Dogwood

Dogwood (lat. Cornus) is a genus of herbaceous plants, shrubs and trees of the Dogwood family. The genus has about 50 species, according to other sources — 24 species.

In nature, dogwoods grow in Europe, North America, India, Japan and China. Almost all types are highly decorative. On the territory of Russia, the species cultivated are capitate dogwood (lat. Cornus capitata) and common dogwood (lat. Cornus mas), although other species decorate many parks and gardens with their bright flowers, and subsequently fruits.

Characteristics of culture

Dogwood is a shrub or tree up to 8 m high with a spreading crown and a fibrous root system located at a shallow depth. Young shoots are greenish-yellow, old shoots are grayish with cracking bark. The leaves are rich green, opposite or alternate, oval, from 3. 5 to 8 cm long, pubescent on the lower side, smooth and shiny on the upper side. The flowers are golden yellow, pinkish, pinkish-purple or white (depending on the species and variety).

The fruits are oblong-oval, pear-shaped or spherical drupes, most often red, less often pink or black, containing one or two seeds. Fruits may have a smooth, slightly bumpy or bumpy surface. The fruits ripen in August-September. Dogwoods are characterized by increased resistance to pests and diseases, they are relatively drought-resistant and very decorative both in spring and autumn.

Growing conditions

Dogwood is not demanding on growing conditions; it can develop normally both in partial shade and in open sunny areas. But deep shade can negatively affect flowering and, accordingly, the formation of fruits.

The preferred soil for growing dogwood is light, sandy loam or loamy, neutral or slightly acidic. Plants can also be grown on strongly acidic soils, but with preliminary liming. Cotoneaster does not accept poor, heavy clayey, waterlogged and swampy soils. Otherwise, the culture is not whimsical.

Reproduction and planting

Dogwoods are propagated by seeds, layering, cuttings and grafting. The seed method is used for breeding purposes, since seeds germinate very slowly, and plants grown in this way begin to bear fruit only in the 7-10th year. It is better to collect seeds from green fruits, since the seed embryo is formed long before the fruit reaches full ripeness; subsequently, the seed shell only thickens. The seeds are sown immediately in a permanent place in July-August.

After sowing, keep the soil thoroughly and regularly moistened; do not allow it to dry out. Dogwood seedlings emerge the following spring. Seed germination is 70-80%. When using seeds from ripened fruits, in addition to stratification, scarification is necessary. This involves filing the seeds with sandpaper or soaking them for five hours in 3-5% sulfuric acid. However, this method is very dangerous, especially for beginners, as it can accidentally damage the embryo.

Among vegetative propagation methods, layering is the most effective. The lower two-year-old shoots of the mother plant are bent to the ground, pinned down, and covered with soil. To speed up the rooting process, it is advisable to slightly incise the bark on the shoots and treat them with growth stimulants. Layers usually root within a year, after which they are separated and planted in their permanent location. Propagating dogwoods by cuttings is also possible, but good results aren”t always achieved. Cuttings are taken in June-July, then soaked in growth stimulants, such as heteroauxin, and planted in a semi-shaded location in loose soil. For the winter, the not-yet-fully-rooted cuttings are covered for insulation, and the following spring, they are transplanted to a permanent location or left in their current location.

Care

The abundance of flowering and yield depends not only on the age of the shrub or tree but also on its overall condition, or more specifically, its care and growing conditions. Dogwood care is simple: it involves regular watering, weeding, and fertilizing.

In early spring, nitrogen-phosphorus fertilizers are applied, and in early August, potassium fertilizers are added. Dogwoods respond well to liming, so applying lime is recommended. Avoid deep soil cultivation around the trunk; loosening to a depth of 5-6 cm is ideal, otherwise the root system may be damaged.

Why should everyone eat dogwood? The benefits and harms of dogwood for humans.

