Question
QUESTION: I have a what I think is a florida dogwood tree.  It has white blooms.  I had to top it because it was way way way out of control.   I did have the good sense to wait until after the blooms.  I need to prune it further.  What would you suggest.  I live in Charlotte, NC..Zone 7.

ANSWER: dogwoods require little pruning. Dead and diseased branches should be removed as soon as they are noticed. You can the thin the branch structure of your dogwood by selectively removing crowded branches at the point where they originate from a larger branch or the trunk. You can also remove low-hanging branches. This kind of pruning, which is done to shape and thin a dogwood, is best done in late winter or early spring before new growth begins. Be very careful not to injure the bark on the trunk; it is thin and easily injured. Injured bark provides an easy entry point for dogwood borer larvae. Try not to remove more than one-third of a plant's top growth each time you prune. More than that may stress the plant beyond the point of recovery.

A side note I would never suggest topping any tree. This can cause the tree to grow out of ballance and is not good for the growth of the tree. A tree grows from the terminal bud and cutting it can at best make a bush and at worse kill the tree.

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QUESTION: Thank you for your response. This tree is in my front yard among many other trees and it was overgrown.  So to clarify my question, do you think I should keep an eye on the tree now for dogwood borer larvae and if so what does it look like.   Thank you again!

Answer
Usually dogwood borers attack a wound near the ground (lawn mower damage or trimmer damage). They can bore in where other wounds exist.  Borer-infested trees show swollen, knotty, calloused or gall-like areas on the trunk. Dogwood borer adults, which are clear-winged moths, make irregular burrows under the bark on the trunk, especially at ground level and around the base of limbs or at the edges of wounds or scars on the bark. Fresh sawdust-like borings are usually present on the bark near active borer sites. In young trees, the crown is attacked, resulting in wilting and die-back.

You can use preventive spray but I would just keep an eye out for ant boring dust near wounds and if you see the dust then spray. Just in case here is the insecticide that will work. Permethrin (Green Light Borer Killer or Bonide Borer-Miner Killer) is labeled for use by the homeowner against dogwood borer. Since dogwood borer adults may be present from late April through July,  several applications may be needed for good control. Begin treatment in early May and repeat four times at three-week intervals. Thoroughly spray the trunk, major branches and any wounds on the bark. Read and follow all label instructions and precautions.