Red Twig Dogwood Plant Tips

Soil Moisture

• The soil type in which you place red twig dogwood matters little, as long as it is damp. In a wild setting, red twig dogwood grows in colonies along the banks of rivers and streams throughout its range. Dry soils prevent its development, so you can locate red twig dogwood in swampy and boggy portions of your property. This is among the first species to grow in floodplains, so you can put it in spots that experience seasonal flooding.

Heat and Sunlight

• Hot and humid conditions are not conducive to the growth of red twig dogwood. If you live in cooler U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones such as 3 and 4, you can place it in full sunshine scenarios. The shrub grows into USDA zone 7, but hot summers cause it stress and make it more susceptible to plant disease like cankers that can kill the shrub. The red twig dogwood will grow in a partly shady site in the warmer sections of its distribution.

Pruning

• Beginning in late summer and continuing into early autumn, red twig dogwood stems change from greenish to shades of red-purple. By winter, they morph to a bright red, making them contrast with snowy landscapes. The younger stems feature the most vibrant red color, so pruning back the oldest stems early in spring will force new growth. Some landscapers opt to cut the entire shrub to the ground as low as 8 inches from the surface every two or three years.

Erosion Prevention

• The root system of the red twig dogwood throws out new growth, known as suckering, making this species capable of forming dense thickets. This habit comes in handy for the property owner looking to prevent soil erosion in damp areas, as the spreading roots hold the soil together. If you desire to curtail the growth of new shoots, clip back any new plants that start to grow from the roots.