Dogwood tree not blooming

[claregirl]

We live in Connecticut (zone 6) and we moved into this house*two years ago.**There is a pink dogwood in the font yard.* The first spring, it eeked out a few flowers.* This spring it went right to leaves.* It's about 16 feet high and crowded in by two other spring blooming trees (???) and larger trees in the woods behind it.* It doesn’t look sick and the leaves are quit abundant.* Does anybody have any suggestions on how to force it to bloom next spring?

[Newt]

Hi Claregirl,

You might find these conversations helpful.
http://www.ubcbotanicalgarden.org/fo...ead.php?t=2735
http://www.ubcbotanicalgarden.org/fo...ead.php?t=3162

From this site near the bottom of the page:
http://pubs.caes.uga.edu/caespubs/pubcd/L036w.html

"Improper Planting Depth

A common problem with dogwoods is planting too deep or filling around the tree with extra soil. Dogwood roots will suffocate when set too deep and this can invite many other growth and pest problems. Always plant at the same depth as the tree grew in the nursery. Also, do not add more than 1 inch of fill dirt around dogwoods in any one growing season.


Improper Fertilization

Root systems of established dogwoods grown under good conditions can be three to five times more extensive than the above-ground parts of the tree. Heavy concentrations of fertilizers over the rooting area can leave dogwood stressed or dead from over-application. A soil test is essential to determine element shortages in the soil before fertilization. Conservative applications of low nitrogen fertilizers can greatly help long term growth of dogwoods on impoverished sites. If the turfgrass around a dogwood is being fertilized, extra fertilizer for the tree is not required. Too much nitrogen fertilizer can minimize flowering and cause the tree to be prone to other growth and pest problems.

Fertilization should be calculated on the amount to usable nitrogen being applied. One to two pounds of nitrogen per year spread evenly over every 1,000 square feet of soil surface area is a good application rate. Avoid fertilizing in late spring or early summer when the leaves are expanding. Do not fertilize within 2 feet of the stem base on mature trees."

Since you've only lived with this tree for a couple of years you probably don't know the history.* Hopefully some of that will point you in the right direction.* Do look to see if the rootflare is visible.* If your tree looks like a telephone pole at the base and you don't see any flare at ground level, that could be the problem or a part of it.

Newt

[claregirl]

Thanks Newt.* If nothing else, reading the links tells me I am not alone with this problem.* I am headed to my local nursery with a sample leaf to ask their help.

[Newt]

You are very welccome!* Not sure what can be determined from a leaf if it's not discolored or it doesn't have some type of spots. Maybe you are thinking they will be able to tell you which species of dogwood you have.* When it did bloom, did it bloom before the leaves appeared or with the leaves?* Any idea how old the tree might be?

*Did you check to see that it's not planted too deep?* If it looks like a telephone pole where it meets the ground and you can't see a rootflare at the base, I suspect it's been planted too deep or had too much mulch piled around the base.* This is what it would look like planted too deep.



Here's what the rootflare looks like.




Newt