i see a normal growth pattern ...

i dont know why you think you have to do anything????

look at it this way.. it was probably pruned for shipping and sales ...

at this point it is moving out of that un-natural form.. and growing itself into a NATURAL form ... which is on the approved list ...

if transplanted w/in the last 2 years.. it might be time to take off the lower branches.. IF THAT IS WHERE YOU WANT TO GO WITH THE TREE ... as you can see from the first pic.. at this height.. it is blocking your view into the depth of your garden .... and that would be different if you were sitting in a patio chair enjoying the view ... in my world.. its all about the chair and the view.. and if you want it a bit higher ... then do it soon ... smaller wounds heal faster that larger wounds in 10 years ... since its not in the lawn.. then you dont have to raise it so you can mow under it ...

otherwise .. leave it alone ... other than damaged or crossing limbs...

its all about how you want to train it for your purpose.. rather than pruning to change its inherent growth patterns....

ken

ps: i dont do dogwood.. so i cant give you the ID .. but it doesnt matter to what i said above ...

pps: check the pix at the link.. second one ... the canopy is akin to yours.. its the natural growth pattern ....

Here is a link that might be useful: enjoy the various forms ... and change the search form.. if there is a new ID

It might be a Pagoda dogwood. Looks like a berry (and missing berries) in the second pick. Pagodas don't have the typical dogwood bracts.

http://www.google.com/search?q=pagoda+dogwood+tree&hl=en&biw=1152&bih=547&prmd=ivns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=3aIjToS7Kq-HsAKl9M25Aw&sqi=2&ved=0CCoQsAQ

In the second line of pics - you can see the form, the flowers, and the berries.

ML

OK. Same link.

Here is a link that might be useful: pagoda dogwood

If this is a named dogwood variety (cultivar), it's possible that the named variety has been grafted onto a dogwood rootstock. If that's the case, the lower branches may be coming from the rootstock while the upper ones are from the named variety. Look at the lower branches where they emerge from the trunk. If they're below the swelling of the graft union, that's likely the case. An obvious difference in the lower branch leaves and the upper ones is another indication.

If none of the above is true, I'd simply prune off the lower branches. I agree the tree looks quite odd with dense lower branching, then a naked trunk, then more branches.

Perfectly natural (& desired) form of the pagoda dogwood....no pruning required.

Thanks for the id on the tree. The mature form is quite attractive. An odd thing, the prior owner of this house planted the tree like four feet from the chain link fence at the property line. I may just letit grow anyways and hope the neighbor doesnt mind

I would not agree that the photo illustrates the "perfectly natural (&desired)form of the pagoda dogwood..." The lower branches do seem to at least partially have the typical horizontal growth pattern, but the upper ones with their 45 degree ascendent habit are not at all typical. In fact, it's not totally clear from the photos that the tree in question is cornus alternafolia.

I agree, the natives around here have darker stems and the new growth has reddish tint.

I'm by no means a tree ID expert, just sharing my observations.

The habit is more like C. kousa.

Not kousa, look at the fruit in the last pic.

I'd say pagoda. I see many with that 45 degree branching angle at the top.

tj

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:385904}}

Yep, smooth fruit. Gots to be pagoda.

Why do you think the bark is so grey and green? They grow native by the thousands around here in the Slinger area and they are darker with some red hues.

i realized the picture doesn't show it, but the fruit is very dark, darker than a blueberry. it seems to match the various characteristics of the pagoda that i found online. i think i'll just keep it as-is for now, no prouning. thanks again everyone.