to grow in your greenhouse exotic plant It is important to observe the subtleties of care. Everyone wants to grow exotic flowers. The secrets of keeping many groups of flowers are no different. In this article, the authors intended to provide many secrets to avoid mistakes when maintaining a particular plant. Each plant requires a special approach. To determine subsequent procedures, you should understand which group your flower belongs to.
A few words about the design - conifers guard the healing air
But not only do these evergreen trees provide health benefits, they also delight the eye with their fancy crowns and delicately prickly paw-branches. And therefore conifers in garden design play a special role. Moreover, by introducing “spiky accents” into the style of a personal plot, they give the territory a bright individuality, because among the many species you can find bizarre forms dwarf trees, sprawling giants, weeping and fragile bushes.
And their most important advantage is that conifers in the garden near the house all year round, winter and summer, will delight all household members with their bright decorative effect. And the correct and competent placement of even one coniferous unit on a site can radically change its mood.
Choosing coniferous plants for the garden
There are a lot of varieties of evergreens, but for the garden it is necessary to take into account the aspect of difficult survival coniferous species, poor replanting tolerance and love of natural conditions. Therefore, it is recommended to use coniferous plants in garden design from local flora or those that take root well with it:
Having chosen the appropriate variety, you can safely begin to design the composition.
Using coniferous plants for a country garden
The appearance and natural characteristics of evergreen crops are such that they are most advantageously used as hedges. Moreover, depending on the desired and selected species, these can be high, low or medium-height green fences.
For example, such conifers in landscape design like Norway spruce or even Canada blue spruce, can form a shady, dense hedge of medium height. As a rule, they look ideal at a height of a meter, maximum two. They are planted in a line at a distance of approximately one meter, and every year to preserve required height and thickness, pinch off the tops.
Common juniper will be an ideal candidate for the role of an evergreen hedge. He just needs regular haircuts, otherwise his “naughty paws and branches” will upset him. straight rows fencing.
Dwarf coniferous plants for the garden will excellent option for rock garden. They will become the central figure in the landscape design of the area, and they can be planted both in the center of the composition and in its background. Again, creeping juniper can add originality to the rock garden. These same dwarf or low-growing conifers in the garden can decorate and perfectly decorate the banks of an artificial reservoir.
Prickly and evergreen coniferous trees selected for height and growth in the design of a personal plot can form an original flower garden - a mixborder. For this flowerbed, the number of plants does not matter; its goal is to harmoniously mix several species in one composition. But for the mixborder to look great, the coniferous plants in the garden need to be selected to be approximately the same in color, shape and height. And in autumn and spring, complement the composition with bright spots of flowering crops and herbs: types of heather, Erica, bulbous flowers.
And it is noteworthy that such mixed flower beds and flower beds with coniferous trees can be diluted with deciduous trees and shrubs. The thorns of pine needles and roses are very close and at the same time disproportionately distant - a slightly non-standard and brightly fragrant combination. Rhododendrons, dwarf magnolias or even barberries will look good with coniferous trees. But here it is worth considering one “but”, coniferous trees in the garden they will not tolerate fast-growing plants next to them.
But coniferous evergreens in landscape design do not necessarily have to be included in compositions. Not at all. There are such proud and powerful representatives of thorny species as: cedar, pine, fir, larch or spruce, which, planted in one copy (being tapeworms), give the garden plot a quiet, calm mood, and fill the atmosphere with a feeling of security. But these proud specimens should be planted in the most visible (front) place - not far from the house.
Fashion trend: conifers in tubs in the country garden
Recently, coniferous plants have been involved in design in a very unique way. They are not planted on a personal plot, but are placed, for example, near the entrance to the house in large beautiful tubs or pots. The shapes and types of such decorations can be very diverse, and therefore create a unique effect.
It could be spiral trimmed high grades coniferous trees, lush species, as a rule, are decorated figuratively: balls, pyramids, animals, and so on. Such conifers in tubs minimize maintenance; you only need to remember that in winter they need to either be dug into the ground or brought to a cool place.
garden plants
Coniferous plants for the garden
Recently, the use of evergreen conifers to create a garden landscape has become increasingly popular. Now around the cottages and country houses you can find different types of pine, fir, spruce, hemlock, cypress, metasequoia, juniper, thuja.
Depending on the type of coniferous plant, they can be used as a decorative element to decorate the garden or to create a hedge around it.
Just like all plants, conifers are: frost-resistant and heat-loving, short and tall, shade-tolerant and sun-loving.
