Red-Twigged Dogwood Troubles-didn't winter-over well

13 years ago

I am seeking advice for 4 of the 9 red twigged dogwoods that ring my property. They are planted in a stand in front of some lovely evergreens, and they look great when they turn red in the winter, with our ever-present New England snow.

As the photos show, some of these shrubs/trees are not producing buds and the lovely white/green variagated leaves that make it such a showy specimen in summer months. I

pruned some dead branches, but am unsure about whether I am dealing with a disease? I hope folks are able to view the pics. The dogwoods in question are mostly in shade, but do get a couple of hours of afternoon sun.

Thanks !

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Comments (4)

Kimmsr
13 years ago
Before considering a disease think about the possibility of winter kill. Even if the winter temperatures do not fall below what is the minimum the plant can survive at winds can suck necessary moisture out of them and that will kill some of the plants.
bosgal
Original Author
13 years ago
Thanks for your reply. Yes, I was thinking about disease or pests because I have a total of 9 dogwood bushes and 5 of them are doing great. Just the four in the photo are really struggling. I am most worried about protecting the others from whatever ails the 4 plants in question. The 5 others are taller and have wonderful, showy variegated leaves.
These plants have been in these spots for more than the 5 years I have lived here, but it is the first time I have noticed they did not do well during the winter. Of course they're red twigs offer that "winter interest" they are ost known for, and that's what we got this year too.
I am considering trying to transplant them from their present location,(part sun) and swap them with some yews we have planted in full sun.
Someone told me they should not have been planted underneath a maple tree and that THAT may be contributing to their problems.
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I'm getting mixed up a bit by the sudden plethora of red twig dogwood posts, but as I live in the very center of this species' home range, perhaps I can at least settle a few questions that seem to be on folk's minds: First and foremost, this is a wetland plant, always and everywhere in nature. It simply does not occur (on its own) in upland, dry settings. The most common scenes where it is found here in Wisconsin is on the very shore of lakes, ponds, streams and wetlands. It is a calciphile, not especially well-adapted to acid, sandy ground. As such, it is best in calcareous areas. It is one of the main plants identified with the natural plant community known as shrub-carr. This plant community is a type of wetland, found again in calcareous regions. This plant has unusually good tolerance to high water table (of course) and will exhibit cankers and other issues when sited in a dry spot. This plant volunteers into new ground with exuberance. It is distinctly odd to be reading of so many people having trouble with this plant. It is about as problem-free as it gets around these parts. It can be cut down to the ground if one wishes, or renewal-pruned if that better serves the objectives of the property owner or manager. It can also simply be left alone forever, forming a tangled mass of stolons from which arise new plants, albeit they retain a connection to the mother plant. They offer numerous benefits to wildlife-fruit, flower, cover, etc. and are a good choice for any purpose for which wildlife values are important. I'll leave it there for now, but I must repeat, how on earth can everyone be having so much trouble with this ultra-easy plant? +oM
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Yes, I see that. We don't have trouble growing new sets of stems here though, even though our growing season is much shorter than yours. I think it's just down to regional differences in practices-here young, well-colored stems being deemed worth retaining, there, evidently not. Two ways to get to aprox. the same place. For what it's worth, this plant-Cornus stolonifera-is easily our most common in shrub-carr plant communities. It does better here, in heavier soils underlain by limestone (dolomite) than areas to the north, south, or west, having sandier, loamier, more acidic, etc. soil types. IOW's right at home. Before much development took place, the area just to the south of this city-between another small city, the two cities now running right against each other-was a sea of red in the winter, right to the horizon. Nearly all of that is gone now, just since the 1980's. But volunteer plants are still utterly commonplace in any area not under steady human control. I work in stormwater management, dealing with vegetation issues in and around our many ponds, channels, etc. We use this plant as a routine matter where shrubs are the choice, for banks, wet areas, etc. Often, no planting is required. +oM
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I did not mean to imply that they were acid lovers - only that they are not fussy about soil pH and will grow in both acidic, neutral and slightly alkaline situations. btw, most acid lovers are not all that fussy about the degree of acidity either, as long as the soil is at least moderately acidic. This is readily demonstrated in the PNW where soils are indeed acidic but not overly so - typically in the 5.5 to 6.5 range and native ericaceous plants abound - rhododendrons, vacciniums, arbutus, arctostaphylos, salal and mahonia. And a wide range of non-natives Ericaceaes/recognized acid lovers as well - blueberries, camellias, pieris, heaths and heathers, eucryphia, leucothoe, fothergilla, hydrangeas, Japanese maples......the list is nearly endless :-) Few folks here ever bother to acidify their garden conditions - what we have naturally tends to be more than adequate (with some minor exceptions). FWIW, the vast majority of plants are adapted to a relatively wide range of soil pH (considering it is a logarithmic scale and each point is a ten-fold increase or decrease) and most would prefer to grow in slightly to moderately acidic soils as that tends to offer the greatest nutrient availability.
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Kimmsr
13 years ago
All of the various cultivars of this shrub prefer growing in a soil well endowed with organic matter that is evenly moist but well drained. I have found that a slight difference in elevation can make all the difference in how well a plant survives the winter, but the again so many things affect that it would be difficult to say for sure. This year a Rhododnedron is in full blossom while an Azalea right next to it apparently had the blossom buds frozen during the winter, or maybe were dried out by the winter winds.
This link may be of some help.

Here is a link that might be useful: About Red Twig Dogwoods
bosgal
Original Author
13 years ago
Thank you, I have never read about these shrubs and will do so now and before I decide about whether to transplant some of them. This is why I enjoy the Garden CLINIC forum, as it teaches me so much.
Cheers !

Red-Twigged Dogwood Troubles-didn't winter-over well

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Red-Twigged Dogwood Troubles-didn't winter-over well

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Kimmsr

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