Overcrowding encourages diseases and causes less attractive, thin stems. They grow up to 8 feet (2.5 m.) tall with an 8 foot (2.5 m.) spread. When planting red twig dogwoods, give them plenty of room. They look fantastic when planted in groups or as an informal hedge. Red twig dogwood is one of those plants where more is better. There are two species of Cornus called red twig dogwoods: Tatarian dogwood ( C. While both the tree and the shrub belong to the Cornus genus, red twig dogwoods never grow to become trees. Growing a Red Twig Dogwoodĭon’t confuse red twig dogwood trees with other dogwood trees. Both fruits and flowers look good against the dark background of the foliage, but pale in comparison to the brilliant winter display. The shrub produces creamy-white flowers in spring and berries that ripen from green to white by the end of summer. The stems, which are green in spring and summer, turn bright red when the foliage drops off in autumn. This approach has the advantage of leaving the shrub the same height year after year.Growing a red twig dogwood is a great way to add spectacular color to the winter garden. Taking out the big branches will give more room to younger, more vigorous branches.
It has the advantage of eliminating all the old branches that have lost their bright red color.Īn alternative way of rejuvenation pruning red twig dogwood is to prune out the largest branches every year or two, no more than a third of the stems. In fact, many gardeners cut the shrubs back to the ground every three years or so to keep the bushes vibrant and the stems bright red. Red twig dogwood grows rapidly, and it’s hard to get away without occasional pruning. They are still dormant at the time but warmer weather and new growth is just around the corner. It’s best to prune them in late winter or early spring. That’s to make sure you don’t cut off all of next year’s buds.īut bushes that are grown for their bright bark do not have these concerns. What’s the best timing for pruning a red twig dogwood? Generally, the optimal time to prune a deciduous shrub is determined by when it blooms. It grows in bright red, replacing older brownish wood. Taking off older branches and branch tips allows new young wood to grow in. Keeping red twig dogwood small requires occasional pruning. While red twig dogwoods rarely grow above 8 feet (2.4 m.) tall, they do tend to get just as wide as they are high. Small white flowers appear in early summer and the smooth, deep red branches make the shrub eye-catching in a winter landscape. The sharp-tipped leaves are deep green in summer but turn purple red in autumn. It grows fast and provides interest in the garden all year. Red twig dogwood ( Cornus sericea) is a wonderful shrub.
#Red twig dogwood shrub how to
If you are wondering how to prune red twig dogwood trees, just keep reading! Keeping Red Twig Dogwood Small Pruning a red twig dogwood can help keep those branches red. Rather, the “pop” of red twig dogwood is found in the color of the shrub’s branches, a stand-out red when everything else is brown. That’s not because of any winter-blooming flowers that decorate the bare winter branches. Red twig dogwood is one of the more ornamental shrubs in the garden in winter.