Good to have you on board as a new member of the Ninja community! Make sure you check out my blog too www.gardenninja.co.uk for hundreds more free gardening guides. 🥷🌿🤘
Garden Ninja explained the pruning process in a very clear and concise way - really helpful for a novice gardener, the before and after is great and gives me the confidence to prune my dogwoods now :))
Blimey that was brutal. I would never have thought you could cut it back so hard. I really like those shrubs, shame I haven’t any room in my garden for them. Can’t wait to see them all grown back in the summer. Mum 🤗
I nearly pruned my newly-planted Cornus before I saw this video - now I know to wait till next year. tThis has to be the best instructional video on Cornus pruning out there - your demonstration, and instructions, were so clear!
Thanks so much Flowers Flowers!! I work really hard to try and make gardening and design as easy to understand as possible so this means a lot! Make sure you tell your friends! Happy gardening. Lee 🥷🌿🙌
So helpful! Thanks for the great information. Clear instruction. Can you make sure to update us with the "after" shot once the new growth has emerged, perhaps this coming winter?
I have watched loads of videos on how to prune Cronus but this is by far the easiest to understand, the most informative one i have seen. I now fully understand when, how and where to prune my dogwoods and i will do them with confidence next spring. Thank you garden Ninja - one happy new subscriber.👍👍👍👏👏👏👏👏👏
Thanks David. So glad it’s helpful. Other guides on ‘just cut it back’ can be a bit daunting. So there’s nothing better than actually showing and explaining it! Here’s to bright stems next winter. Happy gardening! Lee
I have seen many videos how to prune cornus, but this one so far the most understandable and logic! Thank you. Also very relaxing to watch this guy, already made me keen to go and do my garden 🙂. I appologize for my English.
Hi Matt. I’ll make sure to include in in the March tour. It’s come back with a vengeance! I’ll show you when I do the update next week. Happy gardening! Lee 🥷🌿
I’m hoping that the red dogwood I planted will thrive so that I can follow your advice. I bought it last fall but couldn’t decide where to plant it until about six months later in early spring. Since then it has not leafed out at all. It only has one trunk with about six stems coming off it. I know you don’t recommend printing young plants but how do I encourage growth. Thank you for a very informative video!
Hi. I’d leave your newly planted Cornus until next summer before a prune. Especially if it’s in a bit of shock which it sounds like. Let the roots establish and then after your first solid year of growth prune afterwards. Hope that helps. Lee 🥷🌿🤘
This How To... from a couple of years ago popped up in my feed today. I'm loving the practical, clear, informative advice on pruning cornus dogwood. Thank you! I had a good squizz through your channel, Lee, but couldn't find a follow-up giving the results of the pruning, and if they came back nicely with the striking red on the winter shoots. Any chance you could point me to a follow-up? Or if there isn't one, possibly find time in your busy schedule to do it? 🤓
Great to hear from you and the feedback! Yes let me add that to my list and I’ll see if I can create that update for you! It’s looking super bright at the moment too! 🥷🤘🌿
Thanks Kevin. I’m glad you’re enjoying my vids. There are still nurseries going online. Bluebell cottage garden do an excellent plant delivery service. They’re based in the North West. Please check out their site. (And they deliver plastic free!) Happy gardening. Lee
Many thanks! I do this every two or three years. I’ll do an update soon and post it. Maybe checkout my Instagram too for updates! instagram.com/garden_ninja_lee/ 🥷🌿👌
Best way is via hardwood cuttings in a couple of weeks once they’re totally dormant. Cut pencil sized stems from this years growth. Cut top on an angle so you know which is the top and the bottom just below a node straight across. Pop in a pot of compost water and leave until you see roots at the bottom or buds emerge next spring! Happy cutting! Lee 🥷🌿
@@Gardenninja Hello Lee - I have just identified a shrub in my garden (from an old label near the roots) it's a Cornus Kuska 'Milky Way' - from what I can gather this should not be hard pruned in the same way as you show in the video. My question would be then, what sort of pruning (if any) is required? Thanks in advance. Edit: Not exactly on topic but could you also advise on how I should prune a Catalpa standard (Indian Bean Tree I believe - the grafted crown on a thin trunk/lollipop type) - I bought and planted one for my wife last autumn and it looks like it's dead (but it isn't - I tested the bark and it's green underneath). I have searched the internet but there seems to be very little information... would really appreciate your advice. Thanks... again!
