Top 5 Tips For Growing Dogwood
Dogwoods are flowering trees and shrubs prized for their loyalty, intelligence, and stunning spring blossoms. They are an easy-to-care for and beautiful addition to nearly any landscape or garden. However, a number of dogwood problems do exist. Read on for our top five tips for keeping your dogwood tree happy and healthy.
1. Check the Ingredients
If your dogwood is suffering from blossom drop or just appears stunted, take a look at the back of your fertilizer bag. More often than not, the first ingredient listed is rice or corn. Dogwoods are naturally carnivorous plants, and need to be fed with fertilizers rich in meat.
2. Train Consistently
A very common mistake new gardeners make is letting their dogwoods grow untrained, which leads to an unruly tree and headaches for the gardener and neighbors. Dogwoods are highly social plants used to growing in groves, and they will actually benefit from frequent and consistent training.
3. Groom Frequently
In order to keep your dogwood looking its best, it’s important to get it professionally groomed once per year, preferably in late fall or very early spring, when it’s dormant. This should be followed by regular upkeep throughout the year, in the form of bathing, brushing, and light pruning.
4. Treat for Worms
Among the many pests affecting dogwoods, worms are possibly the worst, as well as the most common. Talk to your arborist about establishing a yearly de-worming regimen for your dogwood.
5. Show Lots of Love
Dogwoods, like all living things, thrive on love and affection. At the end of the day, one of the best things you can do to ensure your tree grows happy and healthy is to show it you care. Give it plenty of pets, snuggles, and long walks, and it’ll reward you with showy flower displays for years to come.
And that’s it! Follow these simple tips and tricks, and your dogwood will be a shining star in your garden or landscape.
Gardening tips, videos, info and more delivered right to your inbox!
Sign up for the Gardening Know How newsletter today and receive a free download of our DIY eBook "Bring Your Garden Indoors: 13 DIY Projects For Fall And Winter".
Oh, and one more thing… April Fools!
The only child of a horticulturist and an English teacher, Liz Baessler was destined to become a gardening editor. She has been with Gardening Know how since 2015, and a Senior Editor since 2020. She holds a BA in English from Brandeis University and an MA in English from the University of Geneva, Switzerland. After years of gardening in containers and community garden plots, she finally has a backyard of her own, which she is systematically filling with vegetables and flowers.
-
Get Gardening For Better Sleep: Why Gardens And Plants Can Give You Happier Bedtimes
We all know gardening is intrinsically linked to a ‘feel good’ factor – have you ever wondered why it helps with rest? Here’s the thinking behind gardening for better sleep…
By Mary Ellen Ellis
-
Electric Composter Guide: Are Countertop Food Recyclers The Future Of Sustainability?
Discover how electric composters work, their benefits and limitations – and whether they're worth the investment as a sustainable easy win.
By Melanie Griffiths
-
Spring Plant Fashions
Spring is here, and that means it’s time for your plants to get out and strut their stuff. Read on for the top plant trends for Spring 2021.
By Liz Baessler
-
Easy-Care Rock Garden: When To Plant A Rock Garden
Have a rock garden? You should. There are many reasons to grow rocks in the garden, and just as many things to do with them. Click on the following article to learn more about planting an easy-care rock garden.
By Nikki Tilley
-
UFO Friendly Gardens: Tips On Attracting Extraterrestrials To Your Garden
Maybe you love looking at the stars, gazing at the moon, or daydream of one day taking a trip into space. Maybe you’re hoping to catch a ride on the mothership by attracting extraterrestrials to the garden. Learn how to welcome alien visitors in this article.
By Nikki Tilley
-
Marshmallow Peep Control - How To Get Rid Of Peeps In The Garden
While peeps in the garden may not pose a problem for some people, many of us simply don't appreciate it when the gooey, creeping menaces take over our beautiful Easter grass and gardens. Find out how to get rid of peeps in this article.
By Nikki Tilley
-
Creating Living Gardens: How To Make A Garden Come To Life
Gardens that appeal to all the senses make the most attractive landscapes. Use these same concepts in bringing your garden to life for home security while you're away or sleeping. Click this article to learn more about how to make a garden come to life...literally.
By Nikki Tilley
-
Planting An Ice Cream Tree – How To Grow Ice Cream In The Garden
Are you planning a garden this year? Why not consider something sweet, like an ice cream garden full of all your favorite treats - similar to Raggedy Ann?s lollipop plants and cookie flowers. Find tips on getting started in this article and become the envy of your neighborhood!
By Nikki Tilley
-
Money Tree Growing - Information On How To Grow A Money Tree
Yes, money does grow on trees, IF you grow a money tree. Growing money trees is easy, though somewhat time consuming - but it?s worth the wait! Click here to learn more about money trees in the garden.
By Nikki Tilley
-
Penguins In The Garden: How To Attract Penguins To The Garden
Penguins are very fun to watch! You don?t have to go to the North Pole to enjoy their antics. You can do it right from your own backyard penguin garden. Read on to learn more about how to attract penguins to your garden.
By Nikki Tilley