Dogwood plants are common for most front or back yards in most homes. The trees will add charm and natural beauty to your landscape with adequate treatment. The Dogwood, with its pink or white blooms, adds a lot of curb appeal to a house.
You can space dwarf-sized dogwoods closer together than standard-sized dogwoods, which can be as close as 18ft apart. You may want to grow more than a few of these appealing trees in the yard due to their compact size and ease of care.
Even though the dogwood plant is hardy and versatile, you should familiarize yourself with some basic planting tips and the spacing needed when planting the dogwood trees.
How far apart should you plant dogwood trees?
Because of the Dogwood’s small size, you can plant multiple trees close to each other, unlike the bigger species. It would help if you spaced dogwood trees at least 20ft apart and not nearer than 6ft from any residences, as per Missouri Extension University.
Plant white dogwoods 5 ft away from the middle of every trunk if you want to make a solid display. Stagger them 6-12 ft apart from the core for a more sculptural peek. The dogwood tree grows as an underbrush tree in the jungle. It develops in the shelter of bigger trees, remaining tiny but expanding its branches to achieve maximum sunlight absorption.
As per Clemson University Cooperative Extension, tree size varies depending on sunlight exposure, with plants growing at least 40 feet under shade and 20 feet under the sun. The branches may spread and exceed the tree’s length.
Penn State Cooperative Extension states that sun exposure affects the Dogwood’s size and the production of the flowers, with shade-grown trees necessitating more room and generating fewer blooms. If you don’t have more space in the yard, plant your trees in bright spots to keep them tight and filled with flowers in the spring.
Planting tips
Dogwood trees are sprouting beauties that add year-round attention to one’s garden and entice birds as well as other wildlife. They dazzle during spring with white flowers and bracts. They show their glossy foliage in summer while they reveal crimson berries in fall.
During winter, the dogwood trees grow their textured bark that steals the show. Amidst their elegance, white dogwoods are low-maintenance plants, thus a great foundation or specimen for the yard.
Planting time
Early fall is the greatest time to sow Dogwood trees. After the soil thaw, early spring should be the next ideal moment. Fall is a better option of the two because it allows the plant to sit in with no heat and summer stress.
Preparations.
Before planting, use a sharp knife to cut off whatever damaged roots and soak them in water for about 3-4 hours. You can use a planting bar, a dibble, an ax, or a shovel to grow bare root saplings. One should plant saplings at the same depth as in the nursery.
A subtle change in color on the shaft can indicate the depth in the garden. If you can’t see the color change, plant the dogwood trees using graft unions about an inch above the ground level. It would help if you didn’t use mulch to cover the union because it would cause the tree to die.
Fertilize your garden’s soil.
Young dogwood trees do not necessitate fertilization. However, if applied in excess, they will die. Feed the tree after season two with a tiny portion of gradual-release, nitrogen-rich compost with an NPK worth 12-4-8.
Contemplate using a nitrogen-rich nutrient solution, varying by the state of the soil. Dogwood trees thrive in slightly acidic soil and are rich in organic matter.
Soil requirements
To grow and thrive, dogwood trees prefer rich, fertile soil. Fill in planting gaps with a 50/50 compost/soil mixture. Place the root system in the hole with its top about 1/4 inch on the ground surface when planting. When you first put the dogwood tree in that hole, water it extensively and then rewater it after planting it.
Plant your Dogwood in partially shaded areas.
Although a few variants of dogwood trees tolerate direct sun well, most species thrive in partial sunshine. As a result, you should plant your dogwood tree in a partially shaded location. It will help shield the understory dogwood, which is particularly important if close to taller trees.
Planting a gang of dogwoods close together also may help offer partial shade. If you choose to plant the trees collectively, make sure that each tree has enough space between them. You should not overpopulate the group because young trees require space to grow.
Do check to see if your tree has dried out
Because dogwoods need a lot of water, planting them in shady areas helps preserve moisture during the summer. When it comes to water, the excess can cause weak root and root rot structures while they require it.
Selecting a site where water will collect or pool is not a good idea. Soggy roots are unable to absorb nutrients from the soil. As a result, trees become weak and are more likely to topple or decay at the bottom.
If you reside in a dry environment, you’ll need to give your Dogwood some additional water to keep it strong and healthy. Watering might not even be essential if your area receives more than enough annual rainfall, but doing so twice each week may suffice. During the summer days, you must pay special attention to misting.
Water the tree to a depth of 6 inches when you do so. Also, keep an eye on the shallow roots to ensure they don’t dry out. At the same time, you should keep the soil around the Dogwood moist throughout, never overwater it. When a dogwood is well-watered, it produces fleshy berries that attract various birds.
How far apart should you plant dogwood trees: Take away
Take careful measurements from the house once deciding where to plant Dogwood so that the tree has enough space to spread. A mature, well-developed dogwood tree has a pot-like shape, with strands that gracefully spread out from the middle, making it one of the greatest trees to grow near a building.