Am I Taking Good Care of My Red Twig Dogwood?

did you planted your red twig dogwood in full sun?

Did you planted your red twig dogwood in well-drained, rich, and slightly acidic soil?

Do you live in a region with an extremely hot and humid climate?

Are you making sure that the soil is kept consistently moist?

Do you add compost to the soil every early spring to provide your dogwood with nutrients?

Do you promote new growth by pruning older branches?

Do you keep your red twig dogwood free of pests and diseases?

Red twig dogwoods will tolerate partial shade, but the signature red bark will be brightest if they are planted in full sun. Find a spot where it can get at least 6 hours of sunlight each day.

Red twig dogwood bushes love consistently moist soil, but if the soil is not draining well it can get waterlogged and promote root rots. Work humus into the soil for nutrients. Somewhat acidic soil is preferred.

This shrub has adapted to a wide range of temperatures, but it does not do well in extremely hot and humid climates where it can be vulnerable to diseases such as canker.

These plants prefer moist areas. They thrive in low spots or along streams or ponds. If there is not a lot of rain, water new plants weekly for the first few months. Mature plants only need watering during dry spells when there is no rain for more than a week.

Fertilize red twig dogwood in the early spring, side-dressing it with compost. When it has started to leaf out, you can feed it with fish emulsion, although it will do fine without.

For maximal color, prune out one-third of the older branches every three years or so. Such care will promote new growth. And since the younger branches bear the brightest color, that is precisely the growth that you want to encourage. If the bush is overgrown, you can cut it back to the ground. It will return within a year with young red stems.

Good job! You are taking good care of your red twig dogwood.

Dogwoods are susceptible to a variety of fungal problems, including leaf and twig blights, canker, and leaf spots. Fungal-diseased branches should be cut back to healthy wood; otherwise, the problem may spread to infect the entire shrub. Scale, leaf miners, and bagworms are common insect pests. Commercial pesticides can be used if the problem becomes serious, though insects rarely kill a shrub.