How to grow dogwood at home?

Dogwood is not often found in our area. But since this plant has unsurpassed useful properties, it is worth thinking about how to start growing it in a summer cottage.

Planting a dogwood and subsequent care for it is an absolutely not complicated procedure, which even for a novice gardener can do.... This shrub is unpretentious, and at the same time has delicious berries.

Maturation of dogwood in the Moscow region, Krasnodar Territory and Ukraine

Kizil prefers the warm climate of the Caucasus and Transcaucasia, where it grows in mountain forests, on sunny edges, as well as in thickets of other shrubs. In addition, it grows in the territory of Ukraine, Crimea, Central and Southern Europe, as well as in Western Asia. On the territory of Russia, dogwood is successfully cultivated in various regions - Moscow region, Krasnodar Territory and other regions.

The beginning of flowering of the common dogwood falls on March, and the end - in April. Fruits ripen closer to the middle of autumn, depending on the region of growth. When the fruits are ripe, they begin to fall off the bush. The ripeness of the dogwood fruit can be determined by taste.The crop is harvested every year in September, and the roots are harvested at the end of November..

Freshly picked dogwood berries

For long-term storage of berries at home, they are cut off as they begin to ripen. The fruits are placed in small baskets where they ripen., and then stored at a temperature of 0 - +2 C.

Nice, sweet and sour tasting with a specific aroma, dogwood fruits are often consumed fresh, and experienced housewives are in a hurry to buy dogwood to make exquisite jams, jellies, jams, juices, compotes, marmalades, or simply fill the fruits with sugar and store. Also, berries can be preserved by freezing.

In its raw form, dogwood berries are stored in a refrigerator (in a plastic bag with holes) for no more than 12 days.

Reproduction of dogwood seeds at home

Dogwood can be propagated using a bone, i.e. germinate it. To do this, take ripe berries, free the bone from the pulp and place them in boxes with wet sawdust or moss for one year, regularly maintaining a moist environment. This method is used to stratify the seeds before planting them. The seed of this plant is not divided into cotyledons. In this regard, it should be placed in the ground no deeper than 3 cm. Unstratified seeds germinate only after 2 years, while not all... Sprouted seeds germinate in the year they are sown.

Sprouted Dogwood Seed

Taking care of the seeds is simple: watering, feeding, at the beginning of growth, shading from hot sunlight. During the first year, seedlings grow up to 3-4 cm, by the end of the second - up to 10-15 cm... Seed-grown dogwood berries are harvested 7-10 years after sowing.

The varietal properties of dogwood, like all fruit plants, retains during vegetative propagation. Dogwood can be propagated by grafting, green cuttings and replanting. The most efficient way - reproduction by budding, the survival rate of the eyes is 92-97%

When to plant dogwood in different regions of Russia?

The best period for planting shrubs on open ground in the southern regions is autumn. It is not difficult to determine the time for planting dogwood - as soon as poplar leaves begin to fall... It is recommended to plant this plant in the fall, since during spring planting it is necessary to plant it in a rather short time: between the time the soil warms up and the period when the buds of the bush begin to bloom.

In the autumn period, dogwood is planted no later than mid-October, 2-3 weeks before the onset of frost... Well-watered and well-watered shrubs manage to take root, tolerate winter well and begin to grow rapidly in early spring.

Advantages and disadvantages of autumn planting

Autumn planting has several advantages:

• Cornelian seedlings planted in autumn manage to heal damaged roots during the winter and build up new suction roots by spring. Thanks to this, the young plant is able to withstand the early spring droughts and dry winds characteristic of the southern regions without complications.
• It is much more profitable to buy dogwood in autumn.... Gardeners and nurseries sell freshly dug planting materials, resulting in a huge selection of products at affordable prices.
• Autumn planting is quite a bit of a hassle... It is enough to do only one watering, and nature will do the rest of the work on its own. Rainy weather in autumn provides the dogwood with the necessary moisture and comfort.
• Another important advantage is saving time... Autumn planting of dogwood seedlings frees up a large amount of time and effort for other work, which becomes quite a lot with the onset of springtime.

The soil for growing ready-made dogwood seedlings should be prepared in the summer.

Autumn planting also has certain disadvantages.:

• Severe frosts can ruin still immature plants.... In winter, there are strong winds, snowfalls and other weather adversities that can break young trees and shrubs.
• Rodents pose a danger to shrubsfeeding on seedlings in late autumn and winter.

Sometimes freshly picked cornel berries with pericarp are planted in August. Germination in this case is 70-80% after 1.5 years from the day of sowing..

Important rules when planting dogwood

During planting, certain rules must be followed.:

• It is advisable to plant dogwood in a shaded place., between the trees. Thus, you can save the area of ​​the garden and solve the problem of using low-light areas on the site.
• When choosing a site consideration should be given to the placement of groundwateras the dogwood root system branches out at 1 m from the ground surface.
• For good yields it is recommended to plant several different plant varietiesme, because they bloom at the same time.
• When planting a bush humus, manure, mineral fertilizers are not used... All you need is land and water.

