A must have in your woodland backyard, the dogwood tree is a charmer. With so many types to select from, you’re certain to be impressed by all of the genus has to supply. From shiny, vibrant crimson berries for the birds to white spring blossoms for the bees, there’s loads to like with regards to including a dogwood tree to your backyard.
The mighty dogwood tree by no means fails to amaze me! I’ve lengthy been a fan of this prolific grower. My first dogwood tree was a Japanese dogwood within the cultivar ‘Miss Satomi.’ I planted it within the entrance yard of my first residence. A dwarf selection, it supplied a pleasant burst of pink within the spring.
In my subsequent residence, I had a Pacific dogwood. They’re very fashionable right here within the Pacific Northwest as they thrive on this local weather. They’re native right here, in any case!
The white of the Pacific Dogwood actually is a showstopper. When in bloom, the bracts went all the best way as much as the highest of my home. And it’s a tall home.
With over 50 species within the Cornus genius referred to as dogwoods, there’s just a little little bit of one thing for everybody. Whether or not you desire a small shrub or an evergreen tree, I’m constructive yow will discover the perfect dogwood in your yard.
This publish will cowl…
Meet the Dogwood
Many dogwoods are identified for his or her early spring flowers. Most individuals mistake the outer leaves (referred to as the bract) for the flower when they’re truly the little spots within the heart. Amongst the most well-liked dogwoods is the flowering dogwood tree, which yow will discover cultivars of in varied colors.
Most varieties produce berries in the summertime. Over 30 species of birds are identified to nibble on the berries, in order that they’re a fantastic addition to the bird-friendly yard.
And as soon as the blossoms, berries, and leaves have come and gone, you’ll be left with some lovely bark to stare upon throughout the winter. From vibrant crimson to mottled grey, the bark of dogwood bushes is understood for its year-round eye sweet.
First referred to as a dogtree, the title was derived from the phrase dagwood, because the stems of the plant have been used to make daggers and arrows. To today, you’ll nonetheless discover many objects made from dogwood, because it’s a really powerful wooden.
For hundreds of years, individuals have been utilizing dogwoods medicinally. The bark is understood to be packed filled with tannins. Floor bark or leaves have been used to deal with ache, fever, wounds, incontinence, dizziness, and weak point.
Kinds of Dogwood Timber
There are SO many noteworthy dogwood bushes, however listed below are among the commonest dogwood varieties you could encounter.
Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida): as the most well-liked kind of dogwood tree, yow will discover blossoms in white, pink, and crimson. Blooming from Might to June, they develop 20-25 ft excessive and large and do effectively in zones 5-9.
Purple Twig Dogwood (Cornus sericea): the most typical dogwood shrub, the crimson twig dogwood has white flowers within the spring, engaging foliage in the summertime, and vibrant crimson bark for winter curiosity. Pretty chilly hardy, it grows in zones 2-9 and reaches 6-8 ft excessive and large.
Cornelian Cherry Dogwood (Cornus Mas): one of many first bushes to flower within the spring, this dogwood has yellow star-like flowers to brighten up the chilly. In the summertime, it has vibrant crimson berries and curling grey to brown bark within the winter. It grows 15-30 ft excessive, forming a thick shrub when left alone or a pleasant tree when trimmed.
Japanese Dogwood (Cornus kousa): also referred to as the kousa dogwood, Korean dogwood, or Chinese language dogwood, it may well develop as a small deciduous tree or multi-stemmed shrub. The blooms are white/yellowish blossoms within the spring and pinkish-red berries by fall, with mottled bark noticeable within the winter. This selection blooms a month later than the usual dogwood.
Planting a Dogwood Tree
If you happen to plan on including dogwood to your backyard, they’re pretty straightforward to plant. First off, make certain to purchase them from a good backyard centre (relatively than transplanting one from the wild) to keep away from any fungal illnesses.
Plant your dogwood tree in late spring. Heat climate kills viruses that thrive in cool, moist climate. You wish to plant whereas the tree is dormant, with no seen development but, and when the soil is moist.
