Dogwood Bushes

[lawman]

I have some pretty nice dogwood bushes planted in large flower boxes on my patio. They are getting pretty oversized. How far can I cut the back this late fall or winter and still have a bush in the spring again?

[sparcebag]

If someone here dont answer your question Rochester employs a arborist a fine question for him!

[lawdog]

Most shrubbery, including most Dogwood species that I've had, can tolerate being cut nearly to the ground and come back. If they are established plants, they have a huge root system and they grow like weeds. I generally cut all my shrubbery down in the fall to next to nothing and it comes back full and big every year.

[Powerstroke]

lawdog is correct. If you want to have some green right away in the spring, I would cut out about 1/3 of the biggest oldest stems. With what is left you can cut them down to 6-12". That way you will thin them out for new growth and also leave enough that it will green up right away in the spring.

[Abrams]

Dogwood, barberry and spirea are shrubs I take a chain saw to in the fall. Cut it down to the about 9", it will grow back in the spring.

[harvey lee]

I cut all of mine down to within 1 foot of the ground and they come back very nice each spring.