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Dogwood Hedging Plants Guide

Dogwood Hedging Plants Guide

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Our Ultimate Guide To Dogwood Hedge Plants

If you're looking for an eye-catching, intensely coloured garden hedge, then we recommend investing in Dogwood. Often referred to Cornus, Dogwood is recognised for its vivid colours and fiery shades that can bring your garden to life and embellishing its presence within a green space. Dogwood received the prestigious Award of Garden Merit by the RHS for its dazzling appearance. It's often showcased in show-gardens, garden designs, parks, watersides and paths, and used for its ornamental value and ability to create a vibrant atmosphere. It's no wonder the Dogwood hedge plant is a popular choice to have in the garden!

Dogwood Characteristics

Dogwood Characteristics

Dogwood is suitable for all-year-round and showcases various attributes that bring added interest to a garden throughout the year. During the spring months, Cornus boasts stunning flat heads of creamy white flowers, followed by clusters of blue/ white berries. As the months move into autumn, the smooth oval green leaves sit opposite each other along the stems, offering an amazing autumnal appeal as they turn a crisp, crimson colour. Cornus is a deciduous plant, so the rusted leaves will fall when the winter weather sets in, allowing the decorative bark to take centre stage as the flashy colours are exaggerated. The branches are stripped of their leaves, allowing the Dogwood structure to reveal its beauty fully.

The attractive barks demonstrate an important value for gardeners. During the winter months, gardens can often look dull and uninviting, which is why Dogwood is a favourable hedge plant; it brightens up the garden, until fresh foliage and spring flowers emerge.

Dogwood also attracts an abundance of wildlife such as bees and butterflies in spring and a variety of local birds who are unable to resist the autumn berries. It's the thick solid framework which the intricate stems and branches create, forms a sheltered nesting site for birds and a protected habitat for small animals.

Dogwood Planting

Dogwood Planting

Planting a single variety of Dogwood will produce a fantastic looking feature. For a more exhilarating appearance, we recommend planting a combination of the coloured varieties we supply to create a unique, contrasting hedge. Hedges Direct stocks a range Dogwood plants, so you can access a selection of captivating colours. Choose from the autumnal dark maroon shade of Cornus alba 'Sibirica', the striking red of Cornus alba, the alluring orange of Cornus sanguinea or the enchanting yellow of Cornus stolonifera.

Dogwood plants also make a great addition to a native hedgerow bringing added visual interest in the form of different shapes, textures and colour. You can also plant this species in front of large, evergreen hedges as the taller backdrops embellish the eye-catching stem colours. Brighter colours are emitted by new growth.

Dogwood Pruning and Aftercare

To get the best from your Dogwood and to gain the distinctive colours this plant is famous for, pruning is essential. Dogwood is as tough as it looks and will thrive after a harsh cutback. In spring, before the buds appear, remove almost a third of the stem. It has a quick growth rate with an annual reach of 40-60cm, so don't worry about removing too much, it will grow back. We recommend cutting them back to about 5-10cm above ground level, as this will produce more radiant bark in winter.

Dogwood is a resilient plant, which will thrive in most normal soils and grows exceptionally well in rich, lightly damp sites. For Dogwood to parade its colours more vigorously, plant in positions fully exposed to the sun. However, there's no need to be afraid of planting in the shade as it poses no threat to successful and healthy growth. Dogwood will thrive in screened areas, making it the perfect plant to bring life and colour to the darker parts of your garden.

Colourful Alternatives to Dogwood

It's clear to see that Dogwood plant's primary significance in a garden is for its aesthetic appearance provided by its enchanting colours. If Dogwood isn't quite what you are looking for, we have a great selection of colourful alternatives including a variety of both evergreen and deciduous species.

For more information about Dogwood, contact Hedges Direct's expert team today on 01257 263873 or email us at [email protected]

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