Red Stem (Twig) Dogwood wants to sprawl, when and how should I prune it to keep upright.?

Question

branches want to fold out, all pics I've seen are of nice upright shrub. Should I stake and tie for a time? I've tryed snipping branches that fold over, but they grow back the same way. Plant is in a large , deep planter box.

Answer 1

They are naturally sprawling plants.  

If you want the branches to look like trunks you better just tie them to a tall stick (Trellace?).  And then It will still want to sprawl.  

There may be cultivars that are more upright, but...generally they grow sideways and root at the nodes that touch the ground.

Answer 2

those pics are of mature specimens.  patience

Answer 3

http://www.paghat.com/redtwig.html

http://www.inthegardenonline.com/plant_r...

Q: I have a red twig dogwood that has become overgrown. It is now about 12 feet tall and the limbs are bending over and in my way when I mow. My intentions are to trim it way back sometime in March. I am thinking of taking out the older stalks and cutting the rest back to around 3 feet. I am not concerned about how it will look at first. Will this severe pruning kill the plant? (Dent, Minn.)

A: Prune to your heart’s content. You could prune it back to the ground with all of the branches. It will surge with a flush of growth this spring that you can shape to your liking.