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Flowering Dogwood Tree

Sujata Iyer
Landscaping wouldn't be complete without a sprawling flowering dogwood tree. Read ahead about this tree and you'll know why.
One of the most popular trees in the landscaping arena today is the flowering dogwood tree. There are many varieties which look equally stunning against a backdrop of freshly mowed grass. It is known for its showy flowers and its wide canopy, which look ethereal in spring.
They are dubbed as America's favorite landscaping tree because they are native to North America. So, if you're thinking of re-doing your garden, then one tree that should most certainly be on your list is the flowering dogwood tree. But before that, you need to know all that you can about the tree.

General Information

Dogwood trees are deciduous trees. They are native to North America and their scientific name is Cornus florida [Benthamidia florida (L.) Spach].
The tree grows up to a height of about 30 feet. Like most other flowering trees, this one blossoms in spring too. When it is in full bloom, it has bracts with tiny flowers that engulf the entire canopy of the tree. Bracts offer a protective covering to the flowers. The bark of the tree is coarse.
The color of the bark is a deep shade of brown that contrasts perfectly with the bright blossoms that appear in spring. As far as varieties of this tree are concerned, there are white, red, white kousa, pink kousa, and pink ones. As for its uses, it is used only as an ornamental tree, and sometimes to attract birds that may feed on its berries.

Growth Requirements

In order to plant the tree, you must have information about its requirements. Given next are the growth requirements of this tree.
✦ Soil: This tree grows well in moist and well-nourished soil. So, make sure that the place you're planting the tree in has soil high in nutrients. Also, the tree can thrive well in soil that has a slightly high content of loam. The soil needs to be kept moist at all times, which means regular watering in the dry season.
✦ Sunlight: This tree prefers to grow in a shady area. So, pick a spot that is sure to receive only minimal sunlight.

✦ Fertilizers: If you've planted the tree in nutrient-rich soil, then you don't need to bother much about fertilizers. However, mulching can prove to be really beneficial for this tree.

How to Plant a It

Now that we know something about caring for the tree, let us see the steps involved in planting the tree

✦ First of all, get a healthy and authentic specimen from a trusted nursery. Don't pick up one from the wild (even though it grows better there), because you may get an infected one.
✦ Also, go in for a smaller tree rather than a big one. A young tree can get over the initial impact of being transplanted quicker than a large one, and can adjust and adapt to its new surroundings sooner.
✦ Dig a hole in an area that receives moderate to less sunlight. Also make sure that any walls near the planting location do not reflect heat or light onto the tree.

✦ The width of the hole should be almost thrice the size of the root ball.
✦ The depth can be a little less, so as to allow the root ball to jut out a little from the hole.

✦ Fill up the hole with a mixture of soil and organic manure if you wish.
✦ Water it regularly, to have a healthy tree ready in time for the spring.
Take good care of your flowering dogwood tree to prevent any diseases and problems. That's the only way you can enjoy its stunning flowery elegance!