Pagoda Dogwood Tree - Winter Dormancy Update - February 2026

Planted all the way back in Fall of 2020, we have a small Pagoda Dogwood (native) tree planted in the far back of the yard.  Sort-of in-between the Yew Hedge (in development), the lawn and the fire pit gravel area.  When I bought it, the tree was maybe 15" tall and had an all-green trunk.  Literally...all green.  Not even a pencil in caliper.  

As I've learned to do (the hard way...by killing trees), I left this thing alone for the first few years.  I selectively pruned it the first time in its 3rd season (June 2023) when I just 'shortened' the lower limbs, but left them still attached to the trunk.  Trying to get the tree to grow up and rally around its central leader.  

The next year (Summer 2024), I did the same thing, but went up a level.   Rinse and repeat in 2025, too.  

That's lead to an established tree with a central leader.  That now stands taller than me.  

Below is a look at the frame of this Pagoda Dogwood when it is naked, in Winter.  A few notes:

1.  The curve in the trunk down at the bottom is present and I'm ok with it. 

2.  I'll get out there (later this year) to shorten-up some of the lower limbs and to prune back secondary upright branches.

3.  Why not prune now?  Because this is a flowering tree.  I'll wait for the flowering to finish, then prune it up.  

4.  I should put this on my list of 'what works' in the garden.