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Dogwoods

JoeXJoeX Posts: 1,783
in Garden design
Hi all,

Ive been wanting to get dogwoods in the garden since I heard about them in Gw last year.  I finally bought one three weeks ago, then another two. But I just can’t decide what to do with them.

Originally I imagined a huge display mid-garden that could be seen from the kitchen - but reality has sunk in. Even with more, they would be rarely seen from within the house.

I have one in a planter and two still in the pots they came in.

so, 3 planters?

Distributed around the place or bunched together?

Or two together in the same container?

How large a container do they need anyway?

At the front of the house it seems to just disappear with the red brick behind it. But up close it looks good with the rudbeckia.



The other two are just getting sun for now:



Im thinking maybe move all three to the sheltered ‘courtyard’ outside the patio doors so they can be seen more frequently, and encourage people outside.

Yours confusedly,

TP
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Posts

  • chickychicky Posts: 10,410
    All the best pictures of them have them backlit by the sun to bring out the true colours of their stems ....have you got anywhere like that?  I also think they would rather be in the ground than pots .....but that doesn’t stop you from keeping them in pots this winter so you can experiment with how they look in multiple places 😀. Leave them in each option for about a week to really decide how they fit in there.  Good luck 😉 
  • chickychicky Posts: 10,410
    If you “google images” Wisley dogwoods in winter, you should get lots of ideas 😍. Most of the pics are copyrighted, so I can’t put them on here to show you
  • lovegardening77lovegardening77 Posts: 332
    I agree with Chicky. Move them around still in their pots until you have decided where you want them. My dogwood is 6ft tall and takes up about a metre across.
  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,546
    edited September 2018
    The stems show up well against green grass and when the sun strikes them and they like it damp. If you can provide the moisture they will grow much taller, so catch the light more. The newest growth is brightest, but the little new twigs look good against the darker red of older stems too. If allowed to they will also sucker or layer themselves, so you could get your huge display for no more expense! I have even had twigs used in Christmal floral displays grow roots over the festive season!
    The great thing about them is that you can cut them back to the ground whenever they outgrow their space and they will always regrow. (Perhaps not Midwinterfire which is the only one to ever be miffy here!)
    I hope one of yours is C. elegantissima, the variegated one, it is great for bringing light to a dark corner.
  • JoeXJoeX Posts: 1,783
    chicky said:
    All the best pictures of them have them backlit by the sun to bring out the true colours of their stems ....have you got anywhere like that?  I also think they would rather be in the ground than pots .....but that doesn’t stop you from keeping them in pots this winter so you can experiment with how they look in multiple places 😀. Leave them in each option for about a week to really decide how they fit in there.  Good luck 😉 
    Thanks @chicky to be backlit by sun, in the courtyard is probably best then at least for winter. Get the view in the morning whilst having breakfast inside.
  • JoeXJoeX Posts: 1,783
    lovegardening77 said:
    I agree with Chicky. Move them around still in their pots until you have decided where you want them. My dogwood is 6ft tall and takes up about a metre across.
    Hmm probably a good idea. Just wondering if they need more space now to extend roots.

    Are the pots they cane in big enough for winter?

    I could just shift them up one pot size easily.
  • chickychicky Posts: 10,410
    Don’t think they’ll be putting on too much more root growth now - I wouldn’t repot til next spring (or get them in the ground then).
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    If dogwoods like your conditions, they will grow big and fast, so do make sure you allow them plenty of room to spread. They are not really suited to pots in the longer term. The stems are gorgeous though with winter sun shining through.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • Mary370Mary370 Posts: 2,003
    The people in the house to the back of us cut all their beautiful red stemmed dogwoods yesterday!!  
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    Oh dear, how silly is that! They’ve lost the red winter stalks now, do you know why they did that Mary?
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

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