How to Plant Red Twig Dogwood

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By susan golis
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Plant Red Twig Dogwood

Enhance your landscape with a red twig dogwood and you will have four seasons of interest. The red twig dogwood features spring flowers, fruit in summer, red fall color, and red branches throughout winter. Plant this shrub as a single focal point in your yard or plant in masses as an informal hedge. All will admire the red twig dogwood.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Dogwood red twig shrub
Organic mulch
Compost
Shovel
Hose
Garden gloves

Step 1

Plant is in early spring after the danger of frost has past. A sunny location is preferred although; the red twig dogwood will tolerate partial shade.
Step 2

Dig a hole that is two times the width of the nursery container. The depth should be one and a half times the height of the container. Raise the center of the hole by two inches. Set the root ball in the center of the hole on top of the mounded dirt. This will prevent overcrowding of the roots.
Step 3

Cover the roots with three inches of compost or potting soil. Water the roots. When water subsides, continue filling the hole with the remaining dirt. Water the dogwood making sure that the soil is evenly moist.
Step 4

Retain moisture and to discourage weed growth, surround the dogwood with three inches of organic mulch.

Tips & Warnings

Keep soil moist throughout growing season
Apply three inches of mulch in fall
Fertilizer in spring
Prune in early spring, trim 1/3 of branches to encourage growth and to keep dogwood in shape
If there is burlap on the root ball, check to see if it is natural. If there is a plastic coating on the burlap then you will have to remove it without injuring the roots.

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