Conifers
Discover the timeless elegance and enduring beauty of conifers, the evergreen trees and shrubs that bring year-round charm to any landscape.
Conifers are shrubs and trees that have seed-bearing cones. They are versatile and attractive additions to the landscape, providing evergreen colour and structure long after seasonal flowers fade and deciduous plants lose their leaves. Most conifers need minimal maintenance and like slightly acidic soil that is loamy and well drained in full sun away from strong winds. Use them to make great outdoor privacy screens all year round.
How to plant
Dig a hole two times the size of the original pot and incorporate ericaceous compost into the hole.
Remove the conifer from the pot and tease out the roots, then place the plant in the hole so it is slightly higher than the surrounding soil.
Water the conifer thoroughly, and check after a few days, watering whenever the soil is dry. Established plants only need supplemental water during drought periods.
Conifers work well in pots and their growth can be controlled, so choose a container at least three times the size.
Top Care tips
Conifers only need an annual feed of Tui general fertiliser and benefit from mulching to maintain cool soil temperatures.
Remove dead or diseased branches immediately, and conduct any other pruning in winter when the plant is dormant.
Brown patches on conifers can be caused by aphids, fungal diseases, or adverse growing conditions such as dryness, waterlogging, frost, or wind.
Examples of Conifers
Pencil conifers - are narrow and columnar in shape. Excellent for adding vertical dimension to your garden without using up much ground space. They have beautiful foliage colours, ranging from greens (Thuja Pyramidalis) to powdery blues (Cupressus Gauca Blue Ice), silver, (Chamaecyparis Boulevard) and golden yellow (Swandes Golden).
Thuja - Upright evergreen conifer with narrow columnar habit. Is useful where space is limited and height desired. Great as a screen or hedge to accentuate driveways, entrances and formal gardens. Or use in rockeries and small gardens eg Thuja Smaragd.
Cupressus - Upright, slender conifer that tapers to a point. A dramatic focal plant which retains form without trimming eg Cupressus Blue Ice or Swandes Golden.
Curvy - Juniperus Chinensis Kaizuka has long curvy branches at all angles spiralling upwards. (3m high)
Ground covers - Ideal in rockeries or group plantings eg Juniperus Bluestar (8-15cm high).