
Primary Pruning
- 1 Remove branches during the winter or early spring. The dogwood should still be in a dormant state when you remove branches. ...
- 2 Remove deadwood. ...
- 3 Cut off diseased or insect-infested branches. ...
- 4 Prune away old, twiggy stems. ...
- 5 Thin out crowded areas. ...
- 6 Remove shoots that grow below the graft point. ...
- 7 Determine whether or not you need to remove lower branches. ...
When should I prune my Ivory Halo dogwood?
If you want to keep this plant a smaller size, encourage bushy growth or make sure you get the best winter color, prune the plant back to the ground every year in late winter or early spring. Ivory Halo Dogwood is resistant to most pests and diseases.
How do you take care of a halo dogwood?
Ivory Halo Dogwood likes sun to partial shade. Plant it somewhere with moist soil. Water regularly, especially during hot dry weather. Prune this shrub to remove branches that are damaged or cross others.
How do you prune a red and yellow twig dogwood tree?
Your goal in pruning Dogwood shrubs, such as the red and yellow twigged dogwoods, is to remove old stems that have lost their brilliance that will be replaced by new, brightly colored stems. Since the younger branches bear the brightest color, that is precisely the growth you want to encourage.
Do you cut back old stems on dogwoods?
Some dogwood varieties, particularly the shrubby types, are valued mostly for the colorful bark that grows on new stems. You can either cut back the old stems on these dogwoods or cut them down completely.

Can I keep an Ivory Halo dogwood small?
If you want to keep this plant a smaller size, encourage bushy growth or make sure you get the best winter color, prune the plant back to the ground every year in late winter or early spring. Ivory Halo Dogwood is resistant to most pests and diseases.
How do you care for an Ivory Halo dogwood?
Plant in Full Sun for maximum foliage vibrance. The Ivory Halo® Dogwood grows well in rich garden soil with good drainage, as well as moist wet areas. Water your new plantings deeply 2-3 times per week to help establish deep root systems. During dry spells, provide water more frequently.
When should dogwood bushes be pruned?
Cut the branches with sharp pruning shears, loppers or a saw at the base near the ground above the first leaf node. Prune red dogwood bushes in late fall after the leaves have dropped. The bush may also be pruned in early spring before new growth appears, but it should be dormant.
Can dogwood be cut back hard?
FLOWERBX (opens in new tab)'s Whitney Bromberg Hawkings suggests pruning once a year at most, adding: 'Dogwood requires a hard pruning once a year – only after its first year of growth, as this first 12 months allows your tree to make its mark during its first summer.
How tall do Ivory Halo dogwoods get?
4-6' tallIVORY HALO is a tatarian dogwood cultivar that is noted for its compact size, variegated (white-edged) leaves and bright red twigs in winter. It is a rapid-growing, multi-stemmed, suckering, deciduous shrub that grows to a maximum size of 4-6' tall on erect, usually unbranched stems.
Does Ivory Halo dogwood spread?
Ivory Halo® Dogwood Spacing Ivory Halo® Dogwood reaches a height of 4-6 feet and spreads 4-6 feet.
How do you shape a dogwood shrub?
1:156:16How To Prune a Dogwood Shrub - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThey are very tough hardy shrubs. And they sprout from all sorts of dormant buds which is whatMoreThey are very tough hardy shrubs. And they sprout from all sorts of dormant buds which is what deciduous shrubs have a ton of you just kind of work your way around the shrub. Cut here cut there.
Can you trim dogwood trees to keep them small?
Pruning Goals A dogwood grows 1 or 2 feet each year until it's about 25 feet tall. You can keep the tree a bit shorter by heading upright branches back by one-third each year, but this may produce a tree that spreads wider than the usual 25 feet.
How do you prune overgrown dogwood?
Dogwood - Hard PruningAfter planting, leave them be and let them establish for a summer.After that, hard prune them every March.Cut all the stems down to about 6 inches above ground level, just after where the plant begins to branch out at the base.
Can you cut the top off a dogwood tree?
Avoid cutting the dogwood's trunk. Dogwood borer larvae can enter the shrub through holes in the trunk. Do not completely cut back the top of your dogwood tree.
How long does a dogwood tree live?
The average lifespan is 80 years. Flowering dogwood is rated hardy in USDA Zones 5 to 9. The growth rate is slow upon transplanting, gradually assuming a medium rate. Plant flowering dogwood grown from seed collected from trees indigenous to your local area.
When should you fertilize a dogwood tree?
The best time to fertilize dogwoods is in the spring, before flowering occurs and once again in the summer. If the tree is planted within a lawn that's consistently fertilized, this plant is already receiving supplements from that process and additional intervention should be avoided.
Is Ivory Halo dogwood fast growing?
Plant Description: Ivory Halo Dogwood is a fast growing, multi-stemmed, compact, deciduous shrub. The ovate leaves are variegated with green centers and creamy white edges. Small, yellowish-white blossoms emerge in flat clusters in late spring.
How do you trim a dogwood bush?
1:233:19Spring Prune Your Dogwood Shrub to Maintain Color - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipNow you're going to want to go in and prune this either once a year or once every couple of years toMoreNow you're going to want to go in and prune this either once a year or once every couple of years to get take out that old growth those Brown branches.
When can you transplant Ivory Halo dogwood?
Transplant a variegated dogwood in early spring or fall for best results.Select a planting area that has well-draining soil and receives full to partial sun.Dig a planting hole that is the same depth as the tree root ball and twice as wide.More items...
Is Ivory Halo dogwood Evergreen?
