Trimming Dogwood Trees for Optimal Appearance - Guide on Method and Timing
Pruning dogwood trees is an essential task that helps maintain their health and appearance. By removing dead, damaged, or diseased branches, opening up the tree's canopy, and reducing its size, you can promote strong growth and encourage flowering.
The best time to prune a dogwood tree is during its dormant period, typically in late fall, winter, or very early spring before new growth appears. This is when the tree is inactive, making it easier to make cuts without causing undue stress.
When pruning, it's important to use clean, sharp tools, such as bypass pruning shears for small branches, loppers for medium branches, and a pruning saw for larger limbs. Sanitise your tools between cuts to prevent the spread of disease.
To shape a dogwood tree, follow these steps:
- Remove Crossing and Rubbing Branches: Identify and carefully cut out branches that cross or rub against each other, which can cause wounds and weaken the tree structure.
- Thin the Canopy: Selectively remove some interior branches to open up the tree’s structure. This thinning allows sunlight to reach inner parts of the tree and improves air circulation, which prevents disease.
- Maintain Natural Form: Do light heading cuts to shape the tree without drastically altering its natural appearance. Avoid heavy topping or cutting more than 25% of the canopy in one season to reduce stress on the tree.
- Remove Any Dead, Diseased or Weak Limbs: Prune out unhealthy branches completely to direct energy into healthy growth and flowering next spring.
- Cut Back to the Branch Collar: Always make cuts at the branch collar (the swollen base where the branch meets the trunk or another branch) to promote quicker healing and reduce damage to the tree.
It's important to note that pruning should be done to avoid opening the tree up to disease or pest infestation due to sap bleeding. Suckers, or unnecessary growths, should also be removed as they take a lot of energy from the tree.
When pruning large branches, 2 inches (5 cm) in diameter or larger, use three cuts: first cut through a third of the way, second cut an inch (2.5 cm) behind the first, third cut at the branch collar to remove the leftover stub.
No sealer or dressing is needed after pruning a dogwood tree, allow the cut area to heal over on its own. Pruning should be done when the tree is dormant, except for dead branches which can be removed year-round.
Flowering dogwood trees typically grow no taller than 25 feet (8 m) at maturity. By following these guidelines, you can ensure your dogwood tree remains healthy and beautiful for years to come.
[1] Gardening Know How. (2021). How to Prune Dogwood Trees. Retrieved from https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/dogwood/pruning-dogwood-trees.htm [2] The Spruce. (2021). How to Prune Dogwood Trees. Retrieved from https://www.thespruce.com/pruning-dogwood-trees-3132756 [3] University of Illinois Extension. (2021). Pruning Dogwood Trees. Retrieved from https://web.extension.illinois.edu/cfivtm/yard-garden/pruning-dogwood-trees/ [4] University of Minnesota Extension. (2021). Pruning Dogwood Trees. Retrieved from https://extension.umn.edu/yard-garden-trees-shrubs/pruning-dogwood-trees [5] Clemson University Cooperative Extension. (2021). Pruning Dogwood Trees. Retrieved from https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/pruning-dogwood-trees/
