How far should I cut my Red Twig Dogwood back when I transplant it?

Do not cut it back until next season before the new growth appears. Adding additional stress to the bush will cause it to go into shock.Make sure the roots are well watered after

You can safely cut to one-third of the dogwood's volume.

I have read that shrubs and trees should be pruned where the branches begin to grow horizontally. I have done this on many different shrubs and trees; even pear trees. At first they look like too much was taken off but when they grow they are beautifully shaped. I would trim after transplanting as there are less branches to keep alive and therefore, more of the plants energy can go to the roots. I do agree, must keep well watered after transplanting.

Regarding the above post: Additionally, I would trim the vertical branches in line with the horizontal branches that were trimmed.

It is safe to cut back to 12 - 24 ". Water well. With fewer branches the plant will not expend energy into branches and more will be used to establish the roots.

This type of dogwood is hardy and transplants easily. This is the perfect time of year to do it. Use a good transplant soil (very important) and water. Cut out any twigs/branches that criss cross, are dead/broken or impede the fan shape. New growth has the brightest color So landscapers often cut them severely.

Give your dogwood a week or two to recover from transplant before major trimming, but thin out weird branches any time.

Mine was a very vigorous grower. You can prune out the older, larger inner stems adding new vigor to the shrub. You can cut back to about 10 inches. You can also transplant suckers that come up around the main plant and/ or start new plants by burying an existing outer branch allowing it to grow roots.

Just now I Googled, "how much to trim back on a red twig dogwood tree," and found a lot of information on your red twig. Check it out. Hope this helps.

You can cut your red twig dog wood back to a few inches or a foot or two in late winter to early spring. Cut out any dead wood, crossed branches, and spindly branches. Then cut back to buds on the remaining branches. I do a heavy prune every other year and the plants grow back thick and lush--and they grow up to approximately 8 feet tall in one season. If you are transplanting, dig a large root ball, then prune out any roots that are unhealthy--black or wiry. Water it well and often until it is established.