Dogwoods have existed for over 60 million years, and yet they are disappearing from Tyler County. We can change that.
Our native white dogwoods (Cornus florida) are making seeds NOW. If you remember seeing a dogwood tree in bloom this past March, check it now for red berries and pluck them from the tree before the birds and squirrels do.
Inside each berry is a seed. After removing the pulp from each seed, plant the seeds or put them in the refrigerator until January. If the seeds are planted in the ground, select a site that receives afternoon shade. Be sure to mark the location so that you can water the sprouts during a drought.
Whether the seeds are planted in the ground or in pots, cover the sprouts with chicken wire or a similar cage to prevent them from being eaten by rabbits or deer.
Dogwood trees are dying from natural causes that have existed for thousands of years. The question is, “Why are there so few young dogwood trees?” I do not know the answer to that question, but if we each plant seeds, we can hopefully repopulate our landscapes and forests – one dogwood at a time.
