Within the genus Dogwood (Cornus) there is a colorful crowd of spectacular species and unique varieties. Some ornamental trees show off their picturesque blossoms, while their fellows inspire with colorful branches. The right pruning of the dogwood bush should take into account the individual growth characteristics. This tutorial has set itself the task of explaining the species-specific pruning care to hobby gardeners in a practical way.

Colored dogwoods lose their color if they are not regularly pruned vigorously

Table of Contents

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  1. Species specific cutting options
  2. Cutting instructions for types of colored wood
  3. Cut flower dogwood
  4. Cornelian training cut
  5. Carpet dogwood grooming instructions
  6. Taper cut instructions
  7. cutting technique
  8. frequently asked Questions

    9. Cutting dogwood species-specifically - options at a glance

    The success story of the multi-faceted dogwood genus is based on outstanding species and their unique attributes. If you have succumbed to the charm of spectacular colored wood dogwoods, cutting care is different than with opulent flower dogwoods. And finally there is the local cornel, which fascinates us as a magnificent early bloomer and spoils us with delicious berries. The following table provides an overview of the central pruning options for the most popular dogwood species in the home garden:

    kind botanical names Cut Option I aim Period Cut Option II aim
    Whitewood Dogwood, Siberian Dogwood, White Dogwood, Yellowwood Dogwood Cornus alba, Cornus sericea, Cornus sanguinea radical cut Formation of intensely colored rods late February to early March Care and thinning cut Promotion of flowering
    Flower Dogwood, Pagoda Dogwood Cornus kousa, Cornus florida, Cornus nutallii, Cornus controversa Care and thinning cut Preservation of beauty and flowering from the 10th year immediately after the flowering period no cut give natural beauty free rein
    cornel Cornus mas education cut multi-stemmed shrub or single-stemmed wild fruit tree during the first years of standing thinning cut Prevention of aging in advanced age
    Carpet Dogwood, Canada Dogwood, Cushion Dogwood Cornus canadensis Pruning retracted shoots opaque ground cover with weed suppression in late winter, in good time before the fresh shoots no cut natural growth as a flowering ground cover

    Are you unsure which dogwood species or variety is in your garden? Then please do not make the decision based on the German trade name, which has sometimes led to adventurous confusion. Only the botanical name offers the ultimate security.

    Cutting non-ferrous dogwood boldly - instructions for pruning

    With the pruning of variegated dogwoods, you also make a choice between intensely colored shoots or beautiful flowers. You are faced with this choice because of species with bright red, yellow or brown-red branches buried after 3 years and lose their radiance. If a continuous pruning takes place to keep the young colorful, the flower buds that have already formed are regularly lost. The incision line for each option is explained in more detail below:

    Preservation of the intensive shoot colouring:

    • Best time is late February to early March
    • In the third year, cut off every second shoot to the ground
    • Cut out the other half in the fourth year
    • Leave young shoots
    • Alternatively, transplant the entire shrub to the stick every 3 years
    • In the following years, thin out the older, dead branches in favor of fresh shoots
    • Alternatively, transplant the entire shrub to the stick every 3 years

    digression

    Put on stick

    Gardeners use the term "putting on the stick" to describe a radical pruning of woody plants. All shoots are shortened to a height of 20 to 30 centimeters. The bush sprouts happily from the sleeping eyes on the rootstock. In contrast, deadwood is always cut off at ground level so that dead stubs do not prevent young twigs from sprouting.

    Preservation of the abundance of flowers

    • Best time is after flowering
    • Cut only when arching branches touch the ground and take root there
    • Cut back shoots that are too long to the apex of the arch
    • In addition, thin out dead wood in late winter

    Pruning back at the end of the flowering period does not conflict with the establishment of new buds for next year's flowering period. Please do not wait too long before using the pruning shears. At latest until mid-July should the pruning be completed in favor of flowering. At this point, a dogwood begins to bud for next year's blossom festival.

