What to do with dogwoods in the fall: expert planting advice

There are more than 50 species of dogwood – part of the Cornus plant family – which are native to North America, Europe, Asia and Africa. There is a lot of diversity within this genus, ranging from medium-sized native specimens, such as the flowering dogwood, Cornus Floridato the little shrinking dogwood, Cornus canadensiswhich grows as a ground cover in forests throughout Canada and the United States.

As fall arrives, dogwoods put on a spectacular seasonal display, with orange, red, brown or yellow leaves marking the end of the growing season. Despite the cooler weather and dark days in October and November, there is still plenty to do in the garden. Spending some time caring for your dogwood can keep them in good health and encourage them to return next year better than ever.

So as you grow native dogwood trees in your borders or a container, our fall care guide has all the information you need to know, including pruning advice from a plant expert at the Knoxville Botanic Garden and Arboretum in East Tennessee.

Pacific dogwood tree in autumn with yellow leaves

What to do with dogwoods in the fall

In October, November and December there is plenty of sowing, weeding and tidying up in the garden as part of your holiday. fall gardening checklist. While the climate will vary depending on where you live and where you live American hardiness zoneThe weather at this time of year is generally mild and wet. While your plants and shrubs are no longer actively growing, fall is the ideal time to prepare them for the colder months ahead. Spending a little time mulching, clearing and watering your shrubs will be worth it next year.

1. Mulch dogwoods in the fall

mulching

(Image credit: Larisa Stefanuyk/iStock/Getty Images Plus/Getty Images)

Whether you have one big statement tree in your backyard or you are growing flowering dogwood trees in potsan important task to be completed in the fall is mulching. Applying a thick layer of mulch around your dogwood tree in the fall can help protect the roots from frost and snow while also adding nutrients and nourishing the soil.

Choose a good quality mulch, such as this one pine bark mulch, available from Amazonspreading a five to ten centimeter layer around the base of your shrub or tree, taking care not to let it touch the trunk as this can cause disease and infection.

If your dogwood is grown in a pot, you can scrape and loosen the top inch of soil and fill it to the appropriate level with some mulch. This should help replenish the nutrients in the pot and provide some insulation during the fall and winter.

If you grow blueberry dogwood as one ground cover plantthis low-growing, deciduous species will soon disappear during the colder months of the year. You can simply apply a thick one to three inch layer of mulch to the areas where dogwood plants are growing.

2. Continue to water shrubs and trees in the fall

Red twig dogwood, or cornus, in a garden

(Image credit: Massimiliano Finzi via Getty Images)

During the fall, dogwoods can occasionally benefit water deeply as they prepare for winter rest. This is especially important when autumn is dry, with little or no rainfall.

In terms of watering and dogwood careIf there is little rain in October or November, it is a good idea to saturate the soil every other week. Watering is less important as winter approaches, but providing your shrubs with enough water before the ground freezes will ensure they have plenty of moisture to draw on until spring.

Watering is important when growing dogwood trees in pots, but make sure your pots are not too wet or waterlogged. Give your pots a full watering can or two if the weather remains mild, making sure the water drains freely into the bottom of the pot. Once temperatures begin to drop, watering should stop until spring.

3. Neat, but only prune dogwoods hard in winter

White flowers blooming on a native dogwood tree

(Image credit: Getty Images/Grace Cary)

Dogwoods generally do not need annual pruning, as many varieties grow only one or two feet per year. Pruning is generally best done in late winter, around February or March, so if you’re wondering when to prune dogwood treesIt’s best to think of this as a job you can add to your work life winter gardening checklist.

“In terms of timing, dogwoods are best pruned in what we call the off-season: winter or early spring, after all the foliage has fallen but before spring growth emerges,” says Travis WilsonSenior horticulturist at the Knoxville Botanic Garden and Arboretum in East Tennessee.

‘Pruning is an injury – necessary for future health – and the tree or shrub we prune will need time to heal. That healing is best facilitated when there is little else to focus its energy on, and when there is little else bacterially or virally active in the environment around it. For all intents and purposes, that time is winter and early spring.”

The only pruning you need to do in the fall is pruning branches that are dead, diseased or damaged. For example, November and December can often see high winds and stormy weather, so you may need to cut off a broken branch to prevent further damage.

Use one pruning saw, available at Walmartto cut into a compound, which can be removed and added to a wood pile, or thinner stems can be added to your compost pile.

Travis Wilson

Travis Wilson is a plant expert and senior horticulturist at the Knoxville Botanic Garden and Arboretum in East Tennessee.

Frequently asked questions

Should I Fertilize Dogwoods in the Fall?

No, that’s not necessary fertilize dogwoods in the fall. Fertilizing late in the year can do more harm than good by encouraging your shrubs and trees to produce new growth that will not survive the winter weather. Place the fertilizer back in the garden shed until the growing season begins again in the spring.

Most dogwood trees are remarkably hardy, and many varieties grow well to the ground US hardiness zone 5tolerating the harsh, frozen winter months without any need for winterization or protection. However, keep an eye on any young saplings planted in the fall. If a cold blast is expected, it may be a good idea to provide some cover or protection.

If you’re looking for more inspiration or advice for October, November and December, check out our guide at how to kill weeds in fall. Spending some time now tackling problem plants will pay off next year.