THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Sunday, March 10, 1996                 TAG: 9603090061
SECTION: HOME                     PAGE: G7   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY ROBERT STIFFLER, GARDENING COLUMNIST 
                                             LENGTH: Short :   50 lines

ENJOY DOGWOOD BLOOMS A BIT LATER CORNUS KOUSA IS UNAFFECTED BY ANTHRACNOSE.

BACK IN 1989, when dogwood anthracnose was discovered in Virginia, a ``dogwood anthracnose scare'' went through the state like a virus. Many gardeners quit planting dogwoods. Some nurseries quit stocking the trees. Everyone was alarmed by the devastating disease.

But dogwood anthracnose turned out to be no problem in this area. The disease was confined to the mountain areas and did not bother dogwoods in this area.

If you still have some concern about the disease, choose a Cornus kousa, or Korean dogwood, instead. It is not affected by anthracnose. You'll find it in garden centers with several different labels, including ``Japanese,'' ``Chinese'' or ``Korean'' dogwood.

Cornus kousa blooms later than the native dogwood, Cornus florida. Unlike the more common dogwood, its foliage comes out before it blooms. Its large white blooms are on top of the limbs, above the leaves. It is very slow growing and likes full or part sun.

Smithfield Gardens has a brochure titled ``How to Succeed With Dogwoods.'' It recommends planting the tree where it will not receive scorching sun and heat between 1 and 4 p.m. Because dogwoods are shallow rooted, they should be mulched to a depth of 3 inches.

Unfortunately, more dogwoods are killed by lawn mowers and string weed trimmers than will be killed by anthracnose. Never let a mower or string trimmer knick the bark of a dogwood. If the bark is cut, borers may enter the tree and possibly kill it, the brochure cautions. It also recommends keeping dogwoods healthy by regular feeding each winter.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture adds, ``Purchase trees from a reputable nursery; do not transplant trees from the wild.''

Cornus kousa ``Milky Way'' and Cornus kousa chinesis ``National'' are the two most popular varieties available in most nurseries. Spring planting of dogwoods is always recommended. Now is the time. ILLUSTRATION: Photo

ROBERT STIFFLER

Sallie Bryant grows cornus kousa in her Virginia Beach garden. Also

called Korean dogwood, it is unaffected by anthracnose.

KEYWORDS: WEEDER'S DIGEST by CNB