With their rounded shape, decorative flowers, and stunning fall color, dogwood trees make a gorgeous addition to any landscape. To allow them to thrive and reach their full beauty, it’s important to space dogwoods properly when planting. Read on to learn the optimal distance for planting dogwood trees.
Typical Planting Space for Dogwood Trees
Most dogwood species reach a mature height and spread of 15-30 feet. This includes popular flowering dogwoods like:
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Pink dogwood (Cornus florida f. rubra)
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White dogwood (Cornus florida)
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Kousa dogwood (Cornus kousa)
To accommodate the mature size of these small ornamental trees, experts recommend allowing around 20 feet between dogwoods planted in a landscape.
This gives them sufficient room to branch out naturally without overcrowding each other. A 20 foot on-center spacing creates a nice visual separation between specimens.
Adjusting Dogwood Spacing
While 20 feet is the generally recommended spacing, the ideal distance can vary slightly depending on factors like:
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Mature Size – Smaller cultivars like ‘Cherokee Chief’ dogwood may need only 15 feet, while larger kousa varieties may need 25 feet or more. Check mature height and width before planting.
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Pruning Practices – Intentionally pruning dogwoods to maintain a more compact shape allows tighter spacing if desired. But still allow at least 10-15 feet.
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Layout Design – Planting in triangle patterns or offset rows can permit closer spacing than linear planting. But avoid crowding.
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Growing Conditions – Dogwoods planted in ideal conditions with rich soil and proper care can thrive with tighter spacing. Those in poorer soils likely need more room.
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Privacy Uses – When planting dogwoods tightly as a screen, allow only 5-6 feet between trees in a single row. They will eventually grow together.
Spacing Other Dogwood Species
The above spacing guidelines refer to the common flowering dogwood trees used ornamentally in landscapes. Other dogwood species have different size ranges:
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Cornelian cherry dogwood – 15-20 feet spacing
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Red osier dogwood – 5 feet spacing, or closer for screens
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Silky dogwood – 5-10 feet spacing
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Pagoda dogwood – 10-15 feet spacing
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Gray dogwood – 10 feet spacing
No matter the species, allow enough space between dogwoods for air circulation, light penetration, and growth to maturity without being crowded.
Planting Layout Tips
Beyond proper tree spacing, these design tips will create an appealing look:
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Use offset or staggered rows rather than linear planting for a naturalistic look.
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Plant dogwoods in small groups of 3-5 rather than lone specimens for greater visual impact.
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Surround dogwoods with lower-growing plants like azaleas, ferns, and hostas.
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Repeat plantings of the same variety or alternate different types of dogwoods.
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Combine varieties with different bloom times for extended spring color.
With the right planting distance and creative layout, dogwoods can enhance any landscape with four-season beauty! Monitor growth and thin trees over time if spacing becomes too tight.
How to Plant a Dogwood Tree in 7 Steps
For hardiness zones 7 and below, plant bare root trees when the ground is no longer frozen and the tree is dormant. This means early spring. If you plant in the fall, the trees might not make it through a harsh winter because their roots haven’t had time to grow. In the summer the low moisture and high heat may cause stress and damage. Therefore you can plant once the ground thaws and there is no rain or snow. Depending on your region, this can be anytime between February to May. You have more options when you plant in a container instead of bare root because you can use the soil that the roots have already grown in. But be careful in the winter, even if you have a container, because the ground shouldn’t be frozen and shouldn’t be too wet.
If you live in a zone 8 or higher where winters are mild, you can plant bare root trees in the winter or fall. This is because the trees are dormant and won’t be stressed by the cold weather. Additionally, it is easier to plant containerised trees in the winter for these zones.
How to Plant a Dogwood Tree: Materials Needed
- You will need two sets of hands and someone else to hold the tree straight up when you plant it.
- A bucket or other container to soak the tree roots in water if the tree doesn’t have any roots already there.
- A shovel or spade for digging
- Tree guards for protecting against animal damage
- 1-2 Gallons of Water
- The dogwood tree will either come in a pot or bare root, which means it will not have any soil on it. Do not put the tree in the shade. Instead, take it out of the box it came in and put it somewhere cool (not freezing). g. your garage.
- As soon as you get a bare-root tree that has been shipped for more than four days, put it in water for six to twenty-four hours and plant it right away.
- If you have to wait more than a week to plant the tree because it is bare root, make sure to spray the roots with water every day. The roots will stay healthy and wet if you keep them in wax paper. The trees can stay in a cool, shady basement or garage. Then soak in water for 6-24 hours and plant afterwards.
You should prepare the planting area before planting the tree.
- These plants do well in soils that have a pH of about 5. 5 to 7. Soil that is too wet and doesn’t drain well will hurt them because they like it when the ground is moist and drains well.
- You can test the soil for acidity and drainage before planting. There are easy, cheap ways to do this. Most soils fall in the 6. 0-7. 0 pH range.
