Dogwood Maintenance: Pruning, Fertilizing, and Disease Control Guide

Pruning

• Dead branches: any time.
• Live branches: dormant season (fall–spring).
• Cut ¼ inch from trunk (preserves branch collar). For large limbs, first cut 1 ft out, then final cut at collar.
• No wound paint—it slows healing.

Fertilizing

10-10-10 at 1 lb per inch of trunk diameter, scattered around drip line, watered in. Apply before rain to skip watering. Fall and spring applications.

Disease Control (Anthracnose)

If leaf diseases occur, spray fungicide at bud break, then every 10 days until leaves mature. Registered products:

• Commercial: Banner, Cleary’s 3336, Daconil 2787, Fore, Zyban.
• Homeowner: Broad Spectrum Mancozeb, Ortho Multi-Purpose Fungicide, Cooke Daconil, Blackleaf Lawn & Garden Fungicide, Microcop.

Late-season sprays protect next year’s buds if wet weather persists.