Dog wood

piddock75

Looking a bit sad, should I put in ground and should I prune

Fairygirl

It needs to be in the ground. They get too big for pots. 

Buttercupdays

It needs more water too. Mine grow best in very boggy soil.

Silver surfer

Pic turned.

Poor Cornus./dogwood.
That is cruelty to plants!
Plant it, keep it well watered ..wait till next year...then worry about pruning!

Nanny Beach

I have several,not in pots,one variety which said it was happy in damp conditions because the bottom of our garden,does sometimes get under a couple of inches of water if we have heavy rain. The rest are in part shaded areas but not damp. Half are cut to the ground half are left,so they flower at different times

Welshwindyhills

How about pruning out the really weedy branches and leaving the more healthy ones?  I’ve done this on shrubs that are worse for wear.  I call them my resurrection plants and keep my fingers crossed! 

Obelixx

The whole point of dogwoods is to have the colourful stems over winter so if you prune it now you'll lose that.  On the other hand, it definitely does need loads more water and would be happier planted out where its roots can spread deep to seek out moisture and nutrients.

Not a good subject for a pot.

bertrand-mabel

Not a good subect for a pot @Obelixx agree but some times this is the only option as some have no garden to plant them in.

Agree that when we buy plants we need to know what they need.

Silver surfer

Obelixx said:

The whole point of dogwoods is to have the colourful stems over winter so if you prune it now you'll lose that.  

Sorry to disagree.
There are many fabulous Cornus.
Not all dogwoods are grown for the colourful winter stems.
Not all need pruning.
eg...
Cornus capitata.
https://www.google.com/search?q=cornus+capitata&client=firefox-b-d&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiM4OuE2OPyAhWD26QKHWIpDCQQ_AUoAXoECAEQAw&biw=1280&bih=595

Cornus kousa.
https://www.google.com/search?q=cornus+kousa&client=firefox-b-d&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjQ4tmW2OPyAhVH3aQKHUBAA0AQ_AUoAXoECAEQAw&biw=1280&bih=595

Cornus contraversa variegata
https://www.google.com/search?q=cornus+controversa+variegata&client=firefox-b-d&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiTutSr1-PyAhUHD-wKHejgB6IQ_AUoAXoECAEQAw&biw=1280&bih=595

Cornus mas.
https://www.google.com/search?q=cornus+mas&client=firefox-b-d&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjOxKS32OPyAhVNLewKHUWMBAgQ_AUoAXoECAEQAw&biw=1280&bih=595

Cornus florida.
https://www.google.com/search?q=Cornus+florida&client=firefox-b-d&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi6pY3w2OPyAhVI-qQKHSBdDGIQ_AUoAXoECAEQAw&biw=1280&bih=595

etc etc.

Fairygirl

The pot just isn't substantial enough at all. I appreciate that some people don't have a garden to plant out into, and can only use containers [I had the same situation in a short term rental] and people will always buy plants without checking the conditions they need, but the easy alternative, if you don't want to get rid of it,  is to make a huge container.
Not difficult to do, and allows the scope to successfully have bigger shrubs   

Obelixx

I know about those other cornus @Silver surfer but the one in the photo looks like it wants to be one with colourful stems if it was given decent growing conditions.  Unless you can get a pot that's big enough to need a crane to lift it, none of the cornus is suitable for a container except when young and being grown on and then they need decent compost, some fertiliser and adequate watering.