Misunderstanding the species — each conifer species has specific pruning needs. Make sure you understand the specific needs of your conifers.

For the first couple of winters, it can be helpful to surround the base of the trunk with a straw mat to protect it from cold, harsh winds. The diverse growing habits of junipers make them extremely useful in many different settings and positions in a garden. 7) Larch I’ve always lamented the fact that I can’t grow citrus trees in Central Oregon (outside of a greenhouse, anyway) because I truly miss the unbelievable fragrance of citrus blossoms in spring. Well, now I can have them again!They can be excellent low maintenance garden plants, which often won’t require a lot of your care or effort. Tulip poplars are highly resistant to pests and diseases and thrive in nearly any area. Deer tend to stay away from the foliage, so these trees are a great choice for front yards and other areas without fencing or protection. Water well during hot and dry periods. In colder regions, use winter protection, such as extra mulch or garden fleece, to protect the trees from frost.

When pruning the sides of a hedge, taper them in at the top to ensure the base receives enough sunlight. This is the best way to avoid those dreaded brown patches that look unsightly. Leylandii is a hybrid of two different types of conifer – the Monterey Cypress ( Cupressus macrocarpa) and the Nootka Cypress (originally Chamaecyparis nootkatensis). Plant hunters brought these two conifers from different areas of the USA to Leighton Hall in Wales. At Leighton Hall, the conifers cross-pollinated and produced the hybrid – hence the ‘x’ or ‘cross’ in the name. Mr C J Leyland grew seeds of the cross-pollinated conifers. He noticed that some of the conifers were different from either of the parents. These new plants were named after Mr Leyland and called Cupressus x leylandii or Leyland Cypress. Cuttings were taken from the original plants and grown on. Many of the traditional forms of Leyland Cypress are genetically identical to the original plants as they are cuttings of cuttings of cuttings… The benefits of Leylandii Elegans makes a bold statement in winter months when it turns bright copper-purple! It grows 10-12” per year and has lovely, feathery foliage. A frost-tolerant spruce tree, allowing it to not just survive but thrive in the UK’s cold winters. It also boasts a two-tone appearance, with blue-green needles with a silver-white underside.Chamaecyparis are also common evergreen trees or hedging plants in UK gardens. These are known as ‘false cypresses’. Though there are also many other options to consider if you are looking for more usual conifers to place in your garden. 11) Yew One issue I have encountered is that raising a nursery tree into a straight single-leader tree can be challenging, so I advise buying as big a tree as your budget allows and let the grower do the hard work. Pines offer a lot of varied options if you are looking for coniferous trees for your garden. 10) Spruce Picea pungens Hardy and drought-tolerant, the Austrian Pine is the ideal choice for a drier patch of garden or if your garden struggles with nutrient-poor soil. This tree proves invaluable for wildlife, as its cones offer a food source for birds and small mammals.

Interestingly, this is a coniferous tree with a twist. Unlike most conifers, you can find the English yew’s seeds within its berry-like arils, not its cones. Virescens is a fast, upright-growing selection of the West Coast’s native Western Red Cedar. It has good deer resistance and can tolerate partial shade. It has a lovely green color that lasts all winter. Conifer hedging is easy to trim and maintain; most of the conifer species only require maintenance twice a year. Being columnar, it's typically the height of the plant that requires the most attention with the vertical sides of the hedge perhaps only requiring a trim once a year. We recommend trimming and pruning once in early spring and then again in autumn. Leylandii is the exception. This conifer hedge plant species typically only requires a trim during the growing season, due to its swift growth. And if you’re still not sure, get up close and personal with it – cedar trees have a distinctive aroma from their resin. When you touch or brush against their foliage, they release their characteristic scent.Bear in mind though, that you will have to plant a male and a female; these trees do not yield seeds until they are 30 or 40 years old. 6 Monkey Puzzle Tree. (2013, February 10). Geograph. Retrieved March 14, 2023, from https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3326641 In general, it’s best to wait until April before you prune a conifer. July-August is prime time for formative pruning — training the tree to grow into a particular shape — while August is the best month for thinning out the plant and removing larger branches. Schip laurel is a shade-loving alternative to English laurel. Its foliage is a beautiful deep green. It also tends to grow upright and narrow, making it better for small spaces. A “coniferous” tree is (typically) an evergreen tree that grows needles instead of leaves (and cones rather than flowers).

The Fraser fir isn’t just for Christmas! It also supports wildlife in numerous ways. In a fir forest, the Fraser fir provides shelter, habitat and food for birds and small mammals. It is known by the Latin name Araucaria araucana. 5 Mabbett, T. (2019, July 3). Tree of the month: A puzzle of a pine tree. Forestry Journal. Retrieved March 14, 2023, from https://www.forestryjournal.co.uk/features/17746316.tree-month-puzzle-pine-tree/Cedar, Cedrus, are commonly grown in larger gardens and estates in the UK. Species within this genus are: Always remove old, damaged, weak, and dead branches when pruning. This helps the plant concentrate its energy on growth instead of regeneration. One of the fastest-growing conifers with extremely dense foliage. These qualities make the Leyland cypress perfect for separating your garden from your neighbours’. There is no need to stake conifers most conifers you buy - they rely on the movement in the wind to produce robust supporting tissue in the stem and a strong root system. However, if you buy a large specimen, they still need sturdy stakes to prevent them being blown sideways initially. Juniper trees grow to around 10 metres tall, which may suit a medium or large-sized garden. However, if your garden is on the smaller side, consider the Juniperus communis ssp. Nana. This dwarf juniper doesn’t exceed half a metre in height! 13. Cedar