Cornus florida

A colorful native of Oklahoma that blooms beautifully in the early spring.  Dogwoods are cold hardy for the entire state of Oklahoma, the only misconception concerning the dogwood is that many people think they can plant them in the middle of the yard with no protection and in the full sun.  Don't even think about it!  They will wither up and die before you have a chance to slap your knee and say yee-haa!  Other than that they are a fairly low maintenance tree.  Dogwoods provide beautiful blooms in the early spring, that is followed by their unusual foliage, then in the fall they produce colorful berries for a great autumn accent in the garden. 

When To Plant:  Spring is the best time to plant dogwoods; however, they can also be planted in the fall.

Where To Plant:  We can't emphasize the importance of  planting your dogwood in a protected area. They can be an understory for your larger trees where they get protection from wind and the hot afternoon sun.  You may also plant them on the east or northeast side of your home if the afternoon sun does not directly hit them. Dogwoods like fertile, moist well-drained soils.  They will not survive in heavy, poor drained areas. 

How To Plant:  Dogwoods can sometimes be contrary when trying to get them established.  Just make sure you dig your planting hole 2-3 times the size of the root ball and about as deep as it sits in the pot.  Supplement the existing soil with something like Back to Nature® or Hu-More.  When backfilling water as you go to remove any air pockets.  Mulch with a good 2-3" to hold in moisture and hinder weed growth. 

Care & Maintenance:  Dogwoods are very susceptible to weed eater and mower damage.  They are not good selections as street trees and require supplemental watering during periods of drought.  A good all-purpose fertilizer once a year after the tree is finished blooming is all that is needed in the way of fertilizer.  Potential disease problems in Oklahoma are leaf spot and powdery mildew.  Another problem is dogwood wilt.  It actually first appears as if the dogwood is wilted from lack of water.  As it progresses the leaves will actually turn black.  It moves from branch to branch and will eventually move through the entire tree.  Unfortunately there is no cure for dogwood wilt, and we suggest when it is first diagnosed to destroy the tree as well as the stump, as it can be spread.  Also, sterilize any pruners or equipment you used on your dogwood. 

Other Information:  There are many selections of dogwoods from pinks, reds and whites.  And, yes, we have seen the dogwood growing and thriving in full sun, but after we checked into it, we discovered they were planted where a tree once was that protected them when they were young.  After becoming established they can take the heat much better.