Seedling root rot disease can be controlled by proper sanitation practices, use of well drained soil medium, reduction in watering frequencies, and fungicidal soil drenches. In order of importance, diseases, insects, drought, soil constraints, human-caused damage and heavy shade are the most damaging. A few of the cultural and environmental problems are reviewed below. Improper Planting Site Dogwoods grow in the forest as a mid-understory tree in upland forest. Dogwoods are tolerant of competition from many other plants.
Wild dogwoods tend to form a single layer crown that effectively captures the filtered sunlight.
Dogwoods grow best where there is 60 percent full sun and moist, uncompacted soil that is moderately well drained with plenty of leaf litter and organic material on the soil surface. Dogwoods are stressed badly by poorly drained soil. Dogwoods established in full sun must be properly taken care of for at least three growing seasons. Young trees around home and businesses have severe water problems stemming from the heat generated in the landscape and from the tree's limited root system. Also, many new sites for planting may have poor or compacted soils that prevent good root development and water absorption.