AboutTom Alonzo Expertise I have been a gardener for 20 years with perennials both growing from seed and from nurseries. I went through the Master Gardener Program from Kansas State University Cooperative Extension Service and I answered questions on the Hotline a few years ago for the Wyandotte County Kansas Extension Service. I have also lived in the Florida, California, Hawaii, Arizona, Texas, Kansas and Missouri and am experienced with a variety of climates, soils and weather conditions.
Experience I have been growing perennials for over 20 years now. I am self-taught mostly except for a master gardener class. I have experimented with all kinds of perennials including many that are not common to my area. I have read hundreds of books and grown hundreds of varieties of plants and hope to make it a business some day. I have become versed in botanical names and growing conditions and what I don't know off of the top of my head I can usually easily find in my vast array of research material and botanical and horticultural contacts. I especially enjoy experimenting with growing plants out of zone.
Question I live in wisconsin and a few of my dogwood's didn't look like they made it this spring. I was patient and just waited to see if they would come back. They did show signs of life, but the bush seems to have an enormous amount of small small leaves. Help! What can I do to bring it back to normal state.
Answer Hi Julie,
Thanx for your question. Did the older twigs not come back out of the winter dormancy? If not, the plant sent out new shoots and you are basically starting with new, younger growth. They will eventually leaf out fully unless there is some kind of disease or pest that is attacking them which I don't think there is. You may have just had some die-back and new growth has emerged with new/young leaves. The good thing about this is that this will make for some nice, bright red twigs this winter. I hope this helps.
Tom