Smoggie ! So with a Cornus kousa you want to prune it ideally in winter when it’s dormant. Don’t hard prune them as they take ages to regro. If you really must prune it in summer just take off anything rubbish and then do a structural prune in winter. Little and often! Same with the bean tree. Just go easy for now and make any major removal during the winter as they can bleed and become stressed if you prune them now when they’re growing. Hope that helps. Lee
@@Gardenninja Thanks very much Lee. I'll follow your advice I think, thing is I've seen some people really butcher the bean trees to the crown and others do nothing - I suppose the middle road is best. Cheers!
Could the cuttings not be scrapped at a couple of the leaf nodes to expose the green underneath and placed in a trench and watered well then leave to try and increase your cornus stock similar to rose propogation? Then move to different parts of the garden if they survive.
Hi Meager. Yes you could try this I’m sure a few would take. Usually with hardwood you make your cuttings in winter and then heel into a small trench where they can take. But if they’re going in the compost bin either way you may as well give it a go. Just make sure you keep them the right way up. One way is to make the cut at the base on an angle. It gives more surface area for roots and then you can tell which way is up! Hope that helps! Happy Gardening. Lee
@@Gardenninja Hi Lee tried putting some of the off cuts in a large pot at the beginning of the year and had success with all of them, I gave them away to family and friends.😉
I desperately want to have it, can I grow it in the large container? I already have one but I didn’t dare to prune it ( it is in a small container) , can I prune it , I didn’t dare! Completely amateur in gardening, in love with dogwoods and ferns. Thanks 🤞💐💐💐💐💐
Hi. Yes of course you can. But it probably won’t be as vigorous as if it was in the ground. They root really well from softwood or hardwood cuttings. So if you know someone with one take a cutting. Follow my guide here. Happy gardening! 🥷🤘🌿 Lee ua-cam.com/video/KRxEh05E5iI/v-deo.html
Hi Lee Burkhill. Exactly what I needed to know. I was thinking of planting a hedge with " Cornus sanguinea Anny's Winter Orange", to create something that'll look like a firewall in winter. How many plants per metre would I need? Thanks in advance.
Hi Libelle. Per meter maybe 2 as they’re fast growing and vigorous. If you stuff em in then you’ll regret it as they get super tangled! Hope that helps. Happy gardening. Lee 🥷🌿
@@Gardenninja That helps me a great deal. Do I need to prune them down to ground level every spring? And I suppose I could the stems to make wreaths with? Love your channel, btw. I've subscribed. As I am working on a gothic themed garden (not totally doom and gloom) and and the fiery hedge would fit perfectly into that. Your channel is really helpful for me.
You made it look effortless! I got me one coz i love them so much, although not sure my garden can handle 10-12' height & spread. Do you think planting in open pot & dropping in ground will keep it smaller? Thanks Garden Ninja!
Very useful video, thanks. My dogwood is dense and covers a large area and is almost 3 metres tall and most of the leaves have now fallen, can I prune back hard right now in November?
I’d wait until spring. You may as well enjoy the stems as they turn one of their fiery colours like orange red or yellow for the winter! Happy pruning! Lee 🥷🌿🤘
Thanks for this video. I have a huge cornus alba Elegantissima (I think) which doesn't look to have been pruned for years and has very thick stems (1-2 inch diameter). Should I bite the bullet and do I hard prune or would a lighter prune over a few years be better....I'd rather not kill the plant ;-) Thanks.
Hi Sarah. I have this species it’s not as vigorous as the other types but can still come back from a hard prune. I’d nip out any crossing or damaged wood now and then next spring give it a further renovation prune! Happy snipping. Lee 🥷🌿
Thank you for this. Do these varieties need deep soil? I'm wanting to plant some midwinter fire and alba, but I only have planters (they're long, but only about 12" deep). Will this just keep them nice and small, or will they just not thrive?