Below is a detailed description of the process of planting dogwood in the garden.

How to prepare a seedling?

During the acquisition of seed, attention should be paid to the root: the more powerful it is, the faster the plant will develop. Weak, chapped, thin roots with obvious signs of soreness should be treated with concern. You need to purchase powerful seedlings with 2-3 root branches at least 30 cm in length... The bark on the trunk should be intact and the branches intact.

To fully ensure the viability of the plant you like, you need to slightly cut the bark. If the incision is green - means the choice is correct, if brown - you will have to continue searching for a suitable dogwood.

Before planting dogwood seedlings, they should be placed in water for several days.

The seedling rhizome should be well moisturized. In the case of long-term transportation, it is wrapped in a damp material and placed in a plastic bag. If the roots have dried up during the transportation period, they should be placed in water for several days before planting.... If, after the purchase, it is not possible to immediately plant a seedling, it is added dropwise at an angle in a shaded place. It is important here that the soil covers all the roots, as well as half of the seed. A richly watered plant in this form can be stored for a month.

Choosing a place for planting in a garden or cottage

What is the most suitable place in the country for growing dogwood? Any site is suitable for an unpretentious dogwood. To harvest good yields, the soil must be fertilized, drained, moist and alkaline..

To test the acidity of the soil, you need to drip 2 drops of table vinegar on a handful of earth. In an alkaline environment, small bubbles appear, indicating the required amount of lime.

Dogwood does not take root in swampy soils. In addition, clayey areas and poorly lit areas should be avoided. For the first 5 years of growing this shrub, partial shade is perfect.... Then the dogwood can be transplanted into a sufficiently lit area of ​​the garden. To save space, it is advised to plant a shrub between old trees, which, with their shadow, will protect its root system from drying out. Dogwood gets along with each of the fruit plants, the only exception is the walnut.

Description of the process of planting seedlings on open ground in the fall

Dogwood planting rules

To plant the dogwood correctly, you must follow the following steps:

1. Before proceeding with planting, the plant should be carefully examined again and prune broken branches and damaged roots... Then it is good to process all the roots with a previously prepared clay mash. When planting in autumn, the foliage must be carefully removed from the dogwood.
2. The recess for the seedling should easily accommodate the rhizome. Fit pit 30 - 50 cm deep.
3. Digging a hole into it drive in a stake, to which you will then need to bind the plant.
4. Place about 15 cm of pebbles at the bottom of the hole or expanded clay. If the soil is scarce, the drainage is covered by a third of leafy soil.
5. Cornel prefers potassium-rich soil. You can enrich it with lime.mixed with the substrate in a ratio of 150 g to 1 mg.
6. When placing a seedling in a hole, its roots must be carefully spread, and the root collar is under 2 - 3 cm of soil.
7. Falling asleep the hole, you need to watch that voids do not appear around the roots. To avoid this the planted material should be trampled down and well wateredb.
8. Shrub without fail mulch about 10 - 15 cm... This procedure is necessary so that the roots located superficially do not dry out. To do this, you can use pine needles, sawdust, straw or hay.
9. 7 days after planting the bud near the dogwood should be compacted and watered again.

Shrub Care is an Important Moment for Getting a Good Harvest

Dogwood does not need special care. The main thing is to water it constantly for one year from the time of planting. Watering is carried out 2 times a week. To prevent water from spreading over the territory, it is worth making a furrow around the seedling.

In the first growing year, you need to observe the condition of the leaves. If they begin to dry out and curl, this indicates that the plant does not have enough moisture. Also for the first 3 years, gardeners need to monitor the cleanliness of the soil near the dogwood... Weeds growing at a distance of 1 m from the plant should be disposed of.

To ensure improved air exchange of the layer in which the plant roots are located, it is necessary to periodically loosen the soil about 10 cm deep.

For high yields, the shrub is fertilized several times throughout the year. It is believed that during the growing season, dogwood needs nitrogen-phosphorus supplements, and in the autumn time - potassium supplements.

Some gardeners alternately add humus and compost, or every year at the beginning of the summer period they add water with chicken droppings under the plants in a ratio of 10: 1... Others make fertilizers from 0.03 kg of ammonium nitrate and one bucket of humus. At the end of August, 0.5 liters of wood ash is poured under an adult plant. And at the end of the harvest, it is desirable to add 0.1 kg of superphosphates. However, lime is recognized as the most important fertilizer. Thanks to her, potassium is present in the soil, which affects the future number of fruits.

When caring for dogwood, regular tillage is essential.... It is carried out annually at least 6-7 times, regardless of the age and fertility of the shrub. They start processing in the spring, and finish in the fall, after collecting all the fruits. The final stage of loosening the soil around the plant is its mulching.