When planting, dig the opening additional large to encourage the roots to develop outwards. Loosen the basis ball with a soil knife to cease the plant from rising within the form of the container it got here in. Watch out to not plant too deep.
Caring for a Dogwood Tree
After getting your tree planted, make certain to maintain your new dogwood in tip-top form with the proper care.
Mild
Dogwoods desire sunny areas which have some afternoon shade. They prefer to be protected against the solar both by way of dappled shade from a taller tree or partial shade from a close-by constructing.
Soil
Dogwoods are pretty adaptable with regards to soil sorts, although they like it barely acidic. Effectively-drained, moist soil is good, although some could tolerate boggy situations.
Water
Essentially the most upkeep a dogwood tree will want resolves round water. Since they’ve shallow roots, they dry out shortly. They don’t like arid or semi-arid climates and are usually not drought-tolerant. If you’d like a dogwood however don’t get a lot rainfall, irrigation or frequent watering is a should.
It would be best to water commonly till it’s established. Water totally till it reaches roughly 3 toes down. Look to the leaves to assist decide watering wants. If crisp, they want extra water. If droopy, it’s getting an excessive amount of water.
Fertilizer
Dogwoods don’t require a lot fertilizer. When you’ve got well-balanced soil, you could not want fertilizer in any respect. Most established shrubs and bushes don’t require fertilizer, so solely apply it earlier than it’s established.
A slow-release fertilizer at a ratio of 16-4-9 works finest. Keep away from overfertilizing, as this will burn the leaves and even kill the plant.
Pruning
Fortunate for you, dogwoods require little or no pruning care! Like several plant, you may prune to take away any useless or diseased branches. You might also prune for form, although most dogwood bushes have a naturally fine condition and don’t require pruning.
If you happen to do prune, achieve this in late winter when the tree is dormant. Simply remember to prune earlier than new leaves start rising within the spring.
Pests and Illnesses
For dogwood bushes, the most typical illness is anthracnose, a fungus attributable to Discula destructiva. This leads to recognizing of the leaf and twig dieback. You might also see powdery mildew, a whitish-gray powder on the leaves. Each will be prevented with good air circulation and by retaining foliage dry. Water on the base of your plant.
When it comes to pests, you could discover your deer munching on younger dogwoods. It’s possible you’ll want to guard them after they’re younger up till they’re large enough to be out of attain from hungry deer.
One other pest you could encounter is the dogwood borer. They burrow below the bark of the tree. To stop them, keep away from harm to the bark, as that’s how larvae enter. By no means prune between April to June, as that’s after they’re energetic.
Regularly Requested Questions About Dogwood Timber
There are numerous sorts of dogwood bushes, however flowering dogwoods are the most well-liked selection. Most frequently coated in white flowers within the spring, it’s also possible to discover pink or crimson dogwood bushes. In the summertime, they get crimson berries referred to as drupes. Within the fall, the leaves flip purple-red, and the colorful stems and bark stay for the winter.
Most dogwoods will be recognized by their leaves with clean edges and veins that curve parallel to the sides. Additionally they have reverse branching, the place the aspect branches develop immediately reverse of one another relatively than alternating.
From shrubs to bushes, crops below the Cornus genus can differ considerably in dimension. Most dogwood bushes can develop as much as 25 ft, with some being identified to get as excessive as 40 ft. Dogwood shrubs usually develop 3-5 ft tall.
Dogwood bushes develop at a medium price. Yearly, you may anticipate them to develop 13-24 inches lengthy, reaching full dimension in as little as a decade.
Many individuals know dogwoods for his or her robust perfume. Some take pleasure in it, whereas others hate it. However for many, it’s not disagreeable. The odor is notable after they’re flowering, because the odor is used to draw bugs and animals for pollination.
In the case of the dogwood, you’ll actually be barking up the proper tree! Depart any of your dogwood questions under, and I’ll get again to you as quickly as I’m ready.
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A metropolis woman who realized to backyard and it modified every thing. Writer, artist, Grasp Gardener. Higher dwelling by way of crops.
