Pruning a dogwood not only gives it a neater, more manicured appearance but also helps to minimize damage from insect infestation and disease. Clearing away weak or dead branches and thinning out intersecting branches can improve the appearance and health of the dogwood. Care should be taken while pruning a dogwood to avoid damaging the bark or cutting too close to the trunk. Gardeners can reduce the amount of waste produced by recycling their clippings.
Dogwoods do not require frequent tending and grooming, but periodic pruning is recommended. The best time for pruning a dogwood is during the late winter or early spring. The dogwood is dormant during this time, and buds have not yet formed. Pruning the dogwood while it is budding is discouraged, as it may reduce flower growth.
Sharp tools are especially important for pruning a dogwood. These trees characteristically have an especially thin, fragile bark, and blunt tools are likely to tear or damage this bark during the pruning process. Tears in the bark expose the wood beneath to fungus, disease, and boring insects.
Branches should not be cut away flush with the trunk. At the base of each branch is a bulbous collar. Leaving this collar on the dogwood will allow the branch to be removed without damaging the trunk.
Dead and weak branches should be the first to go. Often these are a sign of disease or infestation, and if left in place, the condition may spread to the whole dogwood. Gardeners are urged to remove dead branches as soon as they are noticed, regardless of the time of year.
Often, dogwood branches, will intersect and criss-cross through the body of the tree. These intersecting branches can rub one another in the wind, abrading the bark and exposing the vulnerable wood beneath. The gardener can thin out these intersecting branches, and trimming away smaller branches can help the more hardy ones to thrive.
After removing branches that can affect the dogwood’s health, the gardener may wish to continue pruning a dogwood to control its shape and height. Dogwoods tend to look best when branches are allowed to spread, but should ideally have a single vertical leader. Cutting away secondary vertical “water spouts” can give the tree a neater appearance.
Care should be taken to avoid over-pruning, as this can also be harmful to the tree. Frequent or severe trimming can reduce the dogwood’s production of buds and flowers. For best results, the dogwood should not be cut back by more than a third of its original size.
Removal of clippings can sometimes present a problem. Cut branches can be quite long, making them awkward for disposal. Many gardeners avoid this problem by recycling the trimmings to be used again in the garden. Branches can be chipped into mulch for bedding plants, or they may be set aside to use as stakes for seedlings and climbing plants. Clippings may also be planted and cultivated to grow new dogwoods and perpetuate the species.