Dogwoods pretty, not hard to grow in Georgia

The Dogwood Festival is this weekend in downtown Perry, and many of you might purchase a dogwood tree in celebration of this event. Flowering dogwoods are one of the most widely planted ornamental trees in Georgia. They are a native tree and can be found growing throughout Georgia.

Dogwoods are not difficult trees to grow, but success is dependent on the purchase of healthy transplants, proper planting and proper location.

The most popular flowering dogwood planted in Georgia is the white-bracted native form. These are grown from seed. There are an increasing number of vegetatively produced selections. Vegetatively produced dogwoods are more expensive, but they have a tendency to flower earlier and have showier flowers.

Dogwoods grow naturally in moist, fertile soils high in organic matter, but they are adaptable to many soil types. Dogwoods cannot tolerate poorly drained soils. In the wild, dogwoods are commonly found as an understory tree under hardwoods and pines. For best results, plant in association with larger trees to provide moderate shade. Growth problems are associated with hot, dry conditions, while too much shade can cause poor flowering.

Container-grown trees can be planted at any time of the year as long as they are watered carefully. Balled and burlapped and bareroot trees should be planted when they are dormant. The hole should be two to three times as wide as the root ball to allow for optimum root growth. Make sure the top of the root ball is even with the soil surface to ensure the tree does not get planted too deep.

Dogwoods need adequate watering during the first two growing seasons. Water them once or twice a week during dry periods, but be careful not to over-water. Over-watering may cause root rot. Continue watering dogwoods during the fall months. Three or four inches of mulch can help keep the soil moist. When mulching, pull the mulch away from the trunk of the tree. Mulching also can help prevent damage to the tree trunk from lawn mowers and string trimmers. Damage to the trunk can make the tree susceptible to dogwood borers.

Dogwoods can be fertilized with a 16-4-8 or a 12-4-8. Newly planted dogwoods need1/4 of a cup in March and July around the radius of the tree 2 feet from the trunk. For established trees, apply one cup per inch of trunk diameter in March and July. As the tree ages, less fertilizer is needed because accelerated growth is no longer desired.

What we call the "flower" is actually bracts, which are modified leaves that turn color. The true flower is in the center of the bracts. The age of flower production can vary on seed-grown dogwoods. Fast growing dogwoods may delay production. Trees that produce an abundance of flowers and follow up with a heavy berry crop will likely produce a small number of flowers the next year. Flower buds are quite evident in September; therefore, it is possible to predict the number of flowers that will be produced the next spring.

Whether you believe that the dogwood tree is a sign of God's promise, there is no doubt that they are beautiful.

This story was originally published April 5, 2016 at 9:56 PM with the headline "Dogwoods pretty, not hard to grow in Georgia ."