Maybe it’s because they’re native and grow wild in our woods.
Autumn is high time for dogwoods once again.
Among the first trees to showfall color, their leaves turn scarlet to deep-wine crimson.
Credit: Getty Images
They remain for as long as the birds will let them.
Flocks of hungry robins and cedar waxwings descend like storms on fruiting dogwoods.
A dogwood’s silhouette in winter is pure sculpture.
The best time to plant dogwood trees is in spring or fall.
Learn how to select, grow, and care for this all-season beautythe flowering dogwood tree.
Flowering dogwood makes a superb lawn or understory tree and is also good for shading courtyards and patios.
Dogwoods prefer a moist environment but can grow in acidic, loamy, sandy, or clay soils.
Do not buy balled-and-burlapped dogwoods.
Most of their roots are cut off when they’re dug from the field.
You won’t know this until you dig up your dead tree.
Buy dogwoods grown in containers.
Spring or fall planting is best.
Dig a hole three times as wide as the root ball, but no deeper.
Plant the tree so that the top of the root ball is a half-inch above the soil surface.
Water thoroughly, then cover the top of the root ball with several inches of mulch.
Light
Dogwood grows fine in shade,but it won’t bloom well there.
For blooms, it needs at least a half-day of sun.
For the heaviest bloom, plant it in full sun.
Soil
Dogwood needs acid, moist, well-drained soil, preferably with some organic matter.
If your soil is alkaline (above pH 7), don’t bother planting these there.
Don’t assume that because you live east of the Mississippi, you automatically have acid soil.
A soil test will reveal the pH of your soil.
The surest sign is when theedges of its leaves scorch.
To prevent this, dogwood needs a good soaking once a week in hot, dry weather.
If its leaves are wilted in the morning, it’s thirsty.
Mulch well to help conserve moisture.
Dogwoods prefer moderate humidity and commonly experience fungal infections in high humidity.
Fertilizer
Fertilize this tree lightly in spring with a slow-release formulation for acid-loving shrubs.
Avoid using high-nitrogen lawn fertilizers around your dogwoods, or you may end up with few flowers.
Nursery-grown trees from the North do better in the North than ones grown in the South and vice-versa.
The first two have white flowers; the third is pink.
Pruning
Dogwoods dont need much pruning because of their natural shape.
Dont prune in the spring because the cuts provide entry points for boring insects.
Dogwood borers may chew holes in the bark near the base of the tree or gradually kill off branches.
It is more common at higher elevations.
Leaf spots are more commonly a cosmetic issue sparked by spot anthracnose.
Dogwoods frequently experience powdery mildew in high humidity, but this is rarely a serious problem.
Deer may browse on the leaves.
How To Get Dogwoods To Bloom
Why won’t your dogwood bloom?
The most common cause is planting intoo much shade.
The other is digging a tree from the wild that may bloom great or hardly at all.
Watch out for these common problems.
Leaf Scorch
Scorched leaves have curling, dry, brown leaf edges.
This happens most frequently during drought or the heat of summer in full sun.
If you notice this occurring, check soil moisture daily and water as needed.
Add another layer of mulch if the tree is frequently drying out.
Wilting Leaves
Wilting can be resulting from either too much water or too little.
Avoid planting in soils that are constantly wet, or your tree may develop root rot.
If you notice wilting during hot, dry spells, water your tree deeply once or twice a week.
No, dogwood trees do not have invasive roots.
This makes them a good choice for planting near patios and homes.
Choose a location with well-draining soil that is rich in organic matter for the best results.
