Dogwood Shrub
Getting to Know the Dogwood Shrub
The dogwood shrub is a popular choice for hedge and barriers and is known as a plant that is effective in stopping soil erosion. While these shrubs are priced for the beauty they add to the landscape, they are also considered good plants for rehabilitating wet land and for stabilizing land surrounding water bodies. The stem of the shrub has been used for crafting and this is continuing the tradition of the Native Americans using it for basket weaving. The roots and bark of the shrub were also used as sources for dye in the past and the narcotic effects of the smoked leaves and bark has also been appreciated by generations past. For most of us today though the dogwood shrub appealing as the right touch to the well-planned garden and its hardiness and relatively low level of maintenance add to its attractiveness. Bloodtwig Dogwood, Gray Dogwood, Tatarian Dogwood and California Dogwood are four popular varieties of the dogwood shrub used across the United States today.
The dogwood shrub does well in the sun in very moist soil. It is known to handle drought well once it is established but it really thrives in wet conditions early on. It is known to handle even periods of having the roots submerged in water if the soil is rich in nutrients and pH levels of 5.5 to 7 are considered optimal. The scientific name of the dogwood is Cornus and the shrub is priced by many gardeners because it is able to handle fairly large drops in temperature. So it proves able to adapt to winter conditions. This shrub is actually less able to thrive in heat. It is not a good idea to plant a dogwood in zones where summer temperatures are known to reach particularly high levels. The dogwood shrub has striking red stems in winter and this deciduous plant produces white fruits and flowers. The colors of the stem are particularly striking when the plant gets plentiful sun exposure. The key thing to remember is that the dogwood shrub likes the light but not the heat of the sun.
An individual shrub which can grow as tall 10-12 feet is known to have that much spread also and while planting a barrier or informal screen you can space your plants accordingly. The shrub's flowers, which blossom in spring, are self-sterile and so the dogwood needs to be cross-pollinated for getting seeds. Then the seeds need about three months of cold stratification to germinate. Given that the stems lying on the ground produce roots layering is a popular technique for propagating the dogwood shrub. Also, base of dead branches and the roots region produce shoots that are useful for spreading your dogwood shrub.
The dogwood is priced for its colorful stems and as these may become paler in older plants, it is recommended that you prune and trim the shrub to stimulate new growth. Fresh stems have the dramatic color that is associated with this species of plant. There are some cultivars of the dogwood shrub which have orange and yellow stems also. Experts say that you can cut the stems down to about two to three inches from the base in late winter or early spring before new growth begins. Then you should apply fertilizer liberally to facilitate the growth of new stems and leaves and also mulch the base thoroughly to help the region retain moisture which is critical for the dogwood shrub. This kind of extensive pruning needs to be done only infrequently and the shrub can be encouraged to retain shape and size with much more moderate trimming on a more regular, annual, basis.