Their tiny, star-shaped blossoms come later than other dogwoods. Dogwood, Cornus sanguinea, is typically grown for winter colour, when its red, leafless stems shine like beacons in the bare winter garden. Prune when the kousa dogwood is dormant, in late fall or early winter. The kousa dogwood (japanese dogwood) can be expected to grow in Hardiness Zones 5–8. Adaptable to most soil types, the flowering dogwood does prefer a fertile, well-drained site with a slightly acidic pH. In the Midwest, this is a hardier substitute for the acid-loving flowering dogwood. In reference to this phenomenon heavy pruning of bushy shrubs so that they are left with elevated foliage on a smaller number of visible stems has been called "arborizing". Keep pruning tools sharp, lubricate regularly and clean after each use to prevent any possible spread of disease. Spread the thinning cuts throughout the canopy evenly to preserve a balanced shape. Mulching: Kousa dogwood benefit from a layer of mulch to hold in moisture. nuttallii. Contact Info. For general shaping, prune the shrub right after it has finished blooming up to July. This hard pruning of the Dogwood removes all of the stems that were the attraction through the previous winter, but do not worry, for where you have carried out the pruning, many more stems will grow from the stumps left behind. The pink dogwood (Cornus florida f. rubra) also blooms in spring, but has pink or reddish-pink flowers with greenish-yellow centers. Pruning Advice for Cornus kousa 'Miss Satomi' Trees Japanese Dogwoods creates an appealing shape, so the only pruning required is to remove any damaged or diseased branches. There are a number of Kousa dogwood varieties, and the only basic difference is how each tree looks. Not the case with the gray dogwood; it’s a healthy variety that resists the diseases common to many dogwoods.The gray dogwood’s numerous small, creamy white flowers are less showy than the ones of the flowering dogwood, but it … An avid gardener and nature enthusiast, Cheryl Losch has been writing since 2008. Allow the kousa to grow for the rest of the year without any further pruning except for deadwood or storm damage as it occurs. Remove dead, diseased, insect-infested or broken branches. 'Wolf Eyes' is a particularly popular cultivar of the Chinese dogwood (Cornus kousa).Like the species plant, which is native to China, Korea, and Japan, 'Wolf Eyes' is a multi-stemmed large shrub or small tree with white flowers that appear for up to six weeks in late spring. The brightly-colored bark occurs on stems that are less than 3 years old, so rejuvenation pruning should be a regular practice. It is a plant native to East Asia including Korea, China and Japan. Cut branch refuse into manageable pieces and place in yard waste bags for disposal or add to your compost heap. Use hand pruners, but consider loppers if branch diameters are greater than 3/4 inch. Prune away branches that grow inward toward the trunk and those that cross or abrade one another. Kousa dogwood is a species of flowering tree native to Japan and Korea and is a relation of other Cornus species native to North America. In winter and early spring, that being said, prune those shrubs that form their flower buds on “new” wood. A: This isn’t a huge species, but without any pruning, Kousa dogwoods can grow 25 feet tall and wide. Kousa dogwoods are attractive landscape trees that tolerate more sunlight and drier conditions than flowering dogwoods, and they are not as susceptible to dogwood anthracnose. Both of these types grow in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 through 9. Don’t go out and cut just because you happened to see your neighbor dragging limbs around his yard. How to Hard Prune Dogwood for its Winter Display . In the Midwest, this is a hardier substitute for the acid-loving flowering dogwood. Select the appropriate one according to the size of the plant, its age and the type of pruning it will perform. Maintenance: Minimal pruning and no insect or disease problems. Cornus kousa is resistant to the dogwood anthracnose disease that can affect Cornus florida. Reviews. Prune the Cornus down to - or near ground level. Think of the kousa dogwood in thirds. There are 2 main reasons to only prune … Monrovia's Chinese Dogwood details and information. Prune away any damaged or diseased branches and remove any dead wood. chinensis is a large, free-flowering deciduous shrub or small tree, with ovate leaves turning red and orange in autumn. 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