How to transplant an ordinary dogwood?

If there is a need to transplant a plant from one site to another, the technique of reproduction by dividing the bush is applied.

For one year, this method can be used in early spring or late autumn. The plant is removed from the soil and freed from old branches. The root is cleaned of soil, and the shrub is cut into several parts... The roots are trimmed, the old shoots are removed. After that, the individual parts are planted in prepared holes.

The common dogwood is a long-liver. It can produce excellent harvests for 100 years.... Therefore, if you plant a dogwood, it will delight more than one generation with its tasty and healthy berries.

Often in home gardens, you can see a plant with bright red berries. It's called dogwood. This shrub loves light, but it also grows well in partial shade, is not afraid of drought, and it is also winter and frost-resistant, perfectly tolerates frosts down to -40 degrees. The plant can be grown on any soil. But it is best to give preference to light soils with a lot of nutrients and good drainage. Dogwood grows in the form of a half-shrub, which can be cut and cut. Its height varies from two to five meters.

The flowering period of this plant begins earlier than other fruit trees and shrubs. It starts in March and lasts until mid-April, if the daily air temperature is in the range of 5-10 degrees. The average flowering time is 14 days.

The flowers of the plant are colored bright yellow. They are pollinated by bees and wind. In order to get a crop regularly, it is recommended to plant several plants at once. The first crop can be harvested in late summer and early autumn. The shape of the fruit depends on the variety of the plant. The fruits are red, yellow or pink in color.

Powerful branched rhizomes of the plant lie at a depth of 1 m from the ground level. The main roots are located at a depth of half a meter.

Where to plant dogwood?

Usually this shrub is planted on perimeter of the site... Any area is suitable for growing dogwood.

Recommendation: for a good harvest, the plant is recommended to be grown in an open area. A lightweight, neutral, moist, drained soil that is rich in calcium and has little acidity is considered more suitable.

Growing dogwood is not difficult. It can grow in partial shade and in the sun. An area with a slight slope is also suitable for him. The plant is suitable for growing on slopes that are oriented north and northeast.

When should you plant dogwood?

A more suitable period for planting a plant is considered to be spring and summer. With the onset of autumn, the shrub is allowed to be planted 14-21 days before the autumn frost.

How to choose the right seed?

You do not know which dogwood seedlings to buy? Then you need to familiarize yourself with the following recommendations. When buying seedlings, you need to pay attention to the condition in which they are rhizomes:

• they should be free of signs of disease;
• preference should be given to seedlings on which there are two or three main root branches, the minimum length of which is 25-30 cm;
• rhizomes must be moist and not windy;
• the bark should not be shriveled, and the branches should not be whole and strong.

How to grow dogwood. Photo

Recommendations: in order to determine if a seedling is suitable for planting, it is necessary to cut a part of the bark. If the trunk is green under the bark, then it can be planted, if it is brown, it is impossible.

If the purchase of seedlings occurs in the fall, then it is recommended to carefully remove the foliage on the branches. In this case, care must be taken not to damage ovary.

Recommendations: so that the roots do not dry out during transportation, it is necessary to wrap them with a damp cloth and put them in a plastic bag. If the roots of the seedlings are very dry, then they must be immersed in the liquid for a maximum of two to three days.

It happens that the acquired seedling cannot be planted immediately. In this case, it is recommended to dig it in the shade. To do this, you need to do the following:

• Dig a slightly elongated groove, shallow in depth. At the same time, it should be tilted to the south.
• The seed must be placed in the pit at an angle.
• The plant is covered with a substrate in such a way that all the roots and half of the seedling are covered.
• After that, the shrub must be watered abundantly. This way you can store the seed for one month.

The preparation of planting material is as follows:

• it is necessary to remove all broken, unhealthy, dry rhizomes and branches;
• so that the roots of the plant do not dry out, it is recommended to coat them in a clay mash before planting.

Planting dogwood

Plants that are one to two years old are suitable for transplanting. The planting of dogwood is carried out in holes, the dimensions of which should be such that the rhizomes can be evenly located in it. A pit with a depth of 30-50 cm is considered a more suitable size. The minimum width should be 40 cm.

The plant does not tolerate stagnant water, therefore it is necessary to lay on the bottom of the pit drainage layer 10-15 cm thick. Pebbles, gravel or expanded clay can be used as drainage.

It is recommended to put in each hole fertilizer... For these purposes, the following mixture is used:

• humus - 1 bucket;
• superphosphate - 0.2 kg;
• ammonium nitrate - 0.05 kg;
• wood ash - 0.250 kg.