After sowing, the soil should be thoroughly and regularly moistened; do not allow it to dry out. Dogwood seedlings emerge the following spring. The germination rate is 70-80%. When using seeds from ripened fruits, in addition to stratification, scarification is necessary, which involves filing the seeds with sandpaper or soaking them for five hours in 3-5% sulfuric acid. However, this method is very dangerous, especially for beginners, as it can accidentally damage the embryo.

Dogwood (lat. Cornus) is a genus of herbaceous plants, shrubs and trees of the Dogwood family. The genus has about 50 species, according to other sources — 24 species.

In nature, dogwoods grow in Europe, North America, India, Japan and China. Almost all types are highly decorative. On the territory of Russia, the species cultivated are capitate dogwood (lat. Cornus capitata) and common dogwood (lat. Cornus mas), although other species decorate many parks and gardens with their bright flowers, and subsequently fruits.

Characteristics of culture

Dogwood is a shrub or tree up to 8 m high with a spreading crown and a fibrous root system located at a shallow depth. Young shoots are greenish-yellow, old shoots are grayish with cracking bark. The leaves are rich green, opposite or alternate, oval, from 3. 5 to 8 cm long, pubescent on the lower side, smooth and shiny on the upper side. The flowers are golden yellow, pinkish, pinkish-purple or white (depending on the species and variety).

The fruits are oblong-oval, pear-shaped or spherical drupes, most often red, less often pink or black, containing one or two seeds. Fruits may have a smooth, slightly bumpy or bumpy surface. The fruits ripen in August-September. Dogwoods are characterized by increased resistance to pests and diseases, they are relatively drought-resistant and very decorative both in spring and autumn.

Growing conditions

Dogwood is not demanding on growing conditions; it can develop normally both in partial shade and in open sunny areas. But deep shade can negatively affect flowering and, accordingly, the formation of fruits.

The preferred soil for growing dogwood is light, sandy loam or loamy, neutral or slightly acidic. Plants can also be grown on strongly acidic soils, but with preliminary liming. Cotoneaster does not accept poor, heavy clayey, waterlogged and swampy soils. Otherwise, the culture is not whimsical.

Reproduction and planting

Dogwoods are propagated by seeds, layering, cuttings and grafting. The seed method is used for breeding purposes, since seeds germinate very slowly, and plants grown in this way begin to bear fruit only in the 7-10th year. It is better to collect seeds from green fruits, since the seed embryo is formed long before the fruit reaches full ripeness; subsequently, the seed shell only thickens. The seeds are sown immediately in a permanent place in July-August.

After sowing, keep the soil thoroughly and regularly moistened; do not allow it to dry out. Dogwood seedlings emerge the following spring. Seed germination is 70-80%. When using seeds from ripened fruits, in addition to stratification, scarification is necessary. This involves filing the seeds with sandpaper or soaking them for five hours in 3-5% sulfuric acid. However, this method is very dangerous, especially for beginners, as it can accidentally damage the embryo.

Among vegetative propagation methods, layering is the most effective. The lower two-year-old shoots of the mother plant are bent to the ground, pinned down, and covered with soil. To speed up the rooting process, it is advisable to slightly incise the bark on the shoots and treat them with growth stimulants. Layers usually root within a year, after which they are separated and planted in their permanent location. Propagating dogwoods by cuttings is also possible, but good results aren”t always achieved. Cuttings are taken in June-July, then soaked in growth stimulants, such as heteroauxin, and planted in a semi-shaded location in loose soil. For the winter, the not-yet-fully-rooted cuttings are covered for insulation, and the following spring, they are transplanted to a permanent location or left in their current location.

Care

The abundance of flowering and yield depends not only on the age of the shrub or tree but also on its overall condition, or more specifically, its care and growing conditions. Dogwood care is simple: it involves regular watering, weeding, and fertilizing.

In early spring, nitrogen-phosphorus fertilizers are applied, and in early August, potassium fertilizers are added. Dogwoods respond well to liming, so applying lime is recommended. Avoid deep soil cultivation around the trunk; loosening to a depth of 5-6 cm is ideal, otherwise the root system may be damaged.

Why should everyone eat dogwood? The benefits and harms of dogwood for humans.