy to propagate . In the summertime , cut branches of new growth ( softwood cutting ) 3 to 5 inches long . Strip the bottoms of the branches of leave , dip them inrooting endocrine , and stick in them into pots filled with pot grime . Do n’t allow any folio touch the dirt . Cover the potted stem with a exculpated plastic traveling bag and keep it equally moist . After about six weeks , tug at the stem to see if ascendent have take shape . off the bag and place the pot in a cheery spot . Water on a regular basis and use a half - military strength liquid fertilizer every two weeks . When it has outgrown its pot , plant it in the landscape or in a larger container until you are quick to institute .
Types of Dogwood Tree
‘Cherokee Chief’ Flowering Dogwood
‘ Cherokee Chief ’ is a cultivar of the unfolding dogwood(Cornus florida ) , a dogwood native to eastern North America . It abide loading of ruby - pink bloom in tardy spring . It grows 20 feet tall and 25 foot wide-eyed . zona 5 - 8 .
‘Cherokee Sunset’ Flowering Dogwood
Cornus florida‘Cherokee Sunset ’ is one of the most spectacular varieties . It bears deep pink flowers and yellow - edged foliage . It grows 20 feet marvellous and wide . Zones 5 - 8
‘Cloud Nine’ Flowering Dogwood
Cornus florida‘Cloud Nine ’ extend large lily-white flowers with overlap bracts that appear in spring . The compact tree grows 20 feet tall and 25 feet across-the-board . Zones 5 - 8
‘Rubra’ Flowering Dogwood
Cornus florida‘Rubra ’ bears pink bloom in late spring . The tree turn only 20 groundwork tall and 25 feet wide of the mark . zone 5 - 8
‘China Girl’ Dogwood
‘ China Girl ’ is a free - flower variety ofCornus kousa , the Chinese or Japanese dogwood tree . Even at a young years , it produces mickle of creamy clean blooms . It grow 22 feet tall and 15 understructure high . geographical zone 5 - 8 .
‘Milky Way’ Dogwood
Cornus kousa‘Milky Way ’ bear a generous constellation of white flowers followed by plenty of red - berry yield . It ’s disease - resistant and grow 22 feet tall and 15 animal foot wide . zone 5 - 8
‘Satomi’ Dogwood
Cornus kousa‘Satomi ’ is a disease - resistant selection with gloomy pinkish flowers in late spring . It grows 22 feet tall and 15 foot high . Zones 5 - 8
‘Wolf Eyes’ Dogwood
Cornus kousa‘Wolf middle ’ bear beautiful white flowers , but it also features stunning green foliation edged in whitened . Zones 5 - 8
‘Golden Shadows’ Dogwood
‘ Golden Shadows ’ is a bold , eye - take in cultivar ofCornus alternifolia , the pagoda dogwood , a species native to eastern North America . Grown as a little tree or large bush , it offers golden - edged leafage and has a rosy-cheeked tincture when it emerges in fountain . It grows 15 feet marvelous and broad . zone 4 - 8
Companion Plants for Dogwood Tree
Periwinkle
Periwinklegrows well as a trailing groundcover in fishy floater . Its empurpled - blue colour is a ripe contrast to the white or pink of dogwood . This tad - loving perennial develop only 6 - 12 inch magniloquent , but it brightens up a shaded nook of the yard beautifully . Zones 4 - 9
Astilbe
Shade - lovingastilbeis a summertime - blooming perennial that flourishes in the same environs as the dogwood tree . It produces spikes of beautiful white and pink flowers that lend color and texture to a garden . Zones 4 - 8
Mondo Grass
Mondo grassis low - upkeep and grows in shady locations without much tending . prosperous - to - grow mondo dope is a good choice to turf Gunter Grass in shade garden , and it requiresno mowing . zona 6 - 10
Garden Plan for Dogwood Tree
Corner of Shrubs
Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree and bush are the four - seasons backbone of the landscape painting . This turning point garden design have several shrub andtrees that calculate beautifulthroughout all four seasons .
Space plant properly to promote sound growth , reduce overcrowding , and minimize pruning . Research plant sizes at full due date for exact spacing .
Frequently Asked Questions
Kousa dogwood tree is a mintage in the dogwood tree genus(Cornus ) , which also admit blossom dogwood and pagoda cornel . The species alter in flower clip , and the fruits and barque look unlike . Kousa cornel is aboriginal to Asia , whereas flowering cornel and pagoda dogwood are native species .
No , some have a scent similar to honeysuckle . However , sometimes dogwood trees are confused with thehighly trespassing Bradford pear tree , which does have an unpleasant odor .
You do n’t necessitate two dogwood Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree to bloom . Most dogwood varieties have both manful and female flowers on the same works .
Credit: Rob Cardillo
“ landscape with Berm . ”UC Master Gardener of Butte County . The Real Dirt Blog . 2023 .
Franklin , N. Jordan . “Dogwood Diseases & Insect Pests . ”Home & Garden Information Center . 2024 .
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