Question
Hello Jim
I have 2 Dogwood trees that a kind neighbor planted for me 2 years ago.  They are now going on 3 years and have never bloomed. The trees look very healthy and have wonderful green leaves, but no flowers...One is supposed to have white flowers, and the other pink.
Do you have any suggestions why this may be.
I live in Forest Hills Queens NY.
Thank you,
Gloria

Answer
I suspect they're simply too young at the moment. The odd few flowers in the first year is a fairly common one-off happening, maybe the nursery treated them in some way, or maybe just the stress of being moved caused them to flower. Now they're settling in and devoting all their energy to producing roots, leaves and branches. Give them a few more years and they should start flowering well.

I would suggest you fertilize the trees and water.
Any general purpose fertilizer, such as 16-4-8 or 12-4-8, can be used. Many recently planted trees are killed by heavy fertilization. Do not over fertilize young trees in an effort to accelerate growth. On small trees 12 to 24 inches tall, apply one level tablespoonful in March and July. A newly-planted dogwood six feet tall re- quires about one-fourth cup (four tablespoons# of a 12-4-8 or 16-4-8 fertilizer in March and again in July. Evenly broadcast the fertilizer on the soil surface covering a radius two feet from the trunk.
For established trees, one-half pound #one cup# of a 12-4-8 or 16-4-8 per inch of trunk diameter #four feet above ground level) in March and again in July is adequate. For an eight to ten percent nitrogen source, increase the rate by one-third. Apply one-third of the fertilizer beyond the dripline of the foliage since the roots of established trees extend into this area. Do not concentrate the fertilizer in an area near the trunk.

Mulching is very important. A 3- to 4-inch mulch layer around the tree conserves soil moisture, modifies soil temperature, reduces competition from weeds and grass, and makes the landscape more attractive. A mulched area also acts as buffer zone between the lawn and the tree trunk, preventing careless mower or trimmer damage to the trunk. Pinestraw, pinebark, or leaves are good mulches to use around dogwoods. Add more mulch as needed as the mulch layer diminishes.