How to grow dogwood

The dogwood is a small, ornamental shrub with brightly colored bark, very hardy, and easy to grow. It can have white, yellow, or greenish-yellow, star-shaped flowers, but there are many different varieties: Cornus mas, which reaches up to eight meters in height; Cherokee chief, with deep red-pink bracts; Fragrant cloud It is a variety with particularly fragrant flowers. The leaves are oval in shape, pointed at the tips, and bright green.

Exposure and climate

It prefers a temperate climate, but is highly resistant to intense cold. Its best location is a sunny spot, but it also thrives in partial shade. It grows primarily in the Apennine regions, with rocky and sandy soil, and is frequently found above 1.400 meters above sea level. It is a highly adaptable plant: ideal even for hillside gardens or less-maintained areas.

Land and cultivation care

Dogwoods prefer cool, chalky soil, fertilized with well-rotted manure in fall and late winter. To encourage the growth of new, colorful branches, it's a good idea to prune back any two-year-old wood at the base.

Watering

Water abundantly during dry periods and regularly in summer. It's recommended to water the plant occasionally, also with nettle macerate, which provides vital nutrients for stem and flower growth.

Sowing and flowering

Propagation occurs by semi-woody cuttings in spring-summer; by woody cuttings or by detaching the suckers in autumn. The dogwood can be sown, but it produces basal shoots (suckers). which can be separated and transplanted.

The truly unique feature of the dogwood (Cornus mas) is that it is one of the first plants to flower ever.

It blooms between late winter and early spring, often when:

• it's still cold
• other plants are completely bare
• and sometimes even with snow or frost

Her small yellow flowers appear on bare branches before the leaves, creating a very noticeable and early effect in the garden.

fruits

This plant also produces some red berries, two centimeters long, called cornelian cherries, which are harvested from August to October. They have a sour taste and are used to prepare jams, preserves and syrups. But since it is an edible fruit (which some people, improperly, equate to berries), cornel can also be eaten raw, and has interesting properties: for example, it lowers cholesterol and protects the liverThe edible red fruits are rich in vitamin C and are traditionally used in jams and syrups.

The wood

Dogwood wood is very hard and durable, so much so that farmers once used it to make the handles of farming tools. Now it's highly sought after for certain crafts, such as pipes and barrels.

Problems and remedies

The dogwood is very resistant to diseases, however it can be attacked by some mushrooms, especially during the rainier seasons: in this case it is necessary to intervene with specific products. In detail, these are the diseases that most affect the dogwood, with the related natural remedies:

Powdery mildew

Symptoms:

• Whitish patina on leaves and young shoots
• Deformed or drying leaves

Natural remedies:

•  Splashes of sodium bicarbonate (5 g/L of water + a few drops of soft soap)
• Horsetail decoction (strengthens tissues and prevents fungi)
• Improve ventilation and sun exposure

 Leaf spots (various fungi)

Symptoms:

• Brown or black spots on the leaves
• Early leaf fall

Remedies:

• Remove and destroy infected leaves
• Treatments with copper (Bordeaux mixture) in light doses, better in winter
• Avoid wetting the leaves

 Aphids

Symptoms:

• Small green or black insects on tender shoots
• Curled leaves, sticky honeydew

Natural remedies:

•  Strong jet of water to remove them
• Soft potassium soap
•  Promote ladybugs and beneficial insects

 Cochineal

Symptoms:

• Small white or brown encrustations on branches

Remedies:

• Manual removal with a toothbrush
• Neem oil or white vegetable oil

Read also:

• Marigold: How to Grow It Outdoors and in a Pot
• Star of Bethlehem: How to Grow and When to Plant
• How to grow gonfrena outdoors or in a pot