Question
QUESTION: i planted a pink flowering dogwood about 3 or 4 months ago when i first got it it had beautiful blooms and green healthy leaves. about 1 week after planting it all the blooms and leaves fell off and have not come back since. we have watered it everyday. our friend told us that it was just shocked but after 3 months i dont think that is the problem. PLEASE HELP!!!

ANSWER: Sounds like it maybe dead. Start near the end of a upper outer branch and scrape a small bit of bark off and if the color under the bark is green the branch is still alive at this point on the branch. If the color is brown then the branch is dead at this point on the branch-If brown is found under the bark,continue down the branch scraping at intervals until you find green or reach the trunk. try other branches until you find green If none is found the tree is dead. You might contact the nursery for a refund. What caused the death can not be determined from the description you gave--could be improper planting, too much water, too little water, planted too deep or the tree was dead when it was planted.

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QUESTION: Thank you for your response. If i do find green why is it not growing and blooming? I didn't know if our climate had anything to do with it. We live in Alabama it is rather hot since it is summer time around 90 to 100 degrees. If I have to get another one what can I do to make sure this doesn't happen again?

Answer
If you do find green on the ends of the branches I would cut back the watering to once a week and water with 1 inch of water-place a pan under the tree and turn the sprinkler on and when the pan has 1 inch in it stop. If you find some green I would do the same thing cut back on the watering. You can prune the dead off now or wait until it does leaf out again and then prune the dead. BUT I think you will find the tree is dead.
Next Spring say Feb. before the trees leaf out plant a new one. Buy it from a local tree nursery not the local Walmart/Home Depot that way you are insured that the tree is alive and in good shape when you buy it. Dig the hole twice the size of the rootball and as deep and fill with good top soil. Remove the burlap and wire from the rootball before you plant. Plant the top of the rootball even with the ground surface to keep from planting too deep. Mulch around the tree with not more than 3 inches deep of organic mulch not piled up on the trunk. Water this new tree every fourth day with the 1 inch of water for the first month and then go to the once a week. Dogwoods do best in  semi shade. They are a under story tree in the natural forest.

If you are still unsure contact your local Alabama Cooperatuve Extension office and they can give you advice on buying a good tree.