- You can add organic matter like compost to your soil to make it more nutritious, but you don’t have to. Or add lime to balance the acidity if needed.
- Till the soil so that the nutrients are mixed in and the soil doesn’t get too packed down. This will help the roots grow well.
- When you plant the tree, you want the top of the root ball to be just above the ground. This will make a small mound around the tree.
- To give the roots of a tree that came in a pot some room to grow, dig a hole that is about twice as wide as the pot. Since you want the top of the root ball to be above ground level, the hole should be about a quarter of the way deep as the pot.
- If the tree is bare roots, you need to dig a hole that is twice as wide as the root ball, or the circle of roots. The depth can be about the same as the root ball.
- The tree should be carefully taken out of its pot and put in the middle of the hole if it is in one. When you put it down, make sure the root ball is just above the ground.
- If it’s bare root, make a mound of soil in the hole first. This way, when you put the tree down, the roots will slope down and spread out, leaving the tree above ground. If the roots start to twist, cut them back. This will enable the tree to spread its roots further.
- If you are planting from a pot, just fill in the soil until it is level with the ground.
- Putting the nutrient-rich topsoil you dug out near the roots of a tree that is held vertically and bare root is helpful. After putting half of the soil around the tree, gently press it down with your feet to get rid of any air pockets. Do not put compost or fertilizer in the hole where the roots are; this will hurt the tree. For the roots to stay hidden, put the rest of the soil on top and press down on it many times with your foot. For the tree, there should be a small hill above the ground.
- If the dogwood tree is on a slope or in a place that doesn’t get enough water, build a wall around it. Make a 2-foot raised edge of soil around the tree to keep the water in.
- Put mulch over the top of the soil near the tree to keep the water in the soil. Moreover weeds are less likely to grow. But the mulch shouldn’t touch the tree bark; it should be about 2 feet away.
- As soon as you plant the tree, give it about one to two gallons of water. If the soil goes down, add more soil.
- For the first year, water it once or twice a week with one to two gallons of water. Once the tree is well-established, you should only water it when it is stressed or during a drought.
- Also, make sure the tree gets enough water in the winter to keep it from drying out and dying. This happens when the leaves lose more water than the roots take in.
- Put a tree guard around the trunk as soon as you plant the tree. Rodents and rabbits will eat the bark off of the dogwood tree and kill it, so this keeps them away. The tree guards should let air flow in. The best defense against mice is a mouse guard that wraps around the bark. We didn’t suggest using them in the summer, though, because bugs can live between the mouse guard and the bark.
- Dogwood trees can be hurt by cold weather and strong winds. Planting in a wind tunnel is not a good idea, especially in the winter. Put up hedges or evergreen trees to block the wind.
How to Plant and Care For Your Dogwood Tree
FAQ
What month is best to plant a dogwood tree?
How wide does a dogwood tree grow?
How far away from a fence should you plant a dogwood tree?
Where is the best location to plant a dogwood tree?
How do you plant a dogwood tree?
The tree should be mulched to keep the soil moist and cool. Ideally, provide shelter from winds. Planting near a house, near other trees, or at the edges of your landscape will make a dogwood happiest. Planting dogwood is just like planting other nursery stock. Remove any sod. Dig a hole the same depth as the root ball and at least twice as wide.
How far apart should a dogwood tree be planted?
Dogwoods are usually used as specimen trees. If you plant several, space them 20 feet apart. Care requirements depend on the species of tree being grown. Leave some fruit on the plant for wildlife to enjoy in the winter when little else is available. Select varieties of dogwood trees tolerate full sun.
When should I plant a flowering dogwood?
Flowering dogwoods can be planted in either spring or fall. However, if planting in autumn, get the tree in the ground 4 to 6 weeks before the first frost to allow it time to build new roots before winter dormancy sets in. When selecting a site for your flowering dogwood, remember to consider the mature size of the tree (30 to 40 feet).
Do dogwood trees need a well drained soil?
If you are uncertain about soil drainage in the area you intend to plant your dogwood tree, because they require a well-drained soil, it is strongly suggested to take the time to test the drainage in the planting site before planting. To test soil drainage, dig a hole 12″ wide by 12″ deep in the planting area.
Can dogwood trees be planted bare root?
Dogwood trees can be planted from bare root, or from potted root balls. If you are planting bare root stock, you will definitely need to plant in fall or early spring, before the tree begins to bud and flower. Dogwoods planted as root ball trees can be dug in at any time, but the spring and fall are still better, providing less stress on the trees.
How far away should a Kousa dogwood be planted?
Make sure the sites are situated at least 20 feet away from each other, and at least six feet away from natural hardscapes and man-made structures. In my opinion, these trees are too gorgeous to grow in less-than-optimal conditions. A kousa dogwood needs to be planted in USDA Hardiness Zones 5 to 8 for optimal growth and aesthetics.