Is Trimming a Flowering Dogwood Difficult?

Is trimming a flowering dogwood difficult? Flowering dogwood trees are one of the most beautiful flowering plants that a home gardener can grow in his or her backyard.  In most cases, home gardeners prune trees as needed throughout the year, and never give a second thought to whether or not pruning a certain tree at a certain time could pose a problem for the tree’s growth, development, or flowering. So, pruning a flowering dogwood doesn't need to be difficult - however, if you want to make sure you maintain the health of your plant, there are some things that you should know before you pick up your pruning sheers.

It is not difficult to trim a flowering dogwood tree if you follow the proper steps:

• With flowering trees, the key element to proper pruning is to make sure that the timing of your pruning does not shock the tree into failure to produce flowers.
• As a result, trimming your flowering dogwood trees should be done at the proper time of year. 

There are also a few other tips to keep in mind. If you follow these steps, then trimming a flowering dogwood will not be difficult.

Time for Pruning a Flowering Dogwood

One key to trimming flowering dogwoods or any other flowering tree for that matter is to make sure that you only prune the tree before the buds are set, or formed. 

• This means that you will want to undertake any pruning tasks within a month of the time that the tree has flowered, but before it can produce buds. 
• If you trim prior to the flowering, or if you trim too late after the tree has flowered, you will be causing a potentially dangerous shock to the tree.
• This shock might result in the tree not producing flowers the following year, or even not flowering when it is supposed to in the current year. 

By following these simple rules, you will ensure that your tree remains healthy and that it flowers correctly throughout the year.

Dogwood Borer

Another factor to consider when deciding if trimming a flowering dogwood is difficult is that there are some specific issues that apply only to the flowering dogwood.

• The biggest concern is the presence of an insect known as the dogwood borer.
• The dogwood borer can kill or otherwise damage the dogwood tree if the tree is pruned at a time when the dogwood borer is looking for a way to infiltrate the bark of the flowering dogwood tree.
• If you prune and allow the borer in, it will begin to destroy the tree's tissue. 
• If you are considering pruning a flowering dogwood tree, you will want to try to do it in months other than April or May, as April and May are the months when the dogwood borer is most likely to be actively searching for a home. 

By pruning at the right time and following these tips, you can still prune the tree to keep it healthy while protecting it from a potentially fatal insect pest infestation that could either damage or destroy the tree, or weaken it to the point that it would have to be cut down or removed.

So, now you know that trimming a flowering dogwood tree is not difficult, but that there are some things to take into account when doing it.