Hi Rosie. They don’t need huge amounts of soil or nutrients. Pretty much bullet proof shrubs. However they won’t grow as vigorous which might actually work in your favour! Happy planting. Lee 🥷🌿🙌
Yes you could do. Cornus roots really easily. Usually though the best time for hardwood cuttings is late winter before the buds burst in spring. Placing them in a trench or a pot of compost then keeping them well watered whilst they take. Good idea for reusing though!! Happy Gardening. Lee
Yes basically before it starts to put on new growth. Treat them as a hardwood cutting. Pot the bottom of your cuttings in compost and then water well. Transplant when they start to put on new growth. Just remember which part of the cutting is the bottom. I cut this part horizontally then cut the top of the cutting on an angle. If you plant them the wrong way up they won’t take. Happy gardening. Lee
Hi Matt. You can but I’d be more delicate with the variegated ones. They are slower growing and harder to bounce back. Just give it a light prune and take a few stems back to the ground whilst leaving a few as are. Hope that helps. Lee 🥷🌿🤘
@Gardenninja hi Lee thank you for the reply when you say lightly prune shall I cut down by a third or half way Is it best to do this in march/April time?
Hi Rose Mary. A wrong cut won’t kill it. Pruning actively encourages growth and that’s were most people fall short as they think cutting off parts of plants weakens it. The root system is still in place and ready to help the plant send out new growth. If you’re worried just take out 1/3 if last year or older growth to an inch from the base. If you don’t know how to prune at an angle I have a video on that. Failing that. Just make a horizontal cut across the stem which is better than no cut! Hope that helps and all the best! Lee
Would you recommend this procedure if transplanting a medium size specimen, out of what appears a wild mass of cornus shrubs? The stems have some colour and I am wondering if I can dig out some, to plant on...
If transplanting I’d only upto half of the shrub back. You need some leaf to help it sustain itself as it re-roots. Ideally move it now before summer and make sure you well water it before and after the move. I water larger shrubs the day before the move. This sets them up for a less stressful move. All the best. Lee
Hi Adela. I would only recommend pruning them every couple of years. If not you put them under mega stress. Alternatively just nip out a few of the oldest stems back to the base. The good old 50/50 approach! Hope that helps and happy gardening. Lee
You can take cuttings which will root in water. The tree itself needs to be outside as it’s deciduous. Central heating will confuse it and it will probably act sporadically and look a bit lack lustre. 🥷🌿🤘
Hi Ian, That's strange they are so vigorous I've never heard of any one killing ir stumping a cornus. It wasn't Cornus elegantissima was it? Thats a very specific variegates version which doesn't respond well to hard pruning. Just a thought. Lee
@Garden Ninja: Lee Burkhill Hi Lee thank you for you comment most unexpected. Not a clue what type it is. Just retired and trying to upgrade my garden. Have lots of issues with wind and dry soil as on top of a hill in Durham. My aim is to have it as wildlife friendly as possible and of course manageable. Love your videos would be better if you lived next door. Learning all the time. Some success but lots of expensive failures. Keep up the good work. If ever your up here give me a nudge for cuppa. Take Care.
Thanks Ian. You maybe surprised that the dogwood does come back. I’ve hard pruned hundreds without fail. Keep going and if you have dry exposed soil. Try and choose plants that like or tolerate this conditions. Native plants are always best and maybe look at coastal plants for those conditions. Happy gardening! 🥷🌿🤘
Came for this video, subscribed when I saw everything else. Very well presented.
Good to have you on board as a new member of the Ninja community! Make sure you check out my blog too www.gardenninja.co.uk for hundreds more free gardening guides. 🥷🌿🤘
Garden Ninja explained the pruning process in a very clear and concise way - really helpful for a novice gardener, the before and after is great and gives me the confidence to prune my dogwoods now :))
Thanks Jane for the fantastic feedback! I’m glad it’s helpful and your dogwoods are going to now look fantastic!! Happy gardening. Lee 🥷🌿🙌
Blimey that was brutal. I would never have thought you could cut it back so hard. I really like those shrubs, shame I haven’t any room in my garden for them. Can’t wait to see them all grown back in the summer. Mum 🤗
Only works for certain shrubs so take care. Slow growing varieties can be decimated. Cornus is mega fast and tough though! Happy Gardening. Lee
I nearly pruned my newly-planted Cornus before I saw this video - now I know to wait till next year. tThis has to be the best instructional video on Cornus pruning out there - your demonstration, and instructions, were so clear!
