Seeing a dogwood tree in full bloom is a sign that spring has arrived. Dogwood is prized for its beautiful flowers, which are typically white. But you’ll also rarely see some varieties with beautiful blooms of yellow, red, or pink.
When dogwood flowers, it’s a spectacular show. With blooms lasting several weeks, these trees are a true harbinger of spring. It’s understandable how frustrating it may be if you have a dogwood tree that isn’t flowering. There are a few reasons behind this, and let’s find out.
Dogwood Not Flowering: Possible Reasons Why
If you’ve been asking yourself, “why is my dogwood not flowering,” here are some possible explanations.
It’s All About Timing
First, it’s essential to understand that dogwoods are typically late bloomers. In many areas of the country, the blooming season for dogwoods is April or May. So, if your tree hasn’t flowered yet, it may still be waiting for its turn.
Additionally, young dogwood plants won’t flower until they’re at least four or five years old. So, if your tree is still young, it may not have reached maturity yet.
The Wrong Location
Another possibility is that your dogwood tree is in the wrong location. Dogwoods prefer partial sun to full shade. Naturally, they are found on forest edges – this means that for the entire day, they get a bit of sunlight and shade.
If your dogwood is in full sun all day long, it may not have the energy it needs to produce flowers. Alternatively, if it’s in complete shade, it may not be getting enough sunlight to encourage blooming.
If possible, and while it’s young, or before you even decide to plant dogwood, you may want to make sure that you plant them in an area that will offer some dappled sunlight throughout the day.
Pruned the Wrong Way
While pruning is a typical gardening activity that’s needed for some plants, you have to be careful with dogwoods. Usually, you wouldn’t want to prune your dogwood unless it’s absolutely necessary – like if it’s dead, diseased, or damaged.
If you like to prune your dogwood to maintain its shape, you may do so once the tree is finished blooming. But, if you prune it at any other time of the year, you may be preventing it from flowering as you may accidentally remove premature buds, preventing flowers from blooming that spring.
Improper Fertilization
Fertilizing your plants is important as it provides them with the nutrients they need to grow. But, you have to be careful not to overdo it – especially with dogwoods.
Most of the time, dogwood trees are placed in the middle of the lawn. Lawns need lots of nitrogen for the leaves to profusely grow. But too much nitrogen in the soil can lead to fewer flowers on your dogwood tree.
With that being said, make sure that you use a balanced fertilizer. Adding phosphorous to the soil is also a good idea as it promotes blooming.
Underwatering
Many times, we often neglect to water our plants, thinking that they can tough it out on their own. Dogwoods are no different.
These trees need moist soils to survive – especially during the spring and summer months when they’re actively growing. If you don’t provide your dogwood tree with enough water, it may not have the energy it needs to flower.
On average, it needs about one inch of water every week. On a rainy month or season, you’d want to cut back on the watering. But during a dry spell, you may need to water it more frequently. Supplement rainfall with a sprinkler or soaker hose placed at the base of the tree.
Disease or Pests
Unfortunately, dogwoods are susceptible to disease and pests. Some of the most common diseases that affect dogwoods are powdery mildew, leaf spot, canker diseases, and anthracnose.
Powdery mildew appears as a white powder on the leaves of the tree. Leaf spot causes brown or black spots to form on the leaves. Canker diseases can kill twigs and branches, and anthracnose can cause the leaves to fall off prematurely.
To prevent these pests from attacking your dogwood, make sure that you plant them in well-drained soil. You’ll also want to avoid overwatering, as this can create the perfect environment for these diseases and pests to thrive.
Cold Temperature Snaps
One of the most common reasons why dogwoods don’t flower is because of a late spring frost. As an ornamental tree, dogwoods are one of the first to bloom in the spring.
Their flowers are very sensitive to cold and can be easily damaged by a late spring frost. If the temperatures dip below freezing, it can cause the flowers to turn brown and fall off.
Dogwoods are not as common in the northern parts of the United States as they are in the south. That’s because they’re not as tolerant of cold weather and can only survive in areas with mild winters.
Final Thoughts: Dogwood Not Flowering
Being able to see a beautiful dogwood tree blossoming during the spring is a sight to behold. But if your dogwood tree isn’t flowering, don’t despair.
There are a number of reasons why this may be happening – from improper pruning to diseases and pests. It only requires a specific type of care to get it back on track. With the right care, you’ll be able to enjoy its beautiful blooms, with its branches laden with flowers, in no time.
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