how to prune and shape a kousa dogwood

Do not prune when the tree is flowering in the spring, or you will make it vulnerable to dogwood borers, one of the very few pests that seriously affect it. Thin the inside of the canopy to improve air circulation and let sunlight in. In addition, you should of course have your tree services company prune away any dead branches and ensure that the tree is growing in a structurally sound shape. If you can keep up a consistent pruning schedule then a great way to keep you dogwood shrubs in bright colors is to just prune the oldest stems once a year in the late winter. Kousa Dogwood Trees for Sale - FastGrowingTrees.com KOUSA DOGWOOD TREE Trimming and Shaping, This way makes it ... Dogwood, Cornus sanguinea, is typically grown for winter colour, when its red, leafless stems shine like beacons in the bare winter garden. A once-a-year pruning in late winter is essential to maintaining the bright colors of the twigs, which is what these shrubs are prized for. The crown Branches grow upright when the tree is young, but appear in horizontal layers on mature trees. Restoring Overgrown Shrubs | Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden Same variety of Dogwood tree each with a different growth habit. Young Kousa Dogwood. It can be used as a specimen plant or in shrub borders. As the Kousa Dogwood matures, it branches out horizontally and becomes more wide-spreading. Shaping a Kousa Dogwood is only necessary to prune the dogwood trees to maintain desired size and shape. 1). Cutting back old branches restores the dogwood's vigor and prompts new, healthy growth. If your Cornus is a tangled mess of crossing stems then it is definitely time to prune them back into some form of order. The Kousa dogwood is a handsome, small- to a medium-sized tree reaching a mature height of 30 feet. This is when the dogwood is completely dormant. For example, remove all but one stem from a young tree to give it a single-trunk shape, pruning away any new, low side branches until the main trunk is a few feet tall. About Japanese Kousa Dogwoods. Figure 1. Think of the kousa dogwood in thirds. Korean Dogwood Tree.#DogWood #lawncare How to Prune Kousa Dogwood Trees Prune when the kousa dogwood is dormant, in late fall or early winter. Japanese Kousa dogwoods (Cornus kousa) are small deciduous trees that reach about 15-30 feet tall and wide, depending on the variety.They naturally grow in a pleasing umbrella shape that works well as a specimen or border tree. The Kousa dogwood is a handsome, small- to a medium-sized tree reaching a mature height of 30 feet. They are a delicate vision at twilight in late spring. Prune when the kousa dogwood is dormant, in late fall or early winter. In this way, can you shape a dogwood tree? For a young branch, cut about 1/2 inch from the main branch, or 1 or 2 inches from the trunk for a larger branch. Hand Pruning Shears: Stems up to half inch in diameter can be pruned with hand shears. Also, remember that this tree is putting on flower blooms in the fall. Good pruning also opens blocked sight lines, such as when overhanging limbs block the views from driveways or street corners. A: This isn't a huge species, but without any pruning, Kousa dogwoods can grow 25 feet tall and wide. Your goal in pruning Dogwood shrubs, such as the red and yellow twigged dogwoods, is to remove old stems that have lost their brilliance that will be replaced by new, brightly colored stems. There are four basic pruning techniques used for maintaining shrubs: heading back, renewal, rejuvenation, and shearing. Step 2 Think of the kousa dogwood in thirds. Their tiny, star-shaped blossoms come later than other dogwoods. To achieve this year-round appeal, however, does take some work. There are 2 main reasons to only prune during the dormant period. Pruning is best done in late winter to early spring for most shrubs. Milky Way Select kousa dogwood (Cornus kousa 'Milky Way Select'): This cultivar has a rounded to wide vase shape growing 15 feet high and wide. It has deep pink flowers, 3/4 inch red fruits, and deep red fall color. A dogwood grows 1 or 2 feet each year until it's about 25 feet tall. Your goal in pruning Dogwood shrubs, such as the red and yellow twigged dogwoods, is to remove old stems that have lost their brilliance that will be replaced by new, brightly colored stems. GENERAL PRUNING That doesn't mean that you shouldn't prune. As varied are the different dogwoods as the number of tools you can select to perform the pruning. Think of the kousa dogwood in thirds. Pruning of dogwoods can be done in late fall/early winter (November-December) or after the trees are finished flowering in the spring. Kousa Dogwood1 Edward F. Gilman and Dennis G. Watson2 INTRODUCTION Kousa Dogwood grows 15 to 20 feet tall and has beautiful exfoliating bark, long lasting flowers, good fall color, and attractive fruit (Fig. Ifa limb is growing out into the pathway, prune it offto the collar, (see Pruning Tips: Straight Skinny on the LifeOf Limbs). It looks fantastic when planted with evergreen shrubs, and among spring flowers.However dogwood also makes a fantastic wildlife shrub and can be grown into a hedge alongside other wildlife-friendly plants such as hawthorn and hazel. Dogwood that is a tree type is a whole different matter when it comes to pruning. Itis easy to spot in the summer because the dead branch has no live leaves on it. We recommend pruning dogwoods (if necessary) during the summer. Young Kousa Dogwood. People ask if they can trim a dogwood in the summer or cut back a dogwood in the fall, but the best time to prune a dogwood tree is in late fall until late winter. Mature dogwoods can be pruned as needed to maintain the desired size and shape, and to remove dead wood, crossed branches, suckers, and overly vigorous upright shoots (called water sprouts). Most plants need a little pruning every season or two. It would be difficult to use too many Kousa . Dogwood trees have a naturally attractive shape and don't require routine pruning, but there are some circumstances where pruning and trimming dogwood trees becomes necessary. To encourage a shrublike appearance, trim off the top third of the tree with long-handled pruning shears to promote new branch growth near the ground. For a young branch, cut about 1/2 inch from the main branch, or 1 or 2 inches from the trunk for a larger branch. 1). Summer is the most ideal time to prune dogwoods, as they bleed sap if pruned in winter. If you prune too soon, you may stunt next season's flowers. Kousa dogwoods don't always need a whole lot of pruning, but you'll need the services of a tree care expert about whether some of your dogwood's branches may be hanging too low. Pruning can help keep branches and limbs away from power lines and buildings. The best time to prune is in the late winter (when the tree is dormant) to early spring, before new folige emerges. Kousa Dogwood Care Water the tree regularly during the initial months and hot spells. Prune when the kousa dogwood is dormant, in late fall or early winter. Branches grow upright when the tree is young, but appear in horizontal layers on mature trees. Select the appropriate one according to the size of the plant, its age and the type of pruning it will perform. For the most part, dogwoods just need an annual cleanup to get ready for the next blooming season. Keep pruning. Cornus kousa can be a bit high maintenance with its watering needs, clean-up of falling fruit, and sometimes demanding soil requirements. 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