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    bird protection

    Radical pruning measures on ornamental trees are subject to the provisions of the Federal Nature Conservation Act (BNatSchG). If you are putting a dogwood on the stick or doing an extensive taper, the pruning must be completed before March 1st. To protect breeding birds and nesting small animals, Section 39, Section 5 BNatSchG prohibits any disturbance of wild animals by pruning trees. Slight grooming cuts are permitted between March 1st and September 30th, provided that they will not harm wild animals.

    Cut flower dogwood case by case - that's how it works

    Flower dogwoods are a floral revelation even without pruning. Wonderful species such as Cornus florida and Cornus kousa do not age even when they are old. Rather, gardeners can plan the lavish blooms in every early summer, followed by decorative infructescence and a bright color of the leaves in autumn. Under normal conditions, you can carry out maintenance and thinning cuts from the 10th year. Here's how to do it:

    • The best time is immediately after the flowering period until mid-July
    • Cut out damaged and dead branches
    • Remove shoots that are pointing towards the inside of the bush or that are crossing each other
    • Cut back long branches that are bent down to the ground by half

    In addition, from the 10th year of growth, dead shoots are cut off at the base at intervals of 3 to 4 years in late winter for a light-flooded ornamental shrub. The figure below illustrates the cuts made when pruning and trimming flower dogwoods as required.

    Only cut back long shoots after the flowering period if necessary. Flower dogwoods remain a feast for the eyes even without pruning. Thin out older shrubs every 3 to 4 years.

    tips

    One of the most famous dogwood varieties insists on special treatment when pruning. Flower dogwood 'Venus' trumps with opulent flowers and furious autumn colors. However, the ornamental tree branches only reluctantly in the first few years. They convince the flowering shrub to a dense, compact and flowering habit with a thorough pruning. After the flowering period, shorten all shoots by a third.

    Cornelian cherry - Cut care focused on educational cut

    The cornel cherry only reveals its botanical relationship with Cornus species on closer inspection. As an early-blooming wild fruit tree, the golden yellow flowers of Cornus mas shine at the same time as forsythia. The red berries in autumn are suitable for consumption and serve as a fruity ingredient for delicious jams, compotes and syrups. In addition, the cornelian cherry thrives on the hardest and heaviest wood in all of Europe. With this mix of extraordinary attributes, pruning is reduced to training as a shrub or tree, supplemented by pruning at an advanced age.

    The cornelian cherry grows very slowly and usually bears fruit First fruit after 8 to 10 years. You can therefore devote yourself to training in the first few years during the winter period without affecting a possible crop yield.

    For the shrub training, select 3 to 5 strong ground shoots as a framework in late winter. All other shoots are removed. The formation of a half stem begins in late winter after planting with the strongest central shoot as the future stem and 3 to 4 stable leading shoots. In the following year, shorten the skeletal shoots on the bush and the leading shoots on the half-trunk by a third before they begin to sprout. Then the further branching begins. Side branches sprouting below the crown are also removed, as are shoots that compete perpendicular to the trunk.

    When a cornelian cherry bears fruit for the first time, pruning care is reduced to a minimum. If necessary, cut back branches that are too long after flowering. When pruning, remember that with every wilted blossom you reduce the chance of delicious cornelian cherries. Thin out an older shrub or an aging crown in late winter.

    Carpet dogwood - this is how to cut the perennial

    In the wide range of diverse dogwood species, a ground cover should not be missing. The carpet dogwood takes on this task with flying colours. As one of the few herbaceous perennials within the dogwood genus, a Cornus canadensis makes life easy for the gardener. In the middle of winter, the plant pulls back its leaves and shoots to put a stop to growth. From mid-May, the groundcover will be back with fresh shoots.

    In view of an annual growth of 5 to 10 centimeters, pruning is unnecessary for carpet dogwood. Many home gardeners consider the drawn-in, dead plant parts to be annoying. It is up to you to decide whether you want to restore the well-groomed appearance by cutting back at floor level. Another argument in favor of a cut in late winter is that space is created for the growth of the young shoots.

