Everything You Should Know About Pruning Dogwood Trees
Owing to their relatively small mature height—flowering dogwoods typically reach no more than 25 feet (8 meters)—flowering dogwoods are highly sought-after early-blooming trees that are ideal for use in home gardens.
As long as you know how to trim them correctly, these beauties are usually low maintenance. It is crucial to know when to prune them because they can bleed sap if they are clipped too soon in the year.
Dogwood tree pruning is generally not too complicated. For information on pruning dogwood trees, continue reading.
Do Dogwood Trees Need to Be Pruned?
A dogwood tree should be pruned for three reasons. Initially, cut off any diseased, damaged, or dead branches. Pruning can also be used to increase airflow through the tree’s canopy, which lowers the likelihood of disease or pest infestation. Finally, pruning dogwood can be done to make the tree smaller.
When Dogwood Trees Should Be Pruned
As was already mentioned, dogwood trees bleed. When pruned in the spring and summer, when they are actively growing, they often bleed sap. Although this sap flow isn’t always harmful and should be allowed to stop on its own, it can expose the tree to illness or pest infestation.
Therefore, before any new growth appears, during its dormant phase in late fall or winter to very early spring, is the ideal time to prune your dogwood tree.
Dogwood Tree Pruning Instructions
Generally speaking, pruning is not required unless you notice suckers or dead, damaged, or diseased limbs, in which case they should all be removed. Suckers drain the tree’s energy and are superfluous.
If not, you might decide to slow down the tree’s growth or train it into a more pleasing shape.
Make three cuts to prune large branches that are at least 2 inches (5 cm) in diameter. Just a third of the branch should be cut through on the initial cut. Position the second incision approximately one inch (2.5 cm) behind the initial one. To remove the branch, make another cut that should cut all the way through. To get rid of the remaining stub, make the last cut at the branch collar.
You should just let the cut area heal itself after removing a tree limb; there’s no need to apply a dressing or sealer.
Except in the case of dead branches, which can be removed at any time of year, pruning should only be done while the tree is dormant.
How to Prune a Dogwood to Give It Shape
If a dogwood gets rounded, trim back any branches that hang low. Any branches that are crossing should be removed. Observe from a distance whether any additional branches require trimming in order to create more canopy opening. Never cut the dogwood’s main trunk, the leader.
Can a Dogwood Tree Be Topped Off?
While pruning some flowering shrubs and trees can stimulate their blooms, avoid doing so when it comes to dogwood trees. Keep your dogwood tree topped off.
How Can a Dogwood Tree Be Rejuvenated?
Finding out if the tree has an illness like anthracnose is the first step. If so, there’s not much of a reason to work hard to revitalize it.
Try feeding it if it isn’t diseased by placing a good half-inch of compost beneath the canopy line; just be careful not to get any compost near the tree’s trunk. Add a dose of compost tea afterward to help reactivate the good bacteria.
Finally, examine the tree and cut off any limbs that are diseased, dead, or damaged. Additionally, trim any branches that cross to allow the canopy to expand. Before the tree starts to sprout new growth, prune it in the late fall, early winter, or very early spring.
