When is the best time to prune a dogwood bush?

Dogwood bushes should be pruned during the early spring months. Trimming them at this time ensures they grow new stems by late spring and summer. Consumers can also prune in late winter to ensure the shrubs sprout new stems by the spring.

When pruning dogwood bushes, it is vital to prune them close to their base or as near to ground level as possible. This is known as hard pruning and it leaves room for the shrub to produce lush new stems. For best results, gardeners should prune their shrubs at least once per year for the first few years. After the shrub grows large, pruning may be required twice per year.