Its branches delight in winter with their bright red bark, which add a cheerful splash of color to the garden in the midst of the dark season. White dogwood owes its popularity as an ornamental tree to this spectacular property. However, over time the colors fade. With the right cut you can ensure that the spectacle is repeated every year. Read how it works here.
How do I prune my white dogwood correctly?
To prune a white dogwood correctly, you should thin it out in winter, shorten shoots and remove runners close to the ground. The aim is to rejuvenate the bush in order to preserve the red bark and achieve an optimal growth height.
Best cutting date is in winter
Since pruning is a strenuous task for any tree, experienced gardeners prefer to use pruning shears in the middle of winter (€38.00 at Amazon). Since white dogwood is in its sap dormancy at this time, stress can be reduced to a minimum thanks to this choice of date. If the Cornus alba is in full bloom or has its foliage at the time of cutting, there is a risk of complete bleeding.
The younger the shoot, the brighter the red bark - tips for cutting
Since a white dogwood loses the red winter color of its branches over the years, pruning is aimed at permanent rejuvenation. This is how you cut the flowering tree correctly:
- In the first step, thin out the entire bush by cutting off dead wood at the base
- Short one- and two-year-old shoots by at least half
- Cut off older branches by two thirds or remove them completely
If the focus is solely on preserving the red winter decorations, you can put a Cornus alba on the stick every late winter. If, on the other hand, you are aiming for a specific height, adjust the extent of the pruning to the annual growth of an average of 50 centimeters.
Consistently remove soil shoots
A white dogwood does not form aggressive runners. Nevertheless, gardeners often struggle with its urge to spread. Lying branches that are rooted in the ground are responsible for this. So every time you prune, keep an eye out for these camouflaged runners to cut them off at the base.
Tip
White dogwood has more to offer than red winter branches. In a sunny location with nutrient-rich, humus-rich and slightly acidic soil, the ornamental shrub boasts creamy white flowers from May to July, followed by white or light blue fruit balls. In autumn the foliage takes on a beautiful yellow-orange color before falling off and revealing the red bark.
