When to Plant Dogwood Trees?

The daisy-like bracts of the dogwood tree in spring.

The flowering dogwood tree (Cornus florida) grows in rich, deep and moist, acidic soils in the forests of the Eastern and Southeastern United States. They are often found growing among hickory, pine and oak trees. Dogwoods are most visible in early spring when the white daisy-like bracts appear and brighten up the forest. It is an attractive small tree, to 30 feet tall and wide and is often grown in the landscape within its native range.

History

The intense fall color of the dogwood tree.

Flowering dogwood is the state flower of North Carolina. Parts of the tree were used throughout history for a variety of uses including weapons, dye, tools, and treatments for mange and malaria. In recent years, a devastating disease called dogwood anthracnose has affected wild dogwood trees. Always buy trees that are certified anthracnose resistant.

Location

Pink dogwood tree in early spring.

Plant dogwood trees where they have some protection from the hot afternoon sun. Six hours of exposure to the sun during the first half of the day followed by dappled shade is ideal. Dogwood trees will not survive a location fully exposed to the afternoon sun. The soil should be well drained, but able to hold moisture and have a pH of 5.5 to 6.0. A sandy loam with plenty of well-decomposed organic matter in the soil is ideal. The location should be near a water source, as dogwoods often need extra water in summer to prevent wilting of the leaves.

Planting

Plant a dogwood tree in the fall or very early spring while it is dormant. This allows the tree to establish roots, so it withstands summer heat. Dig a hole three times as wide as the root ball you are planting and deep enough that the tree is planted at the same depth as the previous location or container. Mix enough well-rotted compost with the backfill, so the soil placed back into the planting hole is 25 percent compost. Spread out any roots that are encircling the root ball and begin backfilling the planting hole with the soil and compost mix. Spread a 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch around the dogwood tree. Leaving a 6-inch space between the mulch and the trunk prevents fungus or mildew from spreading from the mulch to the tree.

Care

Water the tree deeply and thoroughly once every 10 days during the first winter and once a week during the first summer. Always water in the morning to avoid fungal problems and never allow the leaves and branches to get wet by overhead watering. Continue adding mulch around the tree while keeping the mulch 6 inches away from the trunk. Do not allow any damage to occur to the trunk from lawn equipment.

References

• Clemson University Extension; Dogwood; Debbie Shaughnessy et al., February 2000
• University of North Carolina: State Flower-Dogwood

Resources

• Dogwood-Tree: Flowering Dogwood Care