Dogwood

This southern plant is not found so often; not all gardeners are engaged in growing dogwood in the middle zone.

But in vain! Dogwood berries have many beneficial properties, and also have an excellent aroma and taste.

The reasons for the limited distribution are:

  • thermophilicity, the inability of some varieties to survive in harsh winters
  • late fruiting of a seedling grown from a seed
  • the need for simultaneous planting of several plants, otherwise the question quite realistically will arise as to why the dogwood tree does not bear fruit - the plant requires cross-pollination

The bush grows quickly; in the south it is often used as a hedge. The lifespan of the plant reaches a century. The seedlings are placed immediately in their permanent habitat; replanting the dogwood is not recommended.

How to propagate dogwood

For that, to get seedlings The following methods can be used:

  • creating layering from two-year-old shoots
  • cuttings, annual shoots are used for it
  • grafting on wild dogwood seedlings with scion from cultivated varieties
  • sowing seeds, but it will take at least 10 years to get a harvest from the trees

Dogwood varieties

Today dogwood is represented by several varieties, they differ:

  • large-sized fruits, varieties Vydubetsky, Svetlyachok,
  • berries of different colors and shades, the Yantarny variety produces yellow berries, the Elegant variety produces almost black berries,
  • early ripeness - Vladimirsky
  • high yield - Tender and Seed
  • frost resistance - Elena and Lukyanovsky

Planting and care

The tree is not capricious and does not require special care.It is recommended to plant it in a slightly shaded place, but not in the shade of a house or a high fence.

Several seedlings are prepared for planting: cross-pollination significantly increases the yield.

To obtain a better harvest, it is recommended:

  • in case of severe summer drought, periodically water the trees
  • to reduce the evaporation of moisture from the tree trunk, it can be mulched with peat or sawdust
  • to increase fertility, you will need to apply mineral and organic fertilizers, phosphorus in the fall, and potassium in the spring

With the help of properly carried out pruning it is possible to form a standard plant.

If you do not remove the lower shoots, the plant will form like a bush.

For mature plants, systematic sanitary and thinning pruning is required.