Large, white flower umbels, strong green foliage, lush growth - red dogwood (Cornus sanguinea) also has a lot to offer the gardener. Not only does the native flowering plant, also known as 'blood-red dogwood', have a high ornamental value, it is also very easy to care for, does not place too many demands on the location and soil and is also very easy to cut.
When and how should the red dogwood be cut?
When cutting the red dogwood, you should remove dead shoots, thin out the inside and shorten above branches. The best time for this is a frost-free day in March. Wear gloves as dogwood contains toxins that can cause skin rashes.
Red dogwood is very tolerant of pruning
Due to its very fast and dense growth, the red dogwood - so called because of the striking red color of its branches - is ideal for planting as a hedge. However, so that the flowering bush doesn't grow over your head or take up too much space in the garden, you should cut it regularly with secateurs (€14.00 on Amazon). Fortunately, the red dogwood is very tolerant of pruning and doesn't mind even more radical cuts. The best time to prune is a frost-free day in March.
The red dogwood also tolerates radical pruning very well
When pruning annually, it is sufficient to cut dead shoots back into the he althy wood and not to trim the bush from the outside, but also to thin out the inside. If it is necessary - for example because the shrub in question has been neglected for many years - a radical cut can also be carried out, in which all shoots are cut back to a hand's width above the ground. The dogwood will reliably sprout again next spring and can be kept in shape right from the start through appropriate pruning measures.
What you should consider when cutting the red dogwood
In principle, the red dogwood can be pruned all year round, as long as this measure is not carried out during frost. However, a mild day in March is best, and the tree should be provided with a little compost after pruning. The rule also applies that older bushes should be pruned more drastically, but younger ones should be pruned more gently. For younger bushes up to about three to four years old, it is sufficient to only remove a maximum of a third of the old shoots.
Tip
When cutting, make sure to shorten above branches - only then will the dogwood sprout again bushier. By the way, it also makes sense to wear gloves. The bark and leaves of the dogwood contain toxins that can cause a skin rash.
