How to Care for and Grow Conifers
By: John Garcia | Date Posted: November 5, 2021
Table of Contents
The needle-like foliage of conifers makes them readily identifiable as ornamental trees. Conifers predate the dinosaurs. The fossilized specimens of these plants from more recent times show little change over the years.
The encyclopedia contains detailed descriptions of conifers, and there may be a list of species in the article. There are so many rare conifers in the world; the encyclopedia also includes them. Getting to know conifers will help conserve biodiversity and conserve nature.
Types and appearance of conifers
True leaves are not present in conifers. Pine, spruce, or arborvitae (Thuja spp.) are examples of trees with needle-like foliage, white pine and blue spruce (Pinus radiata) show a flattened and fan-shaped form.
Depending on the species, conifers can grow up to 120 meters tall, from 30 cm groundcover to a meter-tall shrub. Except for the groundcovers, most plants have a pyramid shape. Topiaries and hedges are most commonly grown in medium-height shrubs.
Cypresses and pines are excellent garden plants when they are young, but don’t plant them if you live in an urban environment. As they grow, they can reach 20 or 30 meters high and almost as wide, and once they outgrow their surroundings, they are costly to remove.
How to Care for and Grow Conifers
The best choice is a columnar conifer like a pencil pine, but even they can grow too large for an average suburban garden.
It is believed that conifers are most prevalent in northern hemisphere colder climates but there are some exceptions.
Even though some conifers produce berries, they are usually called conifers because they produce cones (or cone-like fruits
When planting conifers, be careful where they are planted in relation to driveways, paths, or underground pipes.
Conifers are beautiful trees, but before choosing one, read the labels carefully and do your research.
Coniferous trees: how to grow them
Cuttings are the most common way to grow conifers. Due to their slow growth and the fact that they can take years to reach a reasonable size, young plants in 180mm or 200mm pots are the best option.
Root disturbances are not good for conifers. Make sure the root ball remains intact when transplanting or repotting. You may lose a little soil around the roots, but try to retain as much as possible to minimize transplant shock.
How to grow conifers in a garden
Make sure the plant is located in a sunny spot without being directly impacted by nearby trees.
The best soils are well-drained loams; compost can improve poor soils.
To prevent direct contact with roots, apply a six-month controlled-release tree and shrub fertilizer at the base of the planting hole.
In the pot, the planting depth should be the same or slightly higher than in the ground.
Firm but do not compact the soil around the roots.
To minimize transplant trauma, water in a seaweed solution.
Hedging plants should be spaced 60cm to 1m apart.
Planting conifers in pots is a great idea. The height and shape can be controlled with careful trimming to be kept in pots for many years, repotted every two to three years to replenish the potting mix.
Conifer plants in pots
Plants should be potted in ceramic or Terracotta pots of the correct size and shape.
For trees and shrubs, pick a potting mix of premium quality.
When you remove the conifer from its pot, be careful not to break up the root ball.
In its original pot, the plant should be kept at the same depth.
Move the pot into the light after a week or so in a sheltered spot.
Conifers need to be watered and fed
You should water your conifers regularly for the first six weeks after planting until they have adapted to their new environment. Once established, only water during long periods of drought.
The bottom five to ten centimeters of soil should be dry to the touch, and excess water should drain away freely. Ensure the potted conifer’s feet are not wet – water only when the top is 5 to 10 cm.
It is best to fertilize trees and shrubs with a controlled-release fertilizer.
The best way to prune conifers
The old wood of conifers does not regrow, unlike most trees and shrubs. Leaving bare patches may result from cutting back hard and exposing the branches behind the foliage.
You only need to trim back the tips of the shoots and branches overwinter – only cut back as far as a side lateral or shoot on the growing branches.
Dispose of all dying or dead branches.
Variegated conifers can produce plain green shoots occasionally. You should remove them entirely as they grow more vigorously than the variegated form.
Diseases and pests that affect conifers
The cypress canker is among the diseases that can kill conifers. It is usually not treatable. The tips of branches will turn brown, and entire branches will die within a relatively short time. The risk of spreading the disease should be minimized by removing diseased trees as soon as possible.
In heavy soils with poor draining, the cinnamon fungus (Phytophthora cinnamomi) can be troublesome.
A bark-boring beetle may attack certain conifers, weakening them over time. Consider using an insecticide if you find sawdust deposits around trees.
FAQs
How much water do conifer trees require?
When newly planted conifers are watered carefully at first, they usually require little water once established.
How is a tree classified as a conifer?
Softwood trees are known as coniferous trees because of their pine-like needle leaves and seed-producing cones. The majority of coniferous trees are evergreen. However, some are deciduous and lose their leaves in autumn. Gymnosperms are trees that produce cones.
What is the purpose of conifer trees?
In addition to providing wood and wood products for buildings, furniture, and paper, conifers also play an essential role economically. Before the widespread use of petroleum, conifers were also the source of many critical organic chemicals used in paints, other finishes, solvents, and industrial oils.
Thank you for reading!
