There’s a lot to like about dogwood trees, including its low maintenance aspect, fruiting behavior and how they come in all shapes and sizes. These things make it an ultra-popular fixture in landscapes and gardens across the US. Those who don’t like to deal with too much plant debris in their yard might ask, ‘are dogwood trees messy?’
The answer is typically not, although the Kousa species is known to leave fruits on the ground.
Are Dogwood Trees Messy?
In general, dogwood trees are low-maintenance and do not make a mess in the garden. They’re tidy and have a neat growing habit, and they don’t need heavy or regular pruning every growing season.
If there’s one dogwood tree that’s labeled as messy, then it’s most likely the Kousa Dogwood. It’s a dogwood tree that’s native to Asia and produces one-inch edible fruits and prolific star-shaped bracts that come in white, pink or red.
The ping-pong sized berries ripen come spring time and attract all sorts of wildlife, ranging from small mammals to birds and deer, among others. By itself, the fruit is beneficial to nature as it feeds the animals, and you can turn it into jelly or wine with the right tools and processing.
However, you will have to do some cleaning up afterwards and this has earned the distinction of being a messy dogwood variety.
Being non-native to the US, Kousa Dogwood is drought-intolerant and requires frequent watering and a rich organic soil. You can plant it in your garden if you live in zones 5 through 8. Although some species do well in zone 9.
Other dogwood species, such as the flowering dogwood are not known to make a mess in the yard. It’s native to the US and usually serves as an understory tree due to its small and compact stature.
Nevertheless, it’s showy enough that it can warrant its own space and make an interesting central piece in the garden.
How to Care for a Dogwood Tree
The good news about flowering dogwoods is that they have a neat habit and are not messy on any account.
The mess a Kousa variety brings is mainly from the round fruits that fall on the ground. The berries might rot or get stepped upon depending on the amount of foot traffic the area gets.
Cleaning up will be a chore since you’ll have to deal with a moist fruit that’s splattered on the ground.
In comparison, the fruit a flowering dogwood makes might scatter on the ground but they’re easier to collect and dispose of. Some birds are known to eat them whole, so there won’t be anything left (which is better for the homeowner).
Furthermore, flowering dogwoods tend to hold on to the fruit much like a crabapple tree does, and they stay longer on the stems and branches for the birds and small animals to eat.
Dogwood trees come in many shapes and sizes, from dwarf forms to variegated ones and even a weeping species. The flowers also vary in size and color depending on your preference.
The only care for a dogwood tree in your yard is picking the best location in your yard or garden. Ideally, you’ll want a place that gets full sunlight or partial shade and well-drained soil (any type will do).
The fast-growing plant sports green leaves in the summer and transform into a deep purple red come fall. Watering is done regularly in its first and second growing season, then not nearly as much when it’s established.
Planting the no-fuss dogwood species is usually done in the spring, and it combines well with other plants such as redbud, witch hazel and hydrangea. It’s a good idea to fertilize your trees annually.
Dogwood Tree Cleanup Tips
Cleaning up a dogwood tree is about the same as with other trees. You can pick up and dispose of dead leaves and branches, as well as fruit as they fall on the ground.
Pruning can be done but only sparsely and during late winter or early spring. Dogwoods often grow out an aesthetically pleasing foliage shape on their own, but you can take out your garden shears and trim it down to a more manageable size, or do some cuts here and there to even it out.
Related Article: Dogwood Trees with Red Berries