Wow, thank you all for your advice! I had a feeling about the idea of planting them close and twisting the trunks together, couldn't settle it in my mind, so I won't be doing that. But I did think it would be pretty - 2 colors from one tree. Thanks for the link, Ken Adrian, I'll check it out as soon as I post this. I've always added a handful or two of well rotted manure to whatever I'm planting, mixing it in well. Oh well, I should learn something new from this . . . And Gardenapprentice, none taken. I like the idea of a D.W. on each side but the yard is just too small. Maybe after I get it planted, I'll post some pics. We planted a white D.W. in the front yard, probably 18-19 years ago and it seems happy, no signs of disease so far, but it is in full sun. Brandon, thanks for your well thought out points, and I can see these would end up being a problem. I live in mid Alabama, our summers are hot, long and humid. Tornado3800, thanks, and I have seen grafts, and thought that maybe the 2 trunks would eventually grow into each other, but I don't want to risk losing either one so I've decided to plant just the Akatsuki. The place where I'll plant it is in full sun until shortly after 12 noon, then it's in shade until the next day. It's in a well drained part of the yard. I've met and still live next to some of the previous owners of this property, and our whole yard, before they built the house, was a big veggie garden, for many years, and the soil is still pretty good. So now I have a good plan and know what I need to do. Thanks you guys! I'm off to read that link, Ken! Nancy

Well, I guess that could be it because we have had a few nights with freezing temps, but there are tons of other Dogwoods blooming all over town. How disappointing... maybe, next year. Thanks for the response.

MSW----Masters in Social Work? Just a guess. Since I grow mostly ornamentals I have a lot of choices. I choose not to grow plants that the bugs like to the point I would have to consider using a pesticide on them for all the reasons listed above. I do put up with a little cosmetic damage here and there, but there is no use in growing a plant that is not suited to where I live. One of the reasons to garden is to let nature teach me, instead of me teaching nature. I garden to learn and to see the beauty of nature.

I would water the ground around the tree where the roots are with a sprinkler, rather than watering the trunk with a hose ......and maybe not so much water. It's an established tree and should get by on it's own for the most part. I think you are flooding it too much, causing the weak growth. As long as the lawn is green it should be fine. We have dry summers here near Seattle and I only water Cornus kousas in pots. The rest are doing fine with no extra water, planted out in the landscape. mike