Variegated Red Twig Dogwood Growth Rate, Pruning, Care, Diseases

The variegated red-twig dogwood, also known as Cornus alba "Elegantissima," is a type of deciduous shrub that may reach heights of up to 8 feet in height and spreads out to a width of between 4 to 6 feet. The plant sheds its leaves in the fall, revealing flaming red stems that stand erect and give a great deal of visual appeal to the garden during the winter months. 

Due to its susceptibility to many pathogens and pests, variegated red twig dogwood requires more attention than other varieties. The variegated red-twig dogwood can be planted in zones 2 through 8.

The backbone of every garden is composed of easy-to-grow shrubs that are also appealing, and the Variegated Red Twig Dogwood unquestionably matches the criteria of such a shrub. This hardy and dependable shrub doesn't ask for much but provides a lot in return. You can plant it anywhere, individually or in groups, or you can use it to create a slatted screening or loose property lines. 

Growth Rate

Dogwood shrubs are often planted in the fall or the first few weeks of spring as ball-and-burlap specimens or nursery-grown container plants. Red twig dogwoods are among the faster-growing varieties of dogwoods, despite the fact that many dogwoods have very moderate growth rates. Each year, you may anticipate the plants to grow by at least 2 feet.

Pruning

• Clean and disinfect your cutting instruments before you get started, and don't forget to do it again in between each cut you make.
• Determining the appropriate time to prune red twig dogwood is the initial step in doing effective pruning.
• Remove one-third of the tree's oldest branches completely down to the ground either at the end of the fall season, in the middle of winter, or very early in the spring.
• Typically, the thickest and longest branches of a shrub are the oldest ones. Additionally, they may be darker than the other branches of the plant.
• Any branches that are rubbing against the ground should be cut off.
• Dogwood shrubs don't typically need to be trimmed during the summer.
• It's important to take the time to get rid of any diseased or dead plant parts while cutting dogwood bushes in the spring or fall.
• Consider cutting all of the branches to the ground in the early spring once every two to three years as an alternative to completing annual pruning.
• Regardless of the strategy you choose, routine pruning will renew the dogwood's general structure and promote the spread of new branches.

Care

The second most crucial aspect of caring for your red twig dogwood, after trimming, is making sure your plants never experience summer drought.

It's crucial to give your plants the same continuous moisture they would get in the wild by watering them whenever they appear to need it during the summer. One of the benefits of using a lot of garden compost is that it retains moisture during planting.

You might need to water once a week if summer rainfall is scarce where you live. In the majority of regions, irrigation less frequently and only during dry spells is sufficient. Even if they go without water for a week, your dogwood will not perish. Instead, they will grow weaker and more brittle. Mulching is an additional strategy for keeping the roots moist. Use garden compost or colored bark that has been chipped or shredded.

Diseases

The larva (also known as Synanthedon scitula) of a tiny moth that feeds on the bark of dogwood trees is known as the dogwood borer. It enters through openings or fissures and feeds on the cambium. During the process, the twigs and branches of the dogwood will perish, and in certain cases, the entire tree will perish. Foliage that turns red and falls off the plant is one of the telltale signs of an infestation. The bark that surrounds the entry points begins to peel away, and one may occasionally observe a sawdust-like residue on the ground directly below the entry hole.