Flowering Dogwood: Planting and Care

Planting

The quality and validity of data depend strongly upon healthy shrubs, so you should observe the following practices to insure their health.

1. As soon as you get the plant, if it is "bare root" (not in soil), soak the roots in a pail of water for a few hours. If the plant is potted (in soil) make sure the soil is moist (add water as needed) and then you can immediately proceed to the next step. Never allow the roots to dry out.
2. Select a location that is high in organic matter and natural mulch with good drainage and part-day sun. Avoid locations where drainage is poor or extremely dry, sandy sites.
3. Dig a hole deep enough to just cover the roots and wide enough so you can spread roots horizontally.
4. Do not fertilize for at least 2 years. In heavy clay soils or in very sandy soils, add organic mulch - equal parts of peat moss or compost to backfill soil to improve growing conditions.
5. Water the new transplant, until soil is soaked, daily for at least the first week and slowly tapering off to once a week after a month.

Annual Care

1. Keep the soil within 30 cm (1 ft) of the base of each plant free of grass and weeds with a mulch of peat moss, bark, leaves, wood chips, or similar composted organic material.
2. During a long dry period, supplemental irrigation may be needed.

Pruning

Plants should be pruned every 5-10 years to maintain good shape. Avoid fall pruning because it will destroy the buds for the next year. Avoid pruning old, dried-up flowers.

Pests

‘Appalachian Spring’ is the only flowering dogwood resistant to dogwood anthracnose disease. Occasionally ‘Appalachian Spring’ may be affected by powdery mildew, scale, borers, mites, or the Asian ambrosia beetle. Control measures rarely are needed for properly maintained plants – supplemental watering of plants in full sun during periods of drought and prevention of damage from gardening tools. If pests become serious, regular applications of a pesticide may be necessary. Contact the Agricultural Extension Service in your area for current control recommendations. (What is the NCO recommendation about IPM?)

Protection

Place a wooden or metal stake beside each new plant to indicate clearly its location. This will help to prevent accidental damage by lawn mowers or people. In some locations rodents, such as rabbits and mice, may severely damage the plants. Wire-mesh guards around the base of the plants help to control such damage. Larger wire guards will be necessary to protect the whole plant in areas where deer or other large animals browse.

Reference:
Witte, W.T., Windham, M.T., Windham, A.S., Hale, F.A., Fare, D.C., and Clatterbuck, W.K., undated, Dogwoods for American gardens: University of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service, PB1670, 31 p.