How to Plant Red-Osier Dogwoods
- 1). Select a planting site with full sun to partial shade. Make sure the soil isn't soggy. Plant the red-osier dogwoods in the fall or early spring.
- 2). Allow 3 to 4 feet between the plants if you're planting red-osier dogwoods as hedges. Allow 10 feet of spacing on all sides for a single red-osier dogwood plant.
- 3). Dig a hole the same depth of the red-osier dogwood's container and three times as wide. Break up the removed soil to allow the roots to grow out from the root ball more easily. Rough up the sides of the hole with a rake or shovel.
- 4). Water the red-osier dogwood shrub in the container before removing the plant. Cut off damaged roots and loosen the root mass, if roots are encircled.
- 5). Place the red-osier dogwood in the middle of the hole. Check that the top of the root ball is at ground level.
- 6). Backfill the hole one-third, then gently compact the soil around the roots with your hand. Check to ensure the red-osier dogwood is standing straight, then fill the hole completely.
- 7). Create a watering ring by making a 2- to 3-inch-high mound of soil around planting hole. Fill the basin with water to settle the plant and remove any air pockets. Continue to fill the basin each week for the first growing season.
- 8). Mulch the area with 3 inches of pine straw or shredded bark, starting three to five inches out from the stem of the red-osier dogwood.
- 9). Repeat the planting process for each red-osier dogwood.
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