Apply a balanced fertilizer in spring....Cornus alba 'Bailhalo'Botanical PronunciationKOR-nus AL-baIs Direct To ConsumerNoAverage Size at MaturityModerate growing, compact, rounded form; reaches 5 to 6 ft. tall and wide.Bloom TimeLate Spring to Early SummerDeciduous/ EvergreenDeciduous12 more rows
Can dead wood be removed from a tree?
Remove deadwood. Wood that is dying or dead will do nothing good for your tree. In fact, leaving it on the tree may actually cause problems. Deadwood is more likely to grow mold or other fungi, which can then spread to healthy parts of the dogwood.
Do dogwood trees need pruning?
This article has been viewed 196,997 times. Dogwood trees do not usually need much pruning. Even without manually shaping the tree, a dogwood will usually maintain a nice shape. Manual shaping can be done if desired, though. Do your primary pruning—the removal of branches—during the dormant season and your secondary pruning—cutting done ...
Can you prune a tree with ladders?
If you are attempting to create a fuller canopy, you can prune the main leader branch back to encourage more growth in the lower, more horizontal branches. Pruning with ladders can be very dangerous, so a polesaw is recommended.
Is dogwood a tough plant?
Dogwoods are fairly tough plants, and if it is well established, it will likely be fine. If it is healthy, it will likely respond with a large flush of new growth in the spring. Power companies prune trees and shrubs for safety, not looks.
Can you cut down a dogwood tree?
Determine whether or not you need to remove lower branches. Sometimes, the lowest branches of the dogwood can interfere with walking or other gardening activities. Other times, the branches hang so low that the underside of the tree does not receive enough air. In either case, the lowest branches can be sawed off or cut away with heavy-duty shears.
Can dogwoods be pruned?
Yes, dogwoods are fairly tough and can handle more intensive pruning than some other common garden shrubs.
What is the purpose of pruning dogwood?
Your goal in pruning Dogwood shrubs, such as the red and yellow twigged dogwoods, is to remove old stems that have lost their brilliance that will be replaced by new, brightly colored stems. Since the younger branches bear the brightest color, that is precisely the growth you want to encourage. Pruning Dogwood Shrubs.
Is a dogwood a tree?
Dogwood shrubs, such as red twig dogwoods, are not to be confused with dogwood trees. While both shrubs and the trees belong to the same genus: Cornus, the shrubs will never become trees.
How long does it take for a dogwood shrub to recover?
Whereas, if you live in the south or in an optimal climate your dogwood shrub will more than likely recover fully in just one season.
When to remove a shrub stem?
In the winter months when the shrub is dormant it is easier to spot such stems but if you notice them in the summer go ahead and remove the stem.
What causes brown spots on dogwood?
Diseased Stems or Canes. There are a few diseases that can attack the dogwood shrub. This will depend on where you are located. One of the most common is a blight that causes brown spots on the stems. Prune the diseased stems out if they are untreatable as soon as you notice them.
What color are dogwoods?
As the dogwood shrub ages, the stems become more grayish instead of the bright red or yellow color. Pruning them will bring back the brilliant red and yellow color of the stems. When to prune dogwood shrubs?
How long does it take for a shrub to rejuvenate?
You can identify the old stems because they will be the dullest or even a gray color instead of the bright red or yellow. In theory it should take 3 years to completely rejuvenate the entire shrub.
Do dogwoods need pruning?
Most of the pruning will only require a pair of hand pruners and maybe a lopper. Stems on the dogwood shrubs just don’t grow into large trunks like its cousin the dogwood tree.
Do red twig dogwoods bloom?
Do red twig dogwoods bloom? Yes, but not the same as their cousin the dogwood tree. The bloom is more of a clutter of little white flowers. While this shrub does flower it is not a big show, the big show is the bright colored stems in the winter landscape.
How to grow ivory halo dogwood?
Water: The Ivory Halo® Dogwood grows best with regular watering to keep the soil moist during the dry season . Reduce watering once the plant is established. Light: Keep your Cornus Alba ‘Bailhalo’ in an environment where it can receive partial to full sun on a daily basis. Soil: Make sure to keep the Ivory Halo® Dogwood in soil with moist ...
When does Halo dogwood shed its leaves?
Being a deciduous plant, the Ivory Halo® Dogwood will shed its leaves annually once autumn comes. But, you can expect it to have its ‘prime-time’ during the spring (late), the summer (early), the fall, and during the winter.
What is the name of the dogwood in the ivory halo family?
In botanical terms, the Ivory Halo® Dogwood belongs to the Cornaceae family, the genus Cornus and the species Kousa, hence its scientific (or botanical) name Cornus Alba ‘Bailhalo’ (KOR-nus AL-ba). As with other Cornus’s, the Ivory Halo® Dogwood is a deciduous plant, which means it will shed its leaves annually once autumn comes.
What is the name of the dogwood?
In botanical terms, the Ivory Halo® Dogwood belongs to the Cornaceae family, the genus Cornus and the species Kousa, hence its scientific (or botanical) name Cornus Alba ‘Bailhalo’ (KOR-nus AL-ba).
How big are the leaves of a dogwood?
You can expect the leaves from your Cornus Alba ‘Bailhalo’ to be around (1-3 inches) in size.
What is the best companion for ivory halo dogwood?
Ivory Halo® Dogwood’s do well with some other plants beside it. One good companion plant is the Weigela, which will pair up nicely with your leafy friend.
When does ivory dogwood flower?
You can expect your Ivory Halo® Dogwood to flower around the spring months from April to June (spring). The Ivory Halo® Dogwood produces some beautiful white, or pink and white flowers around this time of year.