All ingredients must be mixed with a regular earthy substrate. After that, the hole is covered with the resulting mixture by a third. Next, you need to lay ordinary earth to half the volume of the hole and pour out a bucket of water. When it is absorbed, you can start placing the seedling. The seed must be placed in the middle of the hole so that the root collar is deepened by two to three centimeters. After that, you need to carefully spread the roots. It is important that emptiness does not appear at the same time. When the seedling is correctly positioned, it is necessary to fill the hole with an ordinary earthen substrate. Next, you should trample the soil a little. After that, water again and mulch the ground. For these purposes, organic matter can be used. Mulch is poured five to ten centimeters thick.

Dogwood care

Competent plant care consists in timely fertilization, pruning and regular soil treatment.

With the onset of spring, be sure loosen priming. Then this is done five more times during the summer and once after harvest. After that produce mulching soil with organic substances.

Watering can be done by the following methods:

• pour water into the recesses;
• in the holes located around the seedling.

Under one bush, you need to pour an average of two to three buckets of water. When watering, it is necessary to take into account the age of the plant, the soil and the degree of moisture.

Top dressing dogwood

For a bountiful harvest and good growth, fertilization is necessary every year. The following mixture can be used as fertilizer:

• ammonium nitrate - 0.03 kg;
• humus or compost - one bucket.

Recommendations: every year at the beginning of summer, it is necessary to pour 10 liters of fertilizer from water and fresh mullein under each adult plant in a ratio of 1: 5. Instead, poultry manure diluted with water at a ratio of 1:10 can be used. It is also suitable as a fertilizer pouring into the top layer of the agrolife soil.

Also, every year at the end of summer, 0.5 liters can be poured under each plant. wood ash... After harvesting, it is recommended to apply 0.1 kg of superphosphate fertilizers.

FAQ

You can often hear the questions: "How to grow a dogwood?" Our gardener answers this and other questions.

Illona writes to us the following: “Good afternoon. I need advice. I cannot figure out how to grow a dogwood. I have two dogwood bushes. Moreover, they have been growing next to each other for several years. I also have an apiary on my garden plot. But the most interesting thing is that the ovary does not linger on my plants. Once, however, one berry remained at the very bottom. But it was stolen either by insects or by pets. Soon the bushes will bloom again. I'm thinking of wrapping them in agrotechnical cloth. Maybe, in this way, I will be able to create a microclimate that will help preserve the ovary. Do you think this will help or not? "

Answer: “For a plant to be pollinated, several conditions must be met: the presence of bees, wind, sunny weather and a pollinator tree. I believe the following should be done in your case:

• Plant another dogwood of a different variety.
• To attract more insects, it is recommended to spray the plant with a weak honey solution during the flowering period.
• It is best to wrap the tree with agrofibre at night. And then, this must be done if night frosts are predicted during the flowering period. For pollination, such a wrap will not help.

In doing so, remember the following:

• the plant bears fruit only for 7–8 years;
• dogwood does not bear fruit in clay soil ”.

Julia asks: “Tell me, please. About three years ago I planted two dogwood bushes. They started without problems, but for some reason they grow very slowly and do not bloom. What should I do?".

Answer: “Pay attention to the soil. The plant will not grow in clay or in full shade. It is necessary to transplant it. And, in general, I want to say that in the first years these shrubs do not grow quickly. Most likely it is too early for your plants to bloom. Very often, dogwood begins to bloom in seven to eight years, if the plant is not an early variety. "

Igor asks: “I recently bought a dogwood seedling. The seller told me that it is still necessary to buy a sexton. Explain to me what it is? Is it really necessary? After all, it stands the same as the seedling itself. "

Answer: “Usually these plants are planted in pairs. Of course, self-pollinated species have been bred to date. But I often hear from people that these varieties do not always bloom. I would recommend that you buy a second tree anyway. With its help, pollination is guaranteed. The second plant can easily be a sexton. "

The benefits of dogwood berries

In one berry, there are many substances necessary for health: fructose, glucose, organic acids, nitrogenous and coloring substances, essential oil, vitamins C and P and phytancides.

The harvest from this shrub is allowed to be consumed when:

• gout;
• anemia;
• hemorrhoids;
• dysentery;
• typhoid;
• diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
• joint diseases;
• skin ailments.

They also have the following actions on the human body:

• choleretic;
• diuretic;
• antiscorbutic;
• bactericidal;
• antipyretic;
• anti-inflammatory.

The berries contain pectin, which helps cleanse the body. It removes oxalic and lactic acid. With the help of biologically active substances that are included in their composition, it is possible to stabilize blood pressure, prevent sclerosis, eliminate headaches and stabilize intracranial pressure. Also, the fruits strengthen the walls of blood vessels, make the capillaries less fragile. It is advisable to use it in case of venous insufficiency, inflammation of the veins and edema of the legs. Fruits improve appetite and have a positive effect on the metabolic process in the body.

Description of dogwood varieties

Dogwood variety Vladimirsky

The ripening period begins in mid-August and ends in early September. Fruit sizes are large. The yield is high. On average, one berry weighs about 7.5 grams. The fruits are firmly attached to the branches.