Thanks so much Flowers Flowers!! I work really hard to try and make gardening and design as easy to understand as possible so this means a lot! Make sure you tell your friends! Happy gardening. Lee 🥷🌿🙌
So helpful! Thanks for the great information. Clear instruction. Can you make sure to update us with the "after" shot once the new growth has emerged, perhaps this coming winter?
I’d like this too. All the videos I’ve watched show removing nearly everything, but none show what it looks like when it starts to grow out.
You’re such a good teacher!! Thank you.
Thanks Kitty! I’m so glad it’s been useful for you. Happy gardening! Lee
Thank you, this is by far the best set of instructions I have come across for pruning Cornus. I can now do mine with confidence!
Brilliant to hear such great feedback! Make sure you checkout my blog for hundreds more garden design tips and hacks!!! Happy gardening. Lee 🥷🌿🙌
Excellent. Actually shows where the leaf buds are. I will follow the Ninja for gardening tips again.
I have watched loads of videos on how to prune Cronus but this is by far the easiest to understand, the most informative one i have seen. I now fully understand when, how and where to prune my dogwoods and i will do them with confidence next spring. Thank you garden Ninja - one happy new subscriber.👍👍👍👏👏👏👏👏👏
Thanks David. So glad it’s helpful. Other guides on ‘just cut it back’ can be a bit daunting. So there’s nothing better than actually showing and explaining it! Here’s to bright stems next winter. Happy gardening! Lee
I have seen many videos how to prune cornus, but this one so far the most understandable and logic! Thank you. Also very relaxing to watch this guy, already made me keen to go and do my garden 🙂. I appologize for my English.
No need to apologise! Perfectly fine. Thanks so much for the positive feedback. Makes doing these guides worth while! Happy gardening. Lee 🥷🌿🤘
Cheers Lee, good consice video, let me know what I needed to know, following your channel now 🌿👍🏼
Thanks Andrew! Glad to have you as a new Ninjas follower!! 🥷🌿🤘
I’m glad you showed us how to do this, I’d be fearful of cutting back so low. How does the cornus look now? Hope we can see a revisit.
Hi Matt. I’ll make sure to include in in the March tour. It’s come back with a vengeance! I’ll show you when I do the update next week. Happy gardening! Lee 🥷🌿
Your a great presenter, and informative Ninja 🌱
Thanks so much Jane. Glad my guides are so helpful! Happy gardening. Lee 🥷🌿
I’m hoping that the red dogwood I planted will thrive so that I can follow your advice. I bought it last fall but couldn’t decide where to plant it until about six months later in early spring. Since then it has not leafed out at all. It only has one trunk with about six stems coming off it. I know you don’t recommend printing young plants but how do I encourage growth. Thank you for a very informative video!
Hi. I’d leave your newly planted Cornus until next summer before a prune. Especially if it’s in a bit of shock which it sounds like. Let the roots establish and then after your first solid year of growth prune afterwards. Hope that helps. Lee 🥷🌿🤘
@@Gardenninja This helps a lot! Thank you🌻
Excellent video. Thank you for sharing your knowledge!
You’re welcome Timothy. Hope you’re gardens treating you well! Lee 🥷🌿
This How To... from a couple of years ago popped up in my feed today.
I'm loving the practical, clear, informative advice on pruning cornus dogwood. Thank you!
I had a good squizz through your channel, Lee, but couldn't find a follow-up giving the results of the pruning, and if they came back nicely with the striking red on the winter shoots.
Any chance you could point me to a follow-up? Or if there isn't one, possibly find time in your busy schedule to do it? 🤓
Great to hear from you and the feedback! Yes let me add that to my list and I’ll see if I can create that update for you! It’s looking super bright at the moment too! 🥷🤘🌿
excellent easy to follow video ,would be great to see how they are this winter eg before/after
Many thanks Rik! I’ll post an update this year on my community tab. Make sure you subscribe so you can see it when it’s up! Happy pruning. Lee 🥷🌿
Super helpful! Thank you!
You’re welcome! Make sure you check out my blog for hundreds more free guides www.gardenninja.co.uk 🌿🥷🤘🐝
Very helpful and informative. Thank you.
Thanks Aaron. I’m glad you like my content. Make sure you subscribe to watch even more garden design hints, tips and hacks! Happy gardening. Lee 🥷🌿🤘
Just watched 3 episodes in a row very relaxing enjoyed them. Can you still buy plants online at the moment ? Cheers kevin
Thanks Kevin. I’m glad you’re enjoying my vids. There are still nurseries going online. Bluebell cottage garden do an excellent plant delivery service. They’re based in the North West. Please check out their site. (And they deliver plastic free!) Happy gardening. Lee
Such clear guidelines , super as always 👌🌺
Great stuff Ninja!
Thanks! Happy gardening! Lee 🥷🌿
Very helpful. Do you do this every spring or every other for the benefit of winter color? What will it look at end of summer?
Many thanks! I do this every two or three years. I’ll do an update soon and post it. Maybe checkout my Instagram too for updates! instagram.com/garden_ninja_lee/ 🥷🌿👌
Lee can you tell me can you take cuttings from dogwood and how .Love your site it will do me for problems in my garden thanks paul
Best way is via hardwood cuttings in a couple of weeks once they’re totally dormant. Cut pencil sized stems from this years growth. Cut top on an angle so you know which is the top and the bottom just below a node straight across. Pop in a pot of compost water and leave until you see roots at the bottom or buds emerge next spring! Happy cutting! Lee 🥷🌿
@@Gardenninja Nice one lee i will give it a go look after ye self lee paul
Great video once again! :-D I really enjoy watching them :-)
Søren Schmidt thanks Soren. Glad you’re enjoying them! Happy Gardening! Lee
Thanks, that was really helpful!
You’re welcome Sarah. Glad it’s helpful! Make sure you checkout my blog www.gardenninja.co.uk for hundreds more free gardening guides! 🤘🥷🌿
@@Gardenninja Thank you, I will do ☺
Those branches could have made a nice floral arrangement!
Very true. I brought in a few of the brightest ones to liven up the kitchen! Happy gardening. Lee
Seriously great haircut!
Thanks!! Business on the sides... party on the top. 😂😂😂🥷🌿 Happy Gardening. Lee
@@Gardenninja - Well- whoever cut it for you did an excellent job.
I’m looking to cut back my cornys and use the branches for weaving. Could I cut a bit earlier than March before the leaves grow?
Hey Grace. Of course! The one or two year old branches lend themselves well to weaving and then lignify and harden over time. Happy weaving! Lee 🥷🤘🌿
Thank you
You’re welcome. Happy gardening! Lee
Nice informative video. 'ta very much.
Smoggie ! Ta very much-ly for the comment! 😜 Happy Gardening. Lee
@@Gardenninja Hello Lee - I have just identified a shrub in my garden (from an old label near the roots) it's a Cornus Kuska 'Milky Way' - from what I can gather this should not be hard pruned in the same way as you show in the video. My question would be then, what sort of pruning (if any) is required? Thanks in advance.
Edit: Not exactly on topic but could you also advise on how I should prune a Catalpa standard (Indian Bean Tree I believe - the grafted crown on a thin trunk/lollipop type) - I bought and planted one for my wife last autumn and it looks like it's dead (but it isn't - I tested the bark and it's green underneath). I have searched the internet but there seems to be very little information... would really appreciate your advice. Thanks... again!
Smoggie ! So with a Cornus kousa you want to prune it ideally in winter when it’s dormant. Don’t hard prune them as they take ages to regro. If you really must prune it in summer just take off anything rubbish and then do a structural prune in winter. Little and often! Same with the bean tree. Just go easy for now and make any major removal during the winter as they can bleed and become stressed if you prune them now when they’re growing. Hope that helps. Lee
@@Gardenninja Thanks very much Lee. I'll follow your advice I think, thing is I've seen some people really butcher the bean trees to the crown and others do nothing - I suppose the middle road is best. Cheers!
If I’m doubt do nowt. Or a little! 😜
Could the cuttings not be scrapped at a couple of the leaf nodes to expose the green underneath and placed in a trench and watered well then leave to try and increase your cornus stock similar to rose propogation? Then move to different parts of the garden if they survive.
Hi Meager. Yes you could try this I’m sure a few would take. Usually with hardwood you make your cuttings in winter and then heel into a small trench where they can take. But if they’re going in the compost bin either way you may as well give it a go. Just make sure you keep them the right way up. One way is to make the cut at the base on an angle. It gives more surface area for roots and then you can tell which way is up! Hope that helps! Happy Gardening. Lee
@@Gardenninja Hi Lee tried putting some of the off cuts in a large pot at the beginning of the year and had success with all of them, I gave them away to family and friends.😉
I desperately want to have it, can I grow it in the large container?
I already have one but I didn’t dare to prune it ( it is in a small container) , can I prune it , I didn’t dare!
Completely amateur in gardening, in love with dogwoods and ferns.
Thanks 🤞💐💐💐💐💐
Hi. Yes of course you can. But it probably won’t be as vigorous as if it was in the ground. They root really well from softwood or hardwood cuttings. So if you know someone with one take a cutting. Follow my guide here. Happy gardening! 🥷🤘🌿 Lee ua-cam.com/video/KRxEh05E5iI/v-deo.html
Hi Lee Burkhill. Exactly what I needed to know. I was thinking of planting a hedge with " Cornus sanguinea Anny's Winter Orange", to create something that'll look like a firewall in winter. How many plants per metre would I need? Thanks in advance.
Hi Libelle. Per meter maybe 2 as they’re fast growing and vigorous. If you stuff em in then you’ll regret it as they get super tangled! Hope that helps. Happy gardening. Lee 🥷🌿
@@Gardenninja That helps me a great deal. Do I need to prune them down to ground level every spring? And I suppose I could the stems to make wreaths with?
Love your channel, btw. I've subscribed. As I am working on a gothic themed garden (not totally doom and gloom) and and the fiery hedge would fit perfectly into that. Your channel is really helpful for me.
@@libelle8124 I paid for one plant and then made hundreds of free cuttings in pots over the years
You made it look effortless! I got me one coz i love them so much, although not sure my garden can handle 10-12' height & spread. Do you think planting in open pot & dropping in ground will keep it smaller? Thanks Garden Ninja!
Very useful video, thanks. My dogwood is dense and covers a large area and is almost 3 metres tall and most of the leaves have now fallen, can I prune back hard right now in November?
I’d wait until spring. You may as well enjoy the stems as they turn one of their fiery colours like orange red or yellow for the winter! Happy pruning! Lee 🥷🌿🤘
@@Gardenninja Thank you Lee.
Hi was told to leave unpruned for 2to 3 years before pruning 2 nd year in and bright red still
Yes. You don’t prune young or juvenile dogwoods but once they get to full height every 2-3 years is sufficient 🥷🌿🤘
Thanks for this video. I have a huge cornus alba Elegantissima (I think) which doesn't look to have been pruned for years and has very thick stems (1-2 inch diameter). Should I bite the bullet and do I hard prune or would a lighter prune over a few years be better....I'd rather not kill the plant ;-) Thanks.
Hi Sarah. I have this species it’s not as vigorous as the other types but can still come back from a hard prune. I’d nip out any crossing or damaged wood now and then next spring give it a further renovation prune! Happy snipping. Lee 🥷🌿
@@Gardenninja Thanks so much Lee - I'm learning loads from your channel!
Thank you for this. Do these varieties need deep soil? I'm wanting to plant some midwinter fire and alba, but I only have planters (they're long, but only about 12" deep). Will this just keep them nice and small, or will they just not thrive?
Hi Rosie. They don’t need huge amounts of soil or nutrients. Pretty much bullet proof shrubs. However they won’t grow as vigorous which might actually work in your favour! Happy planting. Lee 🥷🌿🙌
@@Gardenninja thanks so much, I've just planted them today, so fingers crossed!
Can I still prune young one year old tree for better dense structure? Just the one third of brunch ?
Great video, could you use the offcuts as hardwood cuttings ?
Yes you could do. Cornus roots really easily. Usually though the best time for hardwood cuttings is late winter before the buds burst in spring. Placing them in a trench or a pot of compost then keeping them well watered whilst they take. Good idea for reusing though!! Happy Gardening. Lee
@@Gardenninja so if I wanted to get lots of cuttings, I could cut back the Cornus much earlier, say late January?
Yes basically before it starts to put on new growth. Treat them as a hardwood cutting. Pot the bottom of your cuttings in compost and then water well. Transplant when they start to put on new growth. Just remember which part of the cutting is the bottom. I cut this part horizontally then cut the top of the cutting on an angle. If you plant them the wrong way up they won’t take. Happy gardening. Lee
What month do you prune your dogwood
In winter Mick when it’s dormant usually. But in an emergency prune it back when required. It’s pretty tough and will grow back! 🥷🌿👌
Can pruning happen in early fall?
Can you prune other cornus variaties like elegantissima?
Hi Matt. You can but I’d be more delicate with the variegated ones. They are slower growing and harder to bounce back. Just give it a light prune and take a few stems back to the ground whilst leaving a few as are. Hope that helps. Lee 🥷🌿🤘
@Gardenninja hi Lee thank you for the reply when you say lightly prune shall I cut down by a third or half way
Is it best to do this in march/April time?
Is this the same for any colour dogwood? Mines lime green
Yes! Happy pruning! 🤘🥷🌿
More close-ups needed of how and where to cut, still unsure😟and if I cut in the wrong place will it just die?
Hi Rose Mary. A wrong cut won’t kill it. Pruning actively encourages growth and that’s were most people fall short as they think cutting off parts of plants weakens it. The root system is still in place and ready to help the plant send out new growth. If you’re worried just take out 1/3 if last year or older growth to an inch from the base. If you don’t know how to prune at an angle I have a video on that. Failing that. Just make a horizontal cut across the stem which is better than no cut! Hope that helps and all the best! Lee
how far apart do you space dogwood to form a hedge?
I’d go with 80cm as they do Bush rather vigorously! Happy planting. Lee This guide may help too! 👉🌿 ua-cam.com/video/1TNhzMjco2c/v-deo.html
Would you recommend this procedure if transplanting a medium size specimen, out of what appears a wild mass of cornus shrubs? The stems have some colour and I am wondering if I can dig out some, to plant on...
If transplanting I’d only upto half of the shrub back. You need some leaf to help it sustain itself as it re-roots. Ideally move it now before summer and make sure you well water it before and after the move. I water larger shrubs the day before the move. This sets them up for a less stressful move. All the best. Lee
@@Gardenninja Thanks a lot for your advice! Take care!
Hello! Do you need to prune the dogwood yearly? Even if the branches still have that colour you're after?
Hi Adela. I would only recommend pruning them every couple of years. If not you put them under mega stress. Alternatively just nip out a few of the oldest stems back to the base. The good old 50/50 approach! Hope that helps and happy gardening. Lee
@@Gardenninja That's really helpful! Thank you and happy gardening to you as well!
Will this tree live in water inside the house?
You can take cuttings which will root in water. The tree itself needs to be outside as it’s deciduous. Central heating will confuse it and it will probably act sporadically and look a bit lack lustre. 🥷🌿🤘
Couldn't you use the branches you cut from your bush for cuttings?
Hi Ramiro. Yes you could use them as hardwood cuttings to propagate your Cornus! I’ll be filming a guide on that soon! Happy gardening. Lee 🥷🌿🤘
Perfect, I tried once and didn't work out to well.
Is this plant Deer Resistance?
Hi T, I believe they are in my experience. Though when push comes to shove deer will nibble most plants sadly! Happy deer proofing! Lee 🥷🌿
Did as the video to my two dogwood ....oh dear left with two stumps with no new growth ...whatca shame they were beautiful
Hi Ian, That's strange they are so vigorous I've never heard of any one killing ir stumping a cornus. It wasn't Cornus elegantissima was it? Thats a very specific variegates version which doesn't respond well to hard pruning. Just a thought. Lee
@Garden Ninja: Lee Burkhill Hi Lee thank you for you comment most unexpected. Not a clue what type it is. Just retired and trying to upgrade my garden. Have lots of issues with wind and dry soil as on top of a hill in Durham. My aim is to have it as wildlife friendly as possible and of course manageable. Love your videos would be better if you lived next door. Learning all the time. Some success but lots of expensive failures. Keep up the good work. If ever your up here give me a nudge for cuppa. Take Care.
Thanks Ian. You maybe surprised that the dogwood does come back. I’ve hard pruned hundreds without fail. Keep going and if you have dry exposed soil. Try and choose plants that like or tolerate this conditions. Native plants are always best and maybe look at coastal plants for those conditions. Happy gardening! 🥷🌿🤘
Yippee....it is coming back....now for my apple tree, pear tree and plum tree pruning...gulp...thanks for all your advice. Take Care!
@ianwilkinson3315 fantastic news! I knew it would! 😉🥷🌿 Have faith Ninja!!
œ