Dogwood blooms in early spring, looks against the background of other, still unblown shrubs and trees, very impressive. It is for this feature that culture is often cultivated as a decorative one. And in some gardens this is what happens; after flowering, the berries are not tied. However, this is not a peculiarity of dogwood, but errors of planting or leaving.
When dogwood blooms
Dogwood common blooms before other fruit crops. As soon as wintering bows broke out of the ground, the currant and gooseberry buds began to blossom, the trees were still bare, gardeners were delighted with the lush inflorescences of dogwood. Flowers appear before leaves and show off at the beginning of their blooming.
Video: dogwood from budding to harvest
The favorable temperature for flowering is 8-12 ° C, in each region it is set in due time. So, the average daily temperature of +10 ° C in the Krasnodar Territory is observed in March, and in the Rostov Region in early April. In central Russia, cornel blooms in mid-late April, and in the northern regions and Siberia in late April - early May. Flowering lasts from one week to three, depending on the variety, almost always falls under return frosts. However, certain species bloom in summer and repeatedly in autumn, for example, White Dogwood.
Large flower buds are laid in August, in spring the flowers tolerate frosts down to -7 ° C
How dogwood blooms
From one flower bud, up to 25 buds appear, which form umbrella inflorescences with a diameter of 5-7 cm. The flowers are bisexual, small, each consisting of a pestle and stamens, surrounded by four petals. The dogwood has yellow flowers, but varieties with white, cream, pink and even two-color petals are also bred.
The second name of Dogwood ordinary is Dören male.
Photo Gallery: flowering dogwood
- Dogwood flowers are yellow in color
- Dogwood Florida with pale pink flowers
- White Dogwood has not only flowers, but also white fruits
- Canadian Dogwood flowers solitary, white-green
Is it possible to transplant dogwood during flowering
Even at the age of 7-15 years, dogwood easily tolerates transplantation and quickly restores fruiting. But first, the plant is made anti-aging pruning in order to balance the volume of the aerial parts and roots. Good survival is due to the surface location of the roots, they are easy to dig out without damaging. Despite this, the best time for transplantation is autumn, a month before frosts, and a short period in spring, before buds open. However, if there was an urgent need to transplant a flowering dogwood, then dig and transfer the plant with a lump of earth.
Dogwood seedlings with a closed root system take root faster and grow
The main part of the cornel roots is located in the upper 40 cm, so the plant needs to be regularly watered in the summer and cover the trunk circle with mulch for the winter.
Dogwood seedlings obtained by vegetative propagation (root offspring, layering, grafting), bloom in the second year, so they often go on sale with blooming buds. Usually there are only a few of them. For better survival before planting, it is recommended to remove them.
Video: features of planting and growing dogwood
Why dogwood blooms but does not bear fruit
It happens that after abundant flowering on the dogwood berries are not tied. There are several reasons for this:
- There is no cross-pollination: flowers, although bisexual, but pollination occurs between several bushes. On the site, it is desirable to have dogwood of different varieties.
- Unsuitable soil: clay, airtight, deficient in phosphorus and potassium.
- Insufficient watering: dogwood roots are not able to extract moisture from the depths. In the absence of rain, it is necessary to water once a week, otherwise the plant will not have enough moisture to fill the fruit, the flowers will crumble.
- Heavy rains during flowering wash away pollen, in addition, pollinating insects do not fly in such weather.
- Return frosts: in some years, spring frosts exceed the threshold of frost resistance. Dogwood continues to bloom, but the pistils and stamens are damaged, the ovaries do not form. So you can explain the situation when last year the dogwood blossomed and fructified, and in this there is not a single berry or there are few of them.
- Unscrupulous seller: in response to increasing demand, some merchants sell unvaccinated seedlings, that is, wild dogwood forms. The unvaccinated plant has a smooth bark, without scars and thickenings. The vaccine is usually located at the bottom of the trunk, often the color of the bark in this place is a different shade. Another difference is that wild dogwood blooms very abundantly, and on cultivated plants the buds are several times smaller and larger.
Young dogwood brings up to 10 kg of berries, and at the age of 15 years - up to 30 kg
Dogwood is a long-liver, grows and bears fruit up to 250 years. Seedlings grown from seeds, bring the first berries only for 8-10 years.
In order for your dogwood not only to bloom, but also to bear fruit, buy several grafted seedlings of different varieties and always from a trusted seller. Prepare loose and fertile soil for planting, and then provide sufficient watering. Protect against strong return frosts by smoke or sprinkling. Even young and low bushes can be completely wrapped in covering material.
The type and timing of flowering of dogwood depends on its variety. However, this fruit culture attracts with its decorative effect at any time of the year. After a long and luxurious flowering, the branches are covered with bright berries, and in autumn and winter - with large beads of flower buds.