Dogwood variety Vydubetsky

The fruits ripen on the twentieth of August. The berries are distinguished by their large size. On average, one fruit weighs 6.5-7.6 grams. The berries are well attached to the branches.

Variety Coral Stamp

The ripening period of this mid-early variety falls on the average on 15–20 August. The berries are pink-orange in color. They can be round and barrel-shaped, similar to cherry plum fruits. On average, the weight of one berry is 5.8–6 grams.

Variety Lukyanovsky

The variety begins to ripen on average at the end of August. The form of large fruits is bottle-shaped. The berries are dark scarlet, which changes to black as they ripen. The average weight of one berry is about 6 grams.

Variety Gentle

The ripening period will fall on average on August 20-25. The bottle-shaped berries are yellow. The crop can be harvested consistently every year.

Variety Firefly

The mass ripening period begins in late August and ends in early September. The firefly is the largest-fruited variety. The shape of the berries is bottle-shaped with a thickened neck. On average, the weight of one fruit is in the range of 6.5-7.5 grams.

Growing dogwood. Video

The main distribution area of ​​dogwood is southern latitudes (Crimea, Caucasus). But this shrub can successfully take root in other regions, if you plant it correctly and follow the simple rules of care.

Dogwood shrub

Variety selection

Most of the unsuccessful experiences associated with growing dogwood in the country are associated with the wrong selection of varieties. Dogwood is characterized by an early onset of flowering, but a long growing season (up to 250 days). Therefore, in order for the plant to take root in mid-latitudes, you should choose early varieties of dogwood. If the shrub is planned to be planted for harvesting, and not for decorating the site, you also need to pay attention to large-fruited varieties.

In the photo, dogwood with red berries

The following are considered optimal for summer cottage cultivation:

• Coral Brand;

  Cornel variety Coral Mark

• Eugene;
• Vydubetsky;
• Gentle;

  Dogwood Tender

• Vladimirsky;

  Kizil Vladimirsky

  Dogwood variety

• Firefly.

These varieties are suitable for both amateur and industrial cultivation.

Growing success also depends on the type of seedlings. You can get dogwood seedlings in three ways:

• sowing seeds;
• cuttings;
• grafting varieties on the stock.

Dogwood seedlings

In the horticultural markets, you can find the first, and the second, and the third. Seedlings obtained by the sowing method are the cheapest, but also of the least quality - they yield only 10-12 years after planting. Plants obtained by the method of green cuttings are grown in greenhouses, and retain many more cultural characteristics compared to sowing. They bear fruit for 3-4 years and are more resistant to disease. Saplings obtained by grafting onto the stock are considered elite - you can pick berries already in the second year after planting.

Organic Dogwood Saplings

For planting, you should choose two-year-old seedlings, annuals on the soils of the middle lane will not take root. The ideal structure of the seedling is about 1.5 m high, the diameter of the main pillar is 1.8-2 cm, 4-5 skeletal branches.

Soil preparation

In its natural habitat, dogwood is able to take root on any soil, but when grown in the middle lane, it feels best on loose soils, with a high location of the aquifer. However, on marshy soils, where groundwater is almost at the surface, dogwood will not grow. The best place to plant is near tall shrubs or trees that will cast partial shade. In the open sun, the flower buds of the dogwood will not form well.

Planting holes for seedlings

Dimensions of planting holes for planting seedlings:

• depth - 0.6-0.8 m;
• diameter - 0.8 m;
• the distance between the holes is 3-5 m.

Planting dogwood

Disembarkation is carried out in the fall, in late September and early October. The stake is driven in from the leeward side, and the seedling itself is laid in the ground on the other. The root system is carefully straightened, while making sure that the neck is 3-4 cm above the ground level.

When digging a hole, the upper and lower layers of the earth should be laid separately. This is necessary in order to subsequently combine the upper fertile layer with mineral and organic fertilizers (best with humus). After laying the seedling, the upper enriched soil layer is first laid in the hole, and the soil from the lower layer is used for mulching.

How to plant a seedling correctly

Planting a dogwood seedling

With a shortage of area, it is possible to plant seedlings of different varieties in one hole. After being placed in the soil, both trunks are intertwined. Over time, such seedlings will grow into one plant with a thick spiral-shaped trunk, but with two types of fruits.

The formation of a plant depends on what you want to get in the end - a bush or a tree. In order for the seedling to grow into a neat tree, the lower shoots are trimmed for the first 3-4 years. If the plant is not pruned, a sprawling dogwood bush will form. Some varieties are suitable for decorative site decoration. To obtain a beautiful form of palmette, the skeletal branches are bent and fixed with a rope to the pegs, which are then replaced with trellis made of posts.

Experienced gardeners recommend shortening the shoots by a third immediately after planting to balance the root and aerial systems. During the first year, the growth of the seedling does not exceed 0.3-0.5 m, then the plant demonstrates rapid growth, annually increasing by 1-1.2 m.