    Taper cut gives momentum to growth

    You can primarily prescribe a rejuvenation pruning for colored wood dogwoods, as these types and varieties are consistently well tolerated by cuts are. The growth rockets within the genus catch up with the lost shoot volume in no time after a radical pruning. With slow-growing Cornus species and varieties, the privacy factor is lost for a few years, while at the same time the first flowering period after a rejuvenation cut is a long time coming. How to skillfully perform a makeover cut:

    • The best time is between the beginning of November and the end of February on a frost-free day
    • Thoroughly thin out all dead wood beforehand
    • Cut back the remaining branches to 20 to 30 cm
    • In the following year, during late winter, determine the shape with a corrective cut
    • Ideally, shorten the outer shoots a little more than branches inside the bush

    Flower dogwoods do not tolerate pruning for rejuvenation. If, contrary to all expectations, a flowering bush is senile, restrained care and thinning cuts in several stages have a chance of success. Start with small cuts on the outside of the shrub and work your way inwards year after year after the flowering period.

    digression

    tool

    Dogwood wood is tough and resilient. Pruning older shrubs in particular can take a lot of effort for the gardener. While pruning shears are sufficient for cutting one- to two-year-old shoots, this does not apply to thinning out over-aged ground shoots. Two-hand pruning shears with optimized power transmission are recommended for cutting shoots up to 35 millimeters. One-handed and two-handed scissors are optionally available with a bypass or anvil mechanism. For cutting branches with a diameter of more than 35 millimeters, we recommend a handy folding saw (€17.70) to be able to work effectively even in dense undergrowth.

    Don't cut anywhere - the skillful cutting technique

    A clean cut is the key to success when trimming dogwood. Frayed cuts, damaged buds, bruised shoots and overly long stubs are perfect targets for pathogens and pests. Please use the scissors and saw in a targeted manner so that an ornamental shrub fully benefits from pruning. This pruning technique has proven itself in tree care:

    • Sharpen blades and saw blades and disinfect with spirit
    • Choose the cutting point at a distance of 4 to 6 millimeters above an outward-facing pair of buds
    • Hold the tool at a slight angle, away from the opposite buds, as shown in the figure below

    Always position scissors so that the cutting blade rests on the part of the shoot that remains.

    Never cut into a bud. On the other hand, don't leave a long stub.

    frequently asked Questions

    What to do if a dogwood grows rampant?

    Some of the most beautiful species of dogwood form numerous stolons that spread throughout the garden. Put an end to the invasive conquest with scissors and a pruning saw. The best time is in summer, because cutting in the middle of the growing season significantly weakens growth. Cut back all shoots to ground level. Now the shrub cannot store any reserve substances through its leaves, which reduces its vigour.

    Are cut off dogwood shoots suitable for propagation?

    The clippings of non-ferrous dogwoods, such as the popular Cornus alba, are far too valuable to be disposed of. Each annual bright red shoot has the potential to become a magnificent ornamental shrub. To do this, cut one or more 20 centimeter long sticks above and below each pair of buds. In a partially shaded, protected propagation bed, put two-thirds of the shoot sections in humus-rich, loose soil so that they take root quickly.

    Typical pruning errors on dogwood

    Successful pruning of dogwood shrubs also depends on avoiding common pruning mistakes. The following table lists the most common pruning mistakes that home gardeners make, with tips for correcting them:

    error consequence correction
    Deadwood thinned out too timidly no or only a few young branches grow back Cut off dead shoots at ground level; leave no butts
    Non-coniferous dogwood never tapered no bright bark color in winter put the shrub on the stick in late winter
    arching overhanging branches root in the ground Formation of stolons, invasive spread in the garden cut back too long overhang to a pair of buds at the apex
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    tips

    Flowering dogwood and cornel are highly valued in the design of Japanese gardens. Thanks to the uncomplicated pruning care, Cornus shrubs fit seamlessly into the Asian garden culture. The pretty flowers and decorative fruits act as the ideal contrast to authentic basic elements such as white gravel and evergreen coniferous bonsai.

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Trees