How to Plant Dogwood Trees in the Fall in Texas
Dogwoods are spring flowering trees that grow well in the partial shade found in the forest sub canopy. The trees have large white blossoms in spring and glossy leaves that turn red in the fall. Dogwood trees also produce red berries in the fall that remain on the tree well into winter. The best time to plant dogwoods is in the spring, but in regions such as Texas that experience long, hot summers and short, mild winters, dogwoods can be planted in the fall. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
-
-
1
Plant the dogwood in partial shade with well-drained soil. Dogwoods will tolerate a wide range of soil types, including clay soil found in most of Texas and the sandy soil along the Gulf Coast. Dogwoods have a shallow rooting system that will rot in saturated soil.
-
2
Break up the soil to a depth of 12 inches, using a rake and spade. Prepare an area three times as wide as the root ball of the tree. Do not damage the root system of the nearby trees as you break up the soil.
-
-
3
Spread a 4-inch layer of organic soil amendments such as compost, peat moss and pine bark mulch over the soil. Mix the soil amendments into the soil, using a rake and shovel. Dogwood trees will thrive in soil that has rich, organic amendments.
-
4
Purchase a dogwood from a local garden center. Commercially grown dogwoods have strong, symmetrical structures and are well adapted to Texas soil and climate. Dogwoods taken from the wild will have asymmetrical structures and weak root systems.
-
5
Dig a planting hole twice as wide as the tree's root ball but no deeper. Place the tree's root ball in the planting hole. Fill in the space between the planting hole walls and the root ball halfway with soil. Water with a garden hose to dislodge air pockets. Fill in the remaining space in the planting hole with soil. Dampen the root ball with water. Trees planted in the fall require less water than trees planted in spring.
-
6
Shovel a 4-inch layer of mulch around the base of the tree in a ring. Rake the mulch back from the tree by about 3 inches on all sides of the trunk to avoid providing an environment for mold or fungus. The mulch will help to choke out weeds, hold in moisture and insulate the roots against winter chill.
-
1
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Don Smith/Photodisc/Getty Images