When to prune dogwood

How to prune dogwood

Secondary pruning of dogwood

Care

Dogwood does not require much maintenance, requiring only regular watering in the first year after planting. The soil is moistened 2 times a week, evenly distributing water around the column. It is not necessary to pour water under the pillar itself, the root system of the dogwood is sufficiently developed to absorb moisture within a radius of 0.5 m. To prevent water from spreading along the ground, you need to dig a furrow around the seedling. If a drip irrigation system is installed on the site, then watering is greatly simplified. In the first growing year, it is necessary to monitor the condition of the leaves: if they begin to dry out and curl, then the plant lacks moisture. Also, during the first 3 years after planting, until the seedling finally gets stronger, you need to monitor the cleanliness of the soil around it. All weeds growing within a radius of 1 m from the seedling must be removed.

To improve the air exchange of the layer where the root system is located, it is necessary to periodically loosen the soil up to 10 cm deep. It is more convenient to loosen the soil the next day after watering, with the simultaneous uprooting of weeds.

Exhaustion of the soil

Top dressing of dogwood is not necessary, but the plant responds very well to them, demonstrating the best yield. Fertilization is carried out in the spring (early spring feeding) and in the fall. In the spring, dogwood is fed twice. Organic fertilizers are applied for the first time.The best option is slurry diluted with water in a ratio of 1/3. This top dressing ensures the formation of the current crop and the simultaneous laying of nutrients for the next season. In the second spring top dressing, nitrogen (40-50 g per plant) and potash (20-30 g) fertilizers are applied to the soil.

Growing dogwood

Young (before fruiting)		6 g
Young (beginning of fruiting)	1 kg	9 g	6 g	9 g
Adult (full fruiting)	1.5KG	12 g	9 g	12 g

In autumn, the bushes are fed with organic (8-10 kg per plant) and phosphorus fertilizers.

Reproduction

Dogwood can be propagated in different ways:

• seeds;
• root suckers;
• stock;
• horizontal and arcuate layering.

When breeding seed method fruit pits are stratified. They are placed in moist sawdust and left in this state for 12 months. It is advisable to carry out stratification a year before disembarkation, i.e. in the fall. Stratified seeds are distinguished by good germination, in contrast to dry seeds, which germinate in a ratio of about 50/50. After the first growing year, the seedlings grow only 3-4 cm, but in the second year, with sufficient watering and feeding, they reach a height of 10-15 cm and are ready for transplantation into the nursery.

Dogwood seeds

Dogwood from seeds

At reproduction by offspring root shoots surrounding an adult plant are used as seedlings. She is separated from the main bush and transplanted into the nursery in the fall or spring.

At rootstock breeding grafting of 2-year-old seedlings into the root collar or bole is carried out. The grafted dogwood is dropped into a container with a sand-peat mixture to the level of the junction of the rootstock with the scion. The container is then placed in a cool greenhouse or on a stand in a greenhouse. After the junction is completely fused, the plant is planted in open ground.

At reproduction by layering shallow furrows are dug in the soil around the adult plant. Young branches are bent down and pinned to the grooves. After shoots up to 12 cm long develop from the buds of the pinned shoots, they are sprinkled with soil mixed with humus. After 2-3 weeks, when the shoots increase by another 10-15 cm, they are sprinkled again. When the pinned shoots take root, they are separated from the mother plant and moved either to the nursery or to the open ground.

Dogwood propagation by layering

Dogwood propagation by cuttings

Some gardeners practice cornel propagation by cuttings, but this method shows a low rooting rate (4-6 established plants out of every 10 planted).

Video - Planting dogwood

Residents of the middle lane know little about this wonderful berry; planting dogwood is mostly familiar to residents of the southern regions. In Crimea and the Caucasus, jams and preserves are prepared from sweet and sour fruits, they are added to many national dishes. The plant is valued not only for its beneficial fruits, but also for its very durable wood. Depending on the preferences of the gardener, cultivation can be carried out in the form of both a tree and a bush.

Why is dogwood unpopular in cold regions?

Dogwood is unpretentious, it does not require complex care. In the southern regions, wild varieties form huge thickets, and the berries are not worse in taste than cultivated varieties. Frost is not terrible for a hardy tree, only temperatures below -30⁰ can damage its branches. If such phenomena are short-lived, young shoots can be covered, and they will winter well. Unlike fruit trees, which give good yields every 2 years, dogwood does not need rest, it bears fruit every season. Why is such a wonderful plant unpopular with summer residents in the middle lane and in the north?

The growing season of dogwood is about 250 days, and it blooms very early. Spring frosts in cold regions can destroy the ovaries, but even if the owners manage to preserve them, the fruits often do not have time to ripen.Breeders are working on solving this problem, species with early ripening of berries have already been bred. Planting and growing regionalized varieties often brings rich yields.

