When my wife and I moved to Hideaway Lake, one of the first sights that caught my eye were the beautiful dogwood trees that are native to this area. The beautiful white blooms stand out so well underneath the green canopy of oaks and pines. Reading information from various sources (Texas Parks and Wildlife, Southern Living) and visiting with some of the Master Gardeners who live at Hideaway, I give you the following tips:
Tip 1: Resist transplanting native dogwoods from the wild. Borers are common in wild, flowering dogwoods. Check with your nursery for certified disease and insect-free stock.
Tip 2: Dogwoods do best in moist areas with good well-drained soil. They prefer morning sun and afternoon shade. Do not plant dogwoods too close to heat reflective walls or structures.
Tip 3: You only need to fertilize a dogwood once or twice a year. Dogwoods are sensitive to excess fertilizer, so only very small amounts are needed in spring.
Tip 4: Mulch in a wide circle around the tree, keeping the mulch off of the trunk.
You often hear people say that dogwoods will not thrive except under larger shade trees. There are numerous healthy dogwoods around Hideaway that are out in the full sun. It appears that they are shaded from the hot summer sun by larger trees on the western exposure.
Jerry D. Mullins, Smith County Master Gardener
Texas AgriLife Extension Service
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