Conifers
Conifers - Guide

Famous for the conifer-genus Sequoia, being the world’s tallest living trees, conifers also come in all shapes and sizes. From ground covers to being tall and slender or roundly compact, ending all similarities with bearing cones and colourful, needle-like foliage. They give new meaning to the word landscaping, are wonderfully fuss-free and attractive throughout the year. Plant them where you like, for whatever purpose you like.

Planting points…

Dig a good-sized hole of about 1 x 1m wide for planting medium sized plants. Soak the hole thoroughly with water and drain. Work the planting soil to a fine texture with a garden fork, breaking up hard clumps. Incorporate a compost layer, of more or less a third, into the soil and add specified amounts of Superphosphate (or bone-meal) and 2:3:2. This improved soil can now be used to refill the hole. Soak immediately after planting to avoid burning of fertilisers. Mulch with pine bark chips, compost, old manure, pebbles or a commercial mulching of your choice.

• Only the lightest shape pruning, at the end of winter, is ever necessary.

• These plants require regular and generous moisture, only showing signs of drought when it's too late.

• Keep in mind that most conifers are slow growers when choosing plants for specific spots. They usually reach their mature sizes in the tenth or fifteenth year and may be much larger then expected, by which time it might be impossible to move them.

Articles

The Living World of Conifers