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The when, why, and how of caring for your dogwoods
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Dogwood trees do not usually need much pruning. Even without manually shaping the tree, a dogwood will usually maintain a nice shape. Manual shaping can be done if desired, though. Do your primary pruning—the removal of branches—during the dormant season and your secondary pruning—cutting done to spur new growth—during the active growing season.
Things You Should Know
- Prune dogwood branches in late winter or early spring, when the tree is dormant and not actively growing.
- Cut off dead wood, or branches that are discolored or affected by rot or disease. Also clip off old, twiggy stems, and thin out crowded areas of branches.
- Snip away flower buds on the tip of the branch to redirect energy to growing other, more plentiful buds elsewhere on the branch.
Steps
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Remove branches during the winter or early spring. The dogwood should still be in a dormant state when you remove branches. Sawing or otherwise removing branches during the late spring or summer, after the tree begins to actively grow, can create fresh, appealing entry spots for insects that like to bore into the wood of the tree. [1] X Trustworthy Source Royal Horticultural Society Leading gardening charity in the U.K. providing resources for identifying, growing and caring for flowers and other plants Go to source
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Remove deadwood. Wood that is dying or dead will do nothing good for your tree. In fact, leaving it on the tree may actually cause problems. Deadwood is more likely to grow mold or other fungi, which can then spread to healthy parts of the dogwood. [2] X Research sourceAdvertisement
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Cut off diseased or insect-infested branches. Like dead branches, diseased branches will only invite further infection to the rest of your dogwood. When cutting off noticeably diseased branches, you should dip the shears or saw into a solution made of one part bleach and three parts water to sterilize them. Otherwise, you may accidentally spread the disease to other parts of the tree. [3] X Research source
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Prune away old, twiggy stems. Some dogwood varieties, particularly the shrubby types, are valued mostly for the colorful bark that grows on new stems. You can either cut back the old stems on these dogwoods or cut them down completely. For shrubby dogwoods, you can actually cut the dogwood down to the ground every few years to remove old stems and encourage the growth of new twigs. [4] X Research source
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Thin out crowded areas. If a particular section of your dogwood tree seems abnormally thick or crowded, select the weakest branches from that spot and cut them back to their point of origin. [5] X Research source
- Thinning out crowded areas can help open up the tree canopy and allow for better air circulation. [6]
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Expert Source
Steve Masley
Home & Garden Specialist Expert Interview. 20 March 2019.
- Thinning out crowded areas can help open up the tree canopy and allow for better air circulation. [6]
X
Expert Source
Steve Masley
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Remove shoots that grow below the graft point. Some hybrid or variegated dogwood varieties are created by grafting together two separate dogwood trees. A branch that grows beneath the grafting point will have characteristics of one of the original trees used for the hybrid, rather than the hybrid dogwood itself. To keep the foliage and appearance of the tree consistent, you should remove these unexpected branches by sawing or pruning them off at the point of origin. [7] X Research source
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Determine whether or not you need to remove lower branches. Sometimes, the lowest branches of the dogwood can interfere with walking or other gardening activities. Other times, the branches hang so low that the underside of the tree does not receive enough air. In either case, the lowest branches can be sawed off or cut away with heavy-duty shears.
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Snip away the flower buds. Cut off the buds at the tip of each branch to redirect energy to buds on the side of the branch. By removing a singe bud, you encourage the development of multiple buds, leading to a fuller setting of flowers. These buds can either be snipped off with shears or pinched off by hand.
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Prune your dogwood to encourage flowering in early summer. June is generally considered the best month for this type of pruning, but any time in the early summer will work. You should not snip buds off during the dormant season since doing so will cut the flowers off before they have the chance to open, rather than simply redirecting the energy. Do not wait too late into the summer, though, because doing so will not allow the buds to build up enough energy for new shoots and buds for the next year.
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Community Q&A
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QuestionHow do I prune a dogwood tree that has grown to 18 feet tall and has very few branches that spread out?Community AnswerIf you are attempting to create a fuller canopy, you can prune the main leader branch back to encourage more growth in the lower, more horizontal branches. Pruning with ladders can be very dangerous, so a polesaw is recommended. If it is too tall to be reached comfortably or safely, an arborist can be hired to do the work for you.
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QuestionCan I trim back the height in September?Community AnswerYes, dogwoods are fairly tough and can handle more intensive pruning than some other common garden shrubs.
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QuestionWhat is a kousa dogwood tree?Community AnswerA kousa is a variety of dogwood that can grow in a higher ground moisture content and shaded areas. You may find it to be very slow growing and have a shorter ultimate height.
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Tips
- After pruning your dogwood, water it well. Watering the tree after removing branches helps to ease the shock and reduce the stress it might suffer from.Thanks
- All branch pruning should cut back to the branch collar, or the base of the branch nearest the tree trunk. Leaving a stump or large section of branch intact is more likely to invite disease and insects. These sections may also sprout growth in odd directions, distorting the shape of your tree.Thanks
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Things You’ll Need
- Heavy shears
- Handsaw
References
- ↑ https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=161
- ↑ https://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/HO/HO-4-W.pdf
- ↑ https://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/HO/HO-4-W.pdf
- ↑ https://www.chicagobotanic.org/plantinfo/gardening_tips_and_techniques/winter_pruning
- ↑ https://www.chicagobotanic.org/plantinfo/gardening_tips_and_techniques/winter_pruning
- ↑ Steve Masley. Home & Garden Specialist. Expert Interview. 20 March 2019.
- ↑ https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/grafting-and-budding-nursery-crop-plants
About This Article
Article Summary
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To prune a dogwood tree, work during winter or early spring, since the tree should still be in a dormant state when you remove branches. Using gardening shears, cut off any dead or diseased branches you notice, which will prevent the infection from spreading to the rest of the tree. Additionally, make sure to sterilize your shears in a solution of 1 part bleach and 3 parts water between snips so you don’t accidentally spread the disease as you’re pruning! Besides diseased branches, thin out crowded areas and cut off old, twiggy stems. To learn how to do secondary pruning, read on!
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Reader Success Stories
- "I found your page useful, but when I tried to print it the pictures did not come out. In the end I did my own thing and cut the plant in half, taking out dead and crossing branches. It would be great if you could print the text and diagrams on this page. Thank you." ..." more
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"I found your page useful, but when I tried to print it the pictures did not come out. In the end I did my own thing and cut the plant in half, taking out dead and crossing branches. It would be great if you could print the text and diagrams on this page. Thank you."
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"Decided the dogwood was exceptional this year, so therefore I chose to clip some branches to put in the house, not knowing sap drippings may cause insects to harm the tree. Also, great to know to trim it during its dormant stage. Great information, thanks!"
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"It is early July. I wondered if it would damage my Dogwood if I pruned some unsightly branches now. The article told me that was not the best time to prune, but would not seriously damage my tree."
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"When and how to prune large branches was most helpful, as our tree had suffered snow damage and was unbalanced. We were unsure of when to prune large branches for the health of the tree."
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"This was very helpful. I have an 18-year-old dogwood, and the lower branches need pruning. I just didn't know how or when."
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