The dogwood tree in fall, with its shiny charm, will perfect the natural scenery in your garden. This plant type is one of the most familiar tree species in yards or gardens.
It is famous for its attractiveness during four seasons. Yet, dogwood trees have their own unique beauty for each season.
If they become gorgeous with the fascinating pink and white flowers blooming in the spring, they are alive and brilliant in the fall.
Let’s dive right into this article to explore the attractive beauty of dogwood trees in autumn.
What Is Dogwood Tree?
Dogwoods are small broad-leaved shrubs that usually grow in hedgerows and woodland edges in southern England. The mature dogwood may reach 10 m in height.
The bark is gray and smooth, developing flat ridges with age, and the branches are slim, straight, and smooth. The leaf buds look like bristles with black color.
The fresh green oval leaves can be 6 cm long with characteristic wavy veins and smooth sides. It fades to a deep crimson color before shedding in autumn.
Dogwoods are hermaphrodites with female and male reproductive organs in the same flower. The small flowers, including 4 creamy white petals, bloom in clusters.
After being pollinated by insects, these flowers will become small black berries, known as “dogberries.”
Dogwood Tree In Fall: What Should You Know About It?
The flowering dogwood fall gives your garden a showy beauty with gorgeous red leaves and glorious berries.
When the tree receives enough sunlight, it will soon dry its branches and leaves for the best color in the autumn.
It’s amazing for its foliage to turn red, deep enough to shame the charming roses.
What Color Is a Dogwood Tree In the Fall?
The dogwood fall color is red with its striking foliage. Thus, it introduces a magnificent beauty to the natural views around your yards and gardens.
Whatever period you see this tree in the year, you will feel impressed by it.
Does A Fall Dogwood Tree Lose Its Leaves?
No, it doesn’t. The dogwood tree leaves in fall will turn into deep crimson-purple or red. Yet, they are not shedding in the autumn. Like all other trees, the dogwood leaves will fall in the winter.
Does A Dogwood Tree Fall Bloom?
Yes, it does. The young red dogwood tree occasionally blooms in the fall or even in the late summer days when it gets confused by the length of the days.
Autumn flowering is not a threat or serious issue to the young dogwoods. But, it may result in fewer flowers blooming next spring. You can refer to some early spring white flower trees as alternatives.
The reason for flowering at dogwood trees in fall is an immature hormone problem.
Hormones interpret sunlight as a signal to bloom, and those that are not fully developed might misunderstand the sunlight signal.
How To Care For Dogwoods In Fall?
Growing & Pruning
Growing
The time most suitable for planting a dogwood tree is spring or late fall before it starts to bloom or bud. This is because it goes dormant in late fall.
Note that newly-planted dogwood needs sufficient water and proper nourishment. Therefore, if planting in the fall, you must provide it with plenty of water.
Besides, early fall and spring are the perfect times to transport your dogwood tree to avoid putting more stress on it if you tend to do this. Pruning
Most trees should be pruned regardless of the tree type. Yet, for dogwood trees, you should prune them in late winter or fall. This time is the best time to prune these flowering trees.
This is because these trees will hibernate during the fall or winter. You may prune them for about 6 weeks to give the trees the best care before their leaves fall.
Also, don’t forget to prune the stem shoots in the fall season. Keep in mind that dogwood trees can bleed sap if they are pruned in late winter.
For this reason, it is ideal for pruning before the spring begins.
Watering & Fertilization
Watering
Watering is one of the important steps in the caring process for dogwood trees.
Apart from the good sunlight, this tree type requires enough water for its abundant growth with the alive leaves and showy flowers.
Remember to water your dogwood even if it’s not too hot with high temperatures outside. Also, note that the dogwood tree needs water all year round.
You don’t need to put too much water on the tree in spring or fall, though.
In the fall, watering once a week or more will be sufficient for the completely submerged roots and better growth.
Fertilizing
The late winter is the golden time to fertilize your dogwood towards the finish of the dormancy period. Not all dogwoods need fertilizer.
However, you must fertilize your dogwood if it has common symptoms, such as short branches and sparse or pale leaves.
Begin fertilization using 2 pounds per inch of diameter. Note to avoid tree trunks when applying fertilizer to the soil. The best fertilizers for dogwood trees are 16-4-8 or 12-4-8.
Checking & Treating For Diseases
Winter and autumn are the right times to double-check for diseases to treat and protect your dogwood.
You need to update the useful information about the common diseases of the dogwood trees.
For instance, a popular dogwood tree disease type is anthracnose. This disease will lead to stem cankers, leaf spots, and dead shoots.
Yet, it’s hard to realize through a few signs at first on the tree’s leaves, as the spots are unnoticeable just like tiny spots on pepper leaves.
One clear sign you can be aware of this disease is that leaves on tree blighted will keep clinging to the stems after they drop in the fall.
Thus, treat and care for your dogwood immediately if it gets the symptoms of diseases.
FAQs
What Are The Best Locations to Plant the Dogwood?
You should plant your dogwood in a well-drained, not-too-dry location. The site with soil rich in organic matter is ideal for growing dogwood.
You can plant it in partial or full shade, but it does best in partial shade with full morning sun.
What Are Mature Dogwood Height & Growth Rate?
The height of a mature dogwood can range from 15-20 feet for flowering dogwood trees in the sun and 40 feet for blooming dogwood trees in the shade. Their spread can be larger than their height.
Regarding growth rate, dogwood grows moderately and slowly, about 20 feet within 25 years.
What Else Should You Know About Flowering Dogwood In Fall?
The white flowering dogwood’s bracts are conspicuous, but the cluster of small yellowish blooms in the center is not.
Enjoy the flowering dogwood’s autumn leaf colors and the red berries in spring. Flowering dogwoods begin to change color in early autumn.
Conclusion
We’ve covered everything you need to learn about the dogwood tree in fall, which has a gorgeous beauty with red leaves.
This tree type can make your garden more stunning in four seasons with its unique features, from the pink-white flowers to the gorgeous leaves.
Properly caring for your dogwood tree for each season change, including planting, watering, fertilizing, and examining and treating diseases for the best growth, is necessary.
