Dogwood

Hi folks. I have 2 of these, and I just noticed that one of them (the red one) is starting to shoot. From what little I know, they are meant to be pruned around now ? Can anyone tell me when and by how much they need pruning ? Cheers...freddy.

 

Cut all old stems right down to the ground,leave the pretty red ones.

 

I would cut ALL the stems down (now is about right)- and pretty new red ones will come this year.

 

I find that cutting them down after they have started into growth puts them back for weeks on end, so I always prune only the oldest stems now.

 

I would tend to agree with Kristen-all the stems down now.

 

I bought a red one today :yho: and now im totally confused.. Where's Pete or David when you need them :D

 

The thing is joyce42 , ALL the stems right now are the 'pretty' ones. Ok, I think I'll cut them down to the ground, or just above ground level, back to a bud seems sensible. Cheers...freddy.

 

The reason I cut them all down is that any stems that are left don't have such a good colour next winter. Mind you, mine are mature, so spout quickly and plentifully. A smaller plant does need to be allowed to get big enough to be pruned radically.

I can't find a picture of them in the Winter, but here's one in April showing their "haircut"!

 

Blimey Kristen, they're massive compared to mine ! I planted mine last autumn, and are probably around 4ft tall, still quite young. So, what kind of pruning do you suggest ? Cheers...freddy.

 

"probably around 4ft tall"

If it was me I would cut each vertical branch down to about 12" =- 18" from the ground. I'm assuming it is shaped more like a youth who has jelled his hair, and then stuck his fingers in the mains, rather than like a cordon fruit tree ... ??

 

"It depends on the variety of dogwood."

Ah, Rats! You are absolutely right Shiney. The only ones I have are the type that have magnificent coloured stems in Winter, and I reckon they need hard pruning, but the variegated ones are a different kettle of fish, as you say.

 

Yes Kristen.

 

Hi shiney. It's not variegated, I didn't know you could get those, looks good

 

I agree, if it`s grown for the foliage, such as C. Kousa, just take out any dead or straggly growth. If it`s one of those grown for their winter stem colour, take it down to ground level now. :thumb: