Can You Plant Cherokee Chief Dogwoods Near Water Lines?

Dogwood Water Needs

• Unlike large, water-greedy trees like maples, willows and poplars, the petite dogwood occurs naturally as an understory tree, with a shallow, fibrous root system and slow rate of growth. These traits make it unlikely that a dogwood will seek out or penetrate a buried water or sewer line, as the roots simply are not terribly bulky or aggressive. Dogwoods do like ample watering in the first year after planting to help the roots become established, at least 1 inch or more per week and even more during the hottest parts of summer. Although they are somewhat drought tolerant once established, dogwoods grown in full sun in the southern parts of the country will need more water to prevent stress.

Planting Requirements

• Although they like a generous weekly drink when young, established dogwoods resent standing water, so a broken or leaking water line nearby combined with heavy, poorly drained soils may drown the roots and cause stress or decline of the tree. In areas with naturally thick, clay-based soils, the area where a dogwood is to be planted should be amended with compost or rotted manure, as well as sand or finely shredded tree bark in order to improve drainage. Afternoon shade is acceptable for trees in Southern climates, but too much shade will cause a dogwood to grow taller with a thinner canopy and have fewer flowers than one located in full sun.

Drain Fields and Sewer Lines

• “Cherokee Chief” and other dogwood cultivars are acceptable choices for planting near sewer lines as well as on or near septic drain fields. If possible, the locations of the septic field’s drainage channels should be marked out in order to locate the tree between them, although the gardener should still exercise care not to damage or disrupt the septic drainpipe system when installing the new dogwood tree in the drainage field. Most septic pipes and sewer pipes are located 6 inches or more below the surface of the ground. Dogwood should be planted either right at the same soil level as it was growing in its nursery container or even slightly above, since it responds negatively to being planted too deeply.

Cherokee Chief Characteristics

• “Cherokee Chief” is renowned for its so-called ruby red flowers, which in reality are the deepest pink possible without being truly red. It is one of the most popular pink-flowered cultivars in the trade. Like other dogwoods, the tree’s eye-popping flower display occurs early in spring, before the tree leafs out, usually between April and May. It can be grown across a wide portion of the country, being winter hardy from U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 through 9. New leaf and twig growth is tinged with red, and bright red berries in late summer and autumn attract birds. “Cherokee Chief” also has deep burgundy red leaves in fall, making it an outstanding all-season tree. It can grow from between 15 to 30 feet tall and wide.