Dogwood in Summer

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Why would I write about dogwood in summer? Probably because my big, hulking dogwood are growing like crazy and I need to remind myself how much I love them from November through April.

I have three Arctic Fire dogwood in our front bed. During the winter months these stems are a bright red. They almost look fake with their fire engine red color and they are the first thing your eyes find in the garden during these months. As soon as the cool weather comes and the leaves fall off, the branches transform into these amazing colors.

This photo shows the same dogwood in early April. Until the leaves begin to grow they remain their bright red color.

However, these same dogwood in summer turn in to the big green masses in my front bed. They are beginning to consume the nearby perennials. Is this their fault? No. It’s mine. I planted them too close to their companions. The mass on the left side is my three Arctic Fire dogwood in summer.

The branches of the dogwood in summer begin to fade to a creamy color. Their abundance of large green leaves hides them, but the show is over for these branches during the summer months.

Can you trim dogwood in summer?

Thankfully, yes you can. I am trying to show restraint on this though because I know that the larger the branches are in the winter the more they will shine though the cold and snow. That being said, they are starting to strangle out some nearby plants.

I will use a pair of pruners to create some space around those plants and tame any unruly branches from the overall mounded shape of these dogwood shrubs.

Can you plant dogwood in summer?

Yes! And you should! Your garden will thank you from November until April. Just be mindful of their full size and try to space accordingly.

I will just be over here, giving my dogwood a gentle trim this summer and knowing that they will pull their weight this winter.

The post Dogwood in Summer appeared first on Miss Smarty Plants.

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