Conifers
Conifers fall into 4 main categories
- Fast growing 20 - 30cm per year
- Medium growing 15 - 20cm per year
- Dwarf 5 - 10cm per year
- Miniature 2 - 5cm per year
You can find blues, greens, yellows, oranges and variegated colours in most of these categories.
Conifers in containers
Almost all conifers can be used in a container in your garden but the growth rate and habit will determine the size of the container required. Container grown conifers will need regular watering and benefit top dressing with a general fertiliser in Spring. After time, the conifer may need repotting into a larger container.
Conifers in your garden
Conifers can be purchased in a wide variety of sizes. Year old plants are less expensive than more mature ones and can be used to good effect in troughs or small tubs, adding winter colour and structure to your arrangement. They look particularly good mixed with alpines. Older, larger plants will give more impoct in bigger areas.
Trimming
Some conifers benefit from a light trim once a year around July or August. This allows for bright, fresh growth the following Spring. Trimming gives you control over its size. Don’t be frightened to experiment.
Thuja and Taxus varieties particularly like a light trim once they are established to help keep them tidy and fresh.
Other
Warning - yellow varieties may lose their bright colouring if planted in a very shady area!
If you like experimenting with topiary, Taxus baccata is a good variety to choose.