The common dogwood blooms when it is still cool outside, the temperature is about + 12⁰. In this weather, bees cannot pollinate flowers. For the wind to transfer pollen from one plant to another, plant at least 2 trees close to each other in the area. Some gardeners believe that the shrub can pollinate itself. Maybe, but the harvest will be very meager. But if you plant a bush of a different variety nearby and provide them with good care, almost all the flowers will turn into berries.

Advice

If it is impossible to find a place for another tree on the site, plant 2 seedlings of different varieties in one hole. Interlace the trunks and they will develop as one bush and pollinate each other.

Place for planting southern shrubs

Cornel is very fond of soils rich in lime, with a neutral or alkaline reaction. It is desirable that manganese is present in the soil, otherwise you need to add it when feeding, this element is necessary for dogwood. He does not tolerate groundwater, the depth of their occurrence should be at least 1.5 m. In low areas, you need to make good drainage, and sometimes even make a fill mound.

The shrub does not like crowding, it needs that there are no fences, buildings, other trees or tall shrubs within a radius of 4-5 m. Cornelian cherry is a long-liver, it grows in one place for up to 100 years. Over time, the crown increases in diameter, new fruiting shoots appear. If the planting is too tight, the crown will begin to taper and the yield will decrease.

The plant develops well in partial shade, but in the complete absence of sunlight, the harvest will be poor. It is advisable to plant a shrub north of a tall tree. On a sultry afternoon, the foliage will protect the dogwood from the scorching rays, and in the morning and evening it will receive good lighting. If the entire south side is open, tall poles with a clothesline or other temporary structure can be installed.

Where to get planting material

Ready-made seedlings can be purchased at nurseries. Two-year-old trees with a height of about 1.5 m take root well. They must have a fairly thick trunk - at least 2 cm in diameter - and 5 main branches. It is advisable to purchase varieties bred in your region, they do not have to adapt to new conditions.

If you prefer planting from your own prepared material, you can use one of the methods:

• planting seeds;
• layering;
• cuttings;
• root suckers;
• dividing the bush;
• budding.

For residents of the northern regions, where selection varieties of dogwood die from frost, the only way to grow this shrub is to plant seeds. Take seeds from different varieties of fruits, sow them and see how the plants survive. Dogwood will not retain all varietal qualities with this method of reproduction, even from berries from one bush trees with different properties can develop. For several years, observe how the bushes endure the winter, what harvest they give, and leave the best specimens. From them you can take cuttings and layering for further propagation.

Advice

If you want the dogwood seeds to germinate quickly, keep them in a 2% sulfuric acid solution for 3 days, and then sow them in wet sand, keep them in a warm place and make sure that the soil surface does not dry out. The grains will begin to hatch after 3 months.

Low branches in spring can be pressed to the ground and covered with soil. Make small trenches in the soil and place one-year-old shoots in them. Cut off the top so that the main forces go to the formation of roots. If provided with proper care, the shoot will take root by the fall. Cut it off from the main bush and you have a seedling ready to plant.

Often new shoots can be seen around the bush growing from the roots. You can dig up a scion with a fragment of the underground part and transplant it to a new place.Such a planting is not suitable for grafted plants: if a wild bush was taken for the stock, then the offspring will be wild.

You can divide an adult shrub into parts, but each piece should have a good root system and a strong aerial part. This work can be carried out either in early spring or in autumn before frost.

Another way is to plant green cuttings from mature bushes.

Important!

If solid wood has already formed inside the shoot, the cutting will not take root.

Cut twigs 10-15 cm long with two pairs of leaves. Remove the bottom pair and treat the cut with a root growth stimulant. Stick the shoots into the soil, sprinkled with a thick layer of clean sand and equip the shelter with film. 2-3 weeks before rooting, keep the planting at a temperature of about + 25⁰ and protect from bright sun. The soil must be constantly moistened. When the seedlings take root, feed them with ammonium nitrate. For the next fall, young plants can be relocated to a permanent place.

How to plant dogwood

You can grow seedlings from seeds if you like. Perhaps they will make a fruitful tree or a good stock for budding. Grains require a long stratification, they need to be kept in the refrigerator for almost a year. When sowing, keep in mind that the bone does not open, a small hole appears in it, through which a weak sprout emerges. If you bury the seeds deeper than 3 cm, the seedlings may not break through. Shoots grow very slowly, they need care, and the tree will begin to bear fruit only after 7 years. Dogwood loves to surprise gardeners. If ripe fruits germinate for more than a year, then unripe seeds may sprout after 6 months.

Wild dogwood seeds can be used to grow a good stock for a varietal bush. Sow many different grains, the sprouts will not take up much space on the site, but you can choose the strongest and most hardy seedling. At the age of 2 years, when the bush takes root well after transplantation, it can be grafted. In the middle of summer, cut a bud with bark and a small layer of wood from the plant you like. A cross-shaped incision is made horizontally and vertically on the rootstock. A scion is inserted into a vertical slot and fixed with a special tape or tape.

All shoots below the grafting site on the rootstock must be cut off. Make sure that the plant does not release new wild branches. After a month, the fixing tape must be removed. Grow the bush in the usual way. Next spring, new shoots will appear from the bud, and after 2 years you will taste the first fruits.

Advice

If you want to grow different varieties of dogwood, and there is only enough space on the site for 2 bushes, plant each tree with several buds of different varieties.

When growing fruit trees, grafting of young shoots is often used, but here, too, the dogwood shows its individuality. In early spring, before the growing season, you can try grafting a cutting. This method rarely gives results, despite careful care, shoots grow poorly. If, with skillful budding, up to 70% of the kidneys take root, then a successful vaccination is no more than 20%.

Shrub planting

You need to plant dogwood in the fall. Each region has its own time when it is necessary to start this work. Popular wisdom recommends: the most effective planting occurs at the time when the poplar began to shed its leaves. In the spring, in the middle lane, it is very difficult to guess the right time for planting: the period when the soil is already warming up, and the buds have not yet begun to bloom.

Dig holes with a depth and diameter of 80 cm at a distance of about 5 m from one another. Drive a stake into the ground from the direction of the prevailing winds, it will hold the tree in windy weather. Place the seedling behind the stake and bury it so that the root collar is a few centimeters above ground level. After watering and rains, the soil will settle, and it will take the desired position. First, pour fertile soil from the top layer into the hole so that the roots take root in the nutrient medium.Spill the soil well with water and tie the trunk to a peg. After a heavy downpour, make sure that the depth is calculated correctly: if the planting is high and the root collar is above the ground, the bush will develop poorly, and when deepened, it will give many root suckers, which will make it difficult to care for the plant.

Some gardeners believe that all branches of the seedling need to be shortened by a third, others do not, and the tree takes root well. What to do is up to you, you can cut off the shoots on one bush, but not on the other and see how it is best. Do not forget that each site has its own soil, its own microclimate, therefore, crops are grown according to different schemes. Any recommendations should be checked in practice, each owner should have individual experience and knowledge about what kind of care his pets need.

Does an unpretentious dogwood need care

Keeping a dogwood tree is easy, but you can make the job even easier if you cover the ground around the trunk with a thick layer of mulch after planting. Make sure that the root collar is not covered, it should be in the air. Weeds will not break through the compost or mowed grass, the ground there will always be loose and moist. Dogwood roots are mainly located in the upper soil layer. In dry weather, you need to water the bushes, and it is better to organize a drip irrigation system.

From May to autumn, the shrub works hard: energy is spent on the formation of fruits, and on growing young shoots. For these processes to take place correctly, the plant needs a sufficient amount of nutrients. Use fertilizers with a predominance of nitrogen and phosphorus until mid-summer, and potassium is needed in the second half of the season. In nature, dogwood prefers calcareous soils, because without calcium, the growth and formation of fruits are impossible. If this component is not in the soil of your site, add it to the top dressing.

Frequent pruning of dogwood is not necessary. Before the growing season, only diseased, dry and broken branches should be cut so that they do not become a source of infection. To give shape to a young plant, leave a short, about half a meter, stem and 5 skeletal branches. To rejuvenate plants over 20 years old, prune off branches that are 4 years old. In their place, new fruiting shoots will appear. The tree tolerates shearing well, and if you want to use it as an ornamental plant, you can give the crown an unusual shape.

Dogwood is resistant to diseases and pests, and proper care will make the bush even stronger. And yet, do not forget to inspect the plant from time to time in order to notice problems in time.

• Powdery mildew - white bloom on the shoots. Treat the plant with colloidal sulfur.
• Rust - yellow spots on the leaves. The bush must be sprayed with Bordeaux liquid.
• Spotting. Bordeaux liquid will also help from this disease.
• Snail worm. The pest is destroyed with lime.
• The caterpillar is a polychrome. Sprinkle the dogwood with Parisian greens.

Output

Dogwood can be grown and harvested not only in the south, but also in the northern regions. If the plant is properly cared for, it will bear fruit for up to 100 years. You can keep one trunk and grow the dogwood as a tree, or you can leave the lower shoots alone and get a bush.

In order for the dogwood to develop well and bear fruit, you need to choose the right varieties and planting method. Growing from seeds is a laborious task, but sometimes only this method is possible in the northern area. Good results are obtained by budding: on a winter-hardy rootstock, you can try to grow shoots of delicate varieties.

Dogwood is tenacious and unpretentious, it will endure any conditions. Does the plant need care? If you want to eat enough berries, do not forget about watering and feeding. You can leave the bush completely unattended, but it will not give good yields. Love your green pets, and your site will always be beautiful and productive.