landscaping with conifers

What grows well next to conifers?

Since evergreen conifers afford texture and year-round color, woody ornamentals, like trees and shrubs are natural companion plants with their seasonal changes in appearance. Always bear in mind their ultimate size and mature visual appearance next to their conifer neighbors.

Do conifers like sun or shade?

Most conifers will tolerate a bit of shade as long as they are growing in moist soil, however, there are a few varieties that will grow happily in more shady areas and many of these can be shaped into topiary forms so the possibilities of shape and form are endless.

Are conifers bad for your garden?

In addition to soil damage, conifer roots can also cause problems to foundations and patios. ... If you're considering planting large conifer trees, you should always aim to plant at least 35 meters away from a property. You should also make sure you check the size of the mature tree, not the size at the time of planting.

How far apart should you plant conifers?

Most conifers should be spaced between 60cm and 100cm apart. Hedges that have plants 60cm apart will grow into space in between much faster but you can achieve a very effective hedge no matter the distance so long as it falls into that frame.

Do conifers need a lot of water?

Trees are usually mulched in late winter, after any fertiliser application, to conserve winter moisture reserves in the soil before the spring and summer. Watering: Although newly planted conifers initially need careful watering, once established they usually need little water.

Will grass grow under conifers?

Some plants can tolerate a high degree of shade, including some lawn grasses. However, the deeper the shade, the slower the growth, until the shade becomes so deep that the plant does not grow at all. ... This is the same situation that a tiny grass plant faces underneath a conifer in your garden.

Can you cut the top off a conifer?

Evergreens should not be topped, or cut off at a certain height, because this will produce trees that are anything but attractive. Trees that are topped are also at a greater risk for disease and other ailments. Do not prune conifer trees too late in the year.

Do conifers die when cut down?

In their native habitat this is an adaptation to forest fires. If you do not want them to regrow act swiftly after felling. Conifers on the other hand never regrow. So if you cut down a Leyland hedge it will not regenerate from the base, however those resinous stumps will persist, taking many years to rot down.

Why are my conifers dying?

Conifers are prone to viral, fungal, and bacterial diseases, any of which can cause the evergreens to turn brown. Conifer diseases can strike at the needles, the roots, the trunk, and/or the branches. ... * Needle Cast disease will cause the needles to first turn yellow, then brown and fall off.

What kills big conifer tree roots?

drill some holes and pour in glyphosate (eg RoundUp. They will die and quickly rot.

Are conifers poisonous?

The leaves and fruits of conifers such as Juniperus (juniper) are poisonous to cattle and humans.

How deep are roots of conifers?

Many thanks. most large trees will have the majority of their roots in the top 18 to 24 inches, it is however based on soil type. the better the overall drainage, generally the deeper and more expansive the root system.

How wide do conifers grow?

Miniature conifers grow less than 1 inch per year. A typical miniature will be 10 inches tall or less at 10 years and twice as wide. Dwarf conifers grow between 1 and 6 inches per year, with most in this group reaching 2 to 6 feet tall in 10 years.

What are the fastest growing conifers?

Leylandii (Green)

Leylandii is a conifer that is the fastest –growing, evergreen, hedging plant and will create a hedge quickly. Because it is fast growing, it is generally the cheapest way of forming an evergreen garden hedge and hence the most popular.

What soil is best for conifers?

For most conifers, slightly acid soil that is loamy and well-drained is ideal. Unless the soil is very compacted or so light and porous that it retains very little moisture, you will not need to add organic matter.

Can you over water a conifer?

Conifer Watering Advice

After the roots have grown out into the surrounding soil (approximately 3-6 months) the plant will require less attention and subsequent watering is generally necessary only during extended dry spells as conifers have shallow roots and cannot access deeper moisture.

Can conifers recover?

The main thing to remember is that most conifers will not grow back from old wood. So if you prune them now, you could cut back too far and the plant will never recover. If you really want to give nature a helping hand, you could consider applying a general purpose fertiliser.

Can you dig up and replant conifers?

You can dig out conifers with a sufficiently large root ball which have not stood where they are for more than three or four years and replant them at the new location. In warm, dry weather conditions, prepare the plant for replanting approximately fourteen days beforehand.

How do you raise soil after conifers?

To improve the soil add a large quantity of organic matter – this can be horse manure, farmyard manure, good garden compost or mushroom compost.

Should you remove pine needles from under tree?

It is normal for pine trees to shed their needles, within reason. As needles age, they become less efficient for the tree and the tree will drop them. Most of these come from the more inner part of the branches. ... You can leave the needles under the tree, the needles will breakdown and provide nutrients for the tree.

What kind of grass will grow under pine trees?

Choose a shade-tolerant grass species to plant under pine and other shade trees. In general, select a grass or blend of grasses that thrive in the same environmental conditions and USDA zone as your pine tree. In USDA zones 2 through 7, the fescues (Festuca spp.) thrive in shade and acidic soils.