Dogwood trees are stunning. There’s no denying that, right? The different color variations they come in are all as beautiful as the last, so it’s little wonder that many people have questions about them and want to learn if they can add them to their gardens at home.
Given that zone 9 is one of the warmer hardiness zones you can grow in, it might leave a few of you concerned about whether dogwood trees would work in zone 9. Well, stick with us, and we’ll tell you precisely that, and then some!
Will Dogwood Trees Do Well In Zone 9?
Good news to all dogwood lovers out there, dogwood trees will do well in zone 9. Dogwood trees prefer warmer climates and do well in zones 7 to 9.
Now, given that zone 9 is at the top of their range, it might leave you concerned about how to care for dogwood trees in this zone properly. So, below we’ll take you through everything you need to know about properly caring for your dogwood trees in zone 9.
Requirements For Growing Dogwood Trees
There are a few quirks about the dogwood tree growing in zone 9, so getting to grips with their needs is a good idea before investing. That way, you can decide if your garden is equipped to host one of these beautiful trees.
First, you should know that dogwood trees rarely do well in direct sunlight in zone 9. They could certainly handle it in zone 7, where the temperatures are significantly cooler, but in zone 9, their bark will become damaged, and that will leave your tree fighting for survival and working much harder than they need to.
So, when planting in zone 9, it’s best to opt for a partially shaded part of your garden – somewhere they still receive full sunlight for part of the day, but not somewhere where the dogwood tree will have to sit in the sun for most of it. However, there is an exception to this rule.
The red twig dogwood tree is a beautiful dogwood variety that will bloom red in springtime and look fantastic. These trees have been selectively bred to create a dogwood tree that’s much hardier than most other specimens, and these will undoubtedly be able to sit out in the full sun in zone 9 and, will thrive by doing so.
The last thing you need to know about the requirements for growing dogwood trees in zone 9 is that they prefer acidic soils rich in organic matter, so do your best to provide them with this where you can.
When And How To Plant Dogwood Trees
If the requirements above are something you can meet, you might be thinking of planting a dogwood tree at home. So, let us help you!
First, let’s deal with the when! Although the winters in zone 9 aren’t exactly the harshest a dogwood tree will experience, they still need to be planted after the first frost to give it the best chance of establishing itself and thriving. This date is usually around March 1st in zone 9, but again, this is subject to change and could vary a couple of weeks on either side of this date.
The best advice we can give you is to follow along with your local weather updates and wait until after the last frost and the weather is warming up before you plant your dogwood trees.
Now, on to the how, to give them the best chance of survival:
- When you first get your dogwood tree, you’ll want to keep it in a cool place away from direct sunlight so it can acclimatize to your area for around a week or two. A garage or garden shed would work well and be sure to water it if it’s particularly dry.
- Prepare the acidic soil by testing for a pH level of between 6.0 and 7.0. Add some organic matter from compost to increase the nutrient value of the soil.
- When you dig a hole for the dogwood tree, only dig it deep enough so the root ball is above ground slightly in a small mound.
- Place the dogwood tree out of the container and into the hole when you’re sure it’s just deep enough for the root ball to sit above ground.
- Then fill in the soil surrounding the tree.
- Make sure you water with around 1-2 gallons of water to help it become established in the ground.
For the first year in zone 9, you’ll want to water it with 1-2 gallons of water twice a week to help it become established. After the first year, your dogwood tree will be established and is pretty drought resistant, so will only need watering when experiencing a severe drought or stress.
Dogwood trees zone 9: Final thoughts
So long as you look after the dogwood for the first year with additional water, provide acidic soil for it to grow in, and avoid placing it in direct sunlight (unless it’s a red twig dogwood, which will appreciate full sunlight), then dogwood trees will do brilliantly!
Did you know? There are many fruit trees that grow really well in zone 9.
Related Article: When to Fertilize Dogwood Trees?