How to Grow a Dogwood Tree (2024)

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When to PlantDogwoods

Flowering dogwoods can be planted in either spring or fall. However, if planting in autumn, get the tree in the ground 4 to 6 weeks before the first frost to allow it time to build new roots before winter dormancy setsin.

Where to PlantDogwoods

When selecting a site for your flowering dogwood, remember to consider the mature size of the tree (30 to 40 feet). While it will take time for your new dogwood to reach its full size, planning at planting will eliminate problemslater.

Select a sitewith:

• Partial sun. Afternoon shade is helpful in hotter climates. An area that receives dappled sun all day is also a good choice.
  
• Adequate drainage with a significant amount of organic matter (as you’d find near a woodsy area). Dogwoods like moist sites but will not do well in areas with frequent standing water.
  
• Slightly acidic soil.
  
• Easy access to the hose or other water source. Dogwoods, being understory forest trees, don’t like to dry out. They’ll benefit from supplemental watering during hot, dry periods, especially in the first couple of years while they are getting established. Even larger dogwoods have shallow root systems, and a droughty period can stress them more than other trees. The tree should be mulched to keep the soil moist and cool.
  
• Ideally, provide shelter from winds. Planting near a house, near other trees, or at the edges of your landscape will make a dogwoodhappiest.

How to PlantDogwoods

Planting dogwood is just like planting other nurserystock.

• Remove any sod.
  
• Dig a hole the same depth as the root ball and at least twice as wide. The hole should look like a shallow bowl, not a soup can.
  
• Loosen the soil at the edges and bottom of the hole. Don’t leave a hard, compacted edge or bottom that will be difficult for roots to penetrate (or water to drain).
  
• Remove the dogwood from its container and prune any circling or girdling roots. Rootbound plants will benefit from the scoring of the rootball to stimulate new growth in outward directions.
  
• Place and test fit the dogwood in the hole. Check for depth and ensure no roots are bent over or circling the hole. Enlarge the hole if necessary.
  
• Backfill the hole with the soil you removed, ensuring the tree is kept vertical while filling. Stop when the hole is about halfway refilled and tamp the soil firmly around the roots to remove air pockets, then give it a good drink of water. Continue filling the soil around the roots and firming it with your hands.
  
• Mulch around the tree, about 3-4 inches thick. Spread the mulch evenly in a circle extending 2-3 feet from the trunk. Don’t let the mulch touch the trunk–keep a finger width or two separation. The final mulch job should look like a flattened donut, not avolcano.

How to GrowDogwoods

Dogwoods will benefit from supplemental watering during the first year and during any prolonged dry spells. An existing in-bed irrigation system can be used if planted in a perennial bed (where they look fantastic!). Otherwise, you may need to run the hose and provide a long, soaking drink once a week in hot, droughtyweather.

Flowering dogwoods don’t need to be fertilized, but if you prefer, any slow-release fertilizer blended for trees will work. Apply it in early spring, and avoid fertilizing inautumn.

How to PruneDogwoods

Pruning dogwood is only necessary to remove dead and broken branches or to shape the tree for aesthetics. Conduct any pruning in the dormant season, from late fall to late winter. Of course, a storm-damaged branch can be removed at anytime.

How to PropagateDogwoods

Cornus species are cooperative to propagate from cuttings, but it takes a full year. If you’d like to try growing a new dogwood from cuttings, here’s themethod.

• Take softwood cuttings (June and July) of terminal twigs. Twigs should be about six inches long.
  
• Leave the last pair of leaves on the cutting; remove all others.
  
• Using a knife or your pruning shears blade, lightly scratch up the base of the twig, wounding the thin bark.
  
• Dip the cutting in a rooting hormone solution. 1-2% IBA works well.
  
• Stick the cuttings in moist media. A 1:1 mix of coir and perlite works well. Use individual small pots or large cell trays, as the cuttings should not be disturbed until they have gone through a dormant (winter) period after rooting.
  
• Once stuck, cover it with a plastic humidity dome or clear plastic bag tied around the pot to keep it moist. Misting will keep humidity high until cuttings are rooted.
  
• Place stuck and covered cuttings under supplemental lighting for faster root development. 12 hours per day of light works well.
  
• Rooting may take 5 to 10weeks.

There are nearly 100 cultivars of floweringdogwood.

• ‘Appalachian Joy’ is a white-flowering dogwood for those who have trouble getting dogwood to grow. It is less picky and more problem-resistant than some other varieties.
  
• C. florida rubra is a classic flowering dogwood with pink flowers and red fall foliage. ‘Cherokee Chief’ is a ruby-red flowering variety with deep burgundy fallfoliage.

• Dogwoods are susceptible to disease and insect problems. So, if this is your fear, look to the Rutgers University ‘Rutgan’ varieties, which are hybrids very resistant to dogwood borer and dogwood anthracnose. Most flower a little later in the spring (a week or two) thanaverage.
• Stellar Pink Dogwood (Cornus x ‘Rutgan’ ) is a low-branching tree with large, rounded 3 to 5-inch flowers with a profusebloom.
• Aurora Dogwood (Cornus x ‘Rutban’ ) bears velvety white flowers 3 to 4 inches in diameter. They are so dense at peak bloom that they nearly cover thefoliage.

Andy Wilcox