Viewing post #1183435 by Brinybay

You are viewing a single post made by Brinybay in the thread called What is this sprout on our dogwood tree?.
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Jun 15, 2016 10:36 AM CST
Name: Greg
Lake Forest Park, Washington (Zone 8b)
Garden Ideas: Level 1
ViburnumValley said:Those are just new dogwood stems - no parasite or latent monster out to get anything.

It is quite common for trees (including dogwoods) to throw a sprout like this from dormant buds. It is a defense/survival mechanism against animal foraging/browsing, fire damage, and other unpleasantries that beset woody plants as they try to grow.

You should clip or break these off while they are little and tender, so the plant doesn't waste energy/resources on those stems.


Ok, thanks. It's interesting that you mentioned defense against animal foraging, because on the opposite side, something (I think maybe a rabbit) chewed on the trunk about a year ago.

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