Therefore, before you buy coniferous plants for planting in your garden, you need to find out under what conditions which varieties can be grown.
To create landscapes, frost-resistant and shade-tolerant plants are most often chosen, which are characterized by their ease of care and resistance to unfavorable conditions weather. We will consider them in more detail in our article.
Frost-resistant coniferous plants for the garden
- fir - balsam, single-color, whole-leaved, Korean, subalpine, whitebark, Sakhalin, Siberian, Vicha;
- pea cypress;
- juniper - hard, Chinese, Virginia, ordinary, Cossack, Siberian, scaly, horizontal;
- larch – European, Gmelina, Japanese, American, Siberian;
- spruce – common, Engelmann, blue, Canadian, Korean, black, Siberian, Serbian, prickly, red;
- pine - Banks, twisted, mountain, black, Rumelian, yellow, resinous, common, Weymouth, European cedar, Siberian cedar and dwarf cedar;
- microbiota is cross-paired;
- drooping thuevik;
- pseudotsuga Mensisa;
- yew - berry, Far Eastern, Canadian;
- thuja occidentalis.
Shade-tolerant coniferous plants for the garden
- Canadian spruce;
- prickly spruce;
- common spruce;
- Serbian spruce;
- Entelmani spruce;
- Echinoformis;
- microbiota is cross-paired;
- balsam fir;
- Korean fir;
- single-color fir;
- Siberian fir;
- Yew Canadian Pyramidalis;
- yew berry Repandence;
- drooping thuevik, or Japanese;
- Thuja occidentalis Brabant.
Low-growing (dwarf) varieties of coniferous plants for the garden
The peculiarity of plants of these varieties is that they come in spherical, cone-shaped and pillow-shaped shapes, which do not need to be created artificially.
- spruce common variety"Typner", "Little Gem" and "Nidiformis";
- gray spruce “Echiniformis”, “Conica”, “Laurin”;
- oriental spruce "Thom Thumb Gold"
- mountain pine "Mini Mops" and "Gnom" "Picobello"
- Serbian spruce "Nana";.
- prickly spruce "Mseno"
- Alberta dwarf spruce
- Echinoformis;
- Menzies pseudo-tsuga "Fletcheri"
- Thuja occidentalis "Malonyana Holub" "Danica" and "Globosa Nana";
- juniper "Blue Star" "King of Spring" and Chinese.
Tall coniferous plants for the garden
Compositions with coniferous plants of low shape are used for small gardens, as well as when decorating flower beds, paths and flower beds. And tall coniferous trees can be used as a background for other plants, in single and group compositions.
Thanks to the variety of shades of green in conifers, your garden will look great all year round.
Choosing dwarf conifers
Nothing brightens up flower beds like miniature conifers. For small gardens, most of them are a real salvation, as they take up little space and are very decorative. Without them, the design of flower beds, rockeries or any element of landscape design now looks incomplete and boring.Why dwarf?
- Almost all species are evergreen, although the color can be different and decorative throughout the year.
- Almost all of them are adapted to our cold climate, and even if they are not, they are easy to cover for the winter.
- Caring for them is much easier, since there is no need to form a crown.
- They are planted in areas of any size.
Dwarf types of coniferous plants for the garden
So, we have a choice of dwarf species of pine, spruce, juniper, fir, thuja, dwarf. Round, cone-shaped, creeping along the ground, from 50 cm to 1.5 m high, they look elegant and unusual all year round.
Black spruce Nana
They also differ in the height and shape of the crown, the length and color of the needles. Varieties with golden, yellow, blue, and silver-gray needles have been developed. And how many shades of green they produce on the site!
In modern breeding, the following classification of trees and shrubs is practiced:
- Dwarf - annual growth 8-15 cm;
- Miniature - growth 3-8 cm per year;
- Microscopic - growth of no more than 3 cm per year.
Nai larger number varieties of ornamental plants were given by pine and spruce. For example, the Winter Gold pine changes the color of its foliage - it is green in summer and turns golden in winter.
common spruce
Spruce Glauca (blue) Conica
- Spruce Glauca (gray) Conica - regular cone-shaped crown, dense bright green needles.
- Maxwelli - cushion-shaped, rounded crown, no more than 1.5 m high, dark green prickly needles with a yellowish tint.
- Nidiformis - the shape of its crown resembles a nest, the needles are a beautiful rich green color.
- Little Gem - flat-rounded crown with a nesting depression, fluffy and thick needles with very thin needles.
- Reflexa is a creeping bush.
- Repens is a creeping species, no more than 50 cm high, the color of the needles is from yellow-green to dark green.
- Pygmaea - its height does not exceed 100 cm, the needles are green.
- Glauca Globosa - rounded crown, blue needles.
- Moll - wide conical crown with beautiful blue and white needles.
Juniper
Juniper horizontalis Glauca
- Common juniper Compressa – columnar shape, gray-green needles.
- Juniperus horizontalis Glauca is a creeping species with a blue hue.
- Scaly juniper Meyeri is an upright bush with blue foliage with a steel tint.
Pine
Thuja Little Gem
- Nana – compact bush with bluish-green needles.
- Compressa - columnar-shaped crown.
- Mountain pine Mops - round crown.
- Brevifolia is a compact, barrel-shaped bush with dark green needles.
- Winter Gold is a spherical bush whose needles change color. In summer it is green in color, and in winter it is golden.
- Shrub pine Gnom is a spherical bush with dark green foliage.
Cedar dwarf
- Glauca is a multi-stemmed compact bush with bluish foliage.
Thuja occidentalis
- Ellwangeriana Aurea - bright golden needles with a copper tint.
- Rosenthali is a columnar-shaped bush.
Fir
- Balsam fir Hudsoniana – no more than 30 cm high.
- Korean fir Brilliant - up to half a meter high with amazingly beautiful cones.
Canadian hemlock
- Pendula - with a spreading crown of a weeping shape.
When choosing seedlings, check the names of suitable coniferous trees for the garden, their varieties and find out how much they will grow on your site.
Where to plant
The advantage of small species of shrubs is that they do not need to be cut; they look beautiful almost anywhere against the background of low flowers or in a composition with taller shrubs.
They look especially impressive in a combination of greenery and stones. A small conifer planted in the center of the flowerbed will give it additional charm. And creeping species will cover not-so-beautiful areas of land.
If you plan to create a decorative composition from several types, consider how they will look in 5-10-15 years. Holes for planting must be dug “for growth” so that after a few years the plants do not interfere with each other.
Mountain pine Sherwood Compact
Consider the vertical profile of the composition in advance, because they will all stretch out differently.
Do not plant dwarf conifers in the shade of deciduous trees. Falling leaves create a favorable background for the proliferation of pests.
Caring for dwarfs
Most evergreens are drought sensitive. They are watered not only at the roots, but it is advisable to give them a shower along the needles, the so-called sprinkling.
- see photo), awn, Japanese (Umbrella), Japanese white, eastern white, mountain, European cedar;
- fir – Korean, balsam, Fraser, monochrome;
- Metasequoia;
- spruce – Hoopsii, Aureospicata, blue;
- blunt-leaved cypress;
- Canadian hemlock.
Dwarf and decorative varieties:
- spruce – common (Typner, Little Gem, Nidiformis), gray (Echiniformis, Conica, Laurin), eastern (Thom Thumb Gold), Serbian Nana, prickly Mseno, Alberta, Echinoformis;
- pine – mountain (Mini Mops, Gnom, Picobello);
- juniper - Chinese, Blue Star, King of Spring;
- thuja – western (Malonyana Holub, Danica, Globosa Nana);
- Menzies pseudotuga.
Features of growth and shape
Coniferous shade-tolerant species have many advantages over other ornamental deciduous plants:
Caring for coniferous plants
Caring for conifers is quite simple, but has its own nuances. Shade-loving plants should not be planted in open sunny places, on hills, or elevations. For good growth, coniferous plants need partial shade, diffused sunlight, so it’s better to plant them in groups. But in such a way that the growing crown of tall trees does not interfere with the growth of short and dwarf specimens.
It is important to provide the trees with sufficient soil and air moisture - on hot days, water more often, covering the crown, and plant near water bodies.
Despite the fact that coniferous plants are shade-loving, they should be planted at a distance of at least 1.5-3 m from each other. The soil should be well-drained, fertilized, and mulched from time to time. In winter, snow should be shaken off the branches to avoid fractures.
To protect from winds, young seedlings should be strengthened - a rigid frame or metal mesh is installed around the plant. This provides snow retention, protection from wind and freezing of the crown. Adult plants do not require such protection measures, as they have good frost resistance.
Thanks to advances in selection, coniferous trees for the garden are presented in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, and colors. Everyone can create unique design suburban area, receive aesthetic pleasure all year round and saturate the body with health.
To implement unusual design solutions and create original landscape many gardeners use coniferous plants. Such crops give a noble appearance to the site and decorate the garden area all year round.
Let's consider the main types and forms of ornamental coniferous plants for the garden, and analyze the main principles of constructing compositions from evergreen shrubs and trees.
Coniferous plants on the site - unique chic and elegance of the garden
Conifers are noble plants that allow the garden to remain attractive and green all year round. Coniferous trees and shrubs look impressive both in spacious parks, gardens, and in small personal plots.
Almost all conifers are evergreen, only some species, for example, larch, shed their needles for the winter. The rest of the plants “renew” their needles gradually - once every few years, the dying needles fall off, and new ones grow in their place.
Decorative coniferous plants for the garden are very popular in landscape gardening. They are hardy, frost-resistant, have a beautiful clear shape and are easy to care for. In addition, conifers have the following advantages:
- good tolerance to insufficient sunlight;
- some varieties of conifers have a regular geometric shape and do not require regular trimming;
- a well-developed root system allows plants to exist for a long time without watering (some varieties can even be grown on rocky soil);
- it has been officially proven that the aroma of coniferous plants has a beneficial effect on the mental and spiritual state of a person;
- Conifers are universal, thanks to the wide variety of species and forms, plants can be used to create a wide variety of landscape compositions in areas of any size.
When planning to decorate your site with coniferous plants, you need to carefully select them. Before purchasing you need to determine:
- placing a tree or shrub on the site;
- the order of composition;
- climatic conditions of the region and soil composition of the site.
Based on the above criteria, the type, variety and shape of the coniferous plant is selected.
Coniferous plants for the garden: names of varieties and descriptions of species
The following types of coniferous plants are best suited for planting in the garden:
- yew (torreya, yew);
- cypress (juniper, cypress, thuja);
- pine (larch, fir, cedar, spruce).
Let's look at the most popular decorative types and varieties of conifers
Juniper(Juniperus), known as heather, belongs to the cypress family. A light-loving coniferous plant, but it also grows normally in partial shade. Juniper is not at all picky about the soil - it can grow on limestone, rocky slopes and sand. Decorative forms have a columnar or creeping crown. Juniper has a unique healing aroma. Most often, plants are planted in natural-style gardens or “rocky” landscape compositions.
The main decorative types of juniper:
- Common juniper- evergreen shrub up to 3 meters high, or tree - up to 12 meters. The plant is cone-shaped or ovoid, the bark is dark gray, and the shoots are reddish-brown.
- Juniper prostrate (horizontal)- the bush “spreads” along the ground, and does not grow upward. The height of the plant is up to 30 cm, the color of the needles is bright green, the cone and berries are dark blue. Horizontal juniper is often used in the design of alpine slides.
- Juniper Cossack- dioecious shrub up to 1.5 meters high. The plant spreads along the ground, forming dense thickets. It has soil-protective properties and is resistant to gases, smoke and drought.
Thuja(Thúja) belongs to the cypress family. These evergreen shrubs and trees (height - up to 70 m, trunk diameter - up to 6 m) are unpretentious in transplantation and tolerate urban smoke well. Designers fell in love with thuja because it can be given any architectural form. The plant is used to create hedges and alleys.
- Thuja occidentalis Smaragd- conical variety of thuja. The crown of the plant is cone-shaped, branches weakly, and is of medium density. Thuja is characterized by moderate growth, the height of a ten-year-old conifer reaches 2.5 m, an adult plant - 6 m, crown diameter up to 1.8 m.
- Thuja occidentalis Danica- dwarf spherical shape. The height of an adult thuja is about 0.8 m, the diameter of the crown is 1 m. The growth of the plant per year is no more than 4 cm in width and 5 cm in height. The crown of thuja Danika is dense and has a regular geometric shape. The needles are scaly, soft, bright green. Thuja is used in rock gardens, on hills, in group and single plantings.
Larch(Larix) is the most common tree species in Russia, and on the planet as a whole. Under favorable conditions, the plant grows up to 50 m, the trunk diameter is no more than 1 m. The crown of the tree is loose and not dense. The needles are bright green, flattened, located on the shoots singly, spirally or in bunches. In autumn, larch completely sheds its needles. The tree is light-loving, frost-resistant, and under favorable conditions it can increase its growth by 50-100 cm per year. Low types of larch are used in rocky gardens, and tall ones are arranged in groups or planted individually.
- Fine-scaled larch- a coniferous tree up to 35 m high, the trunk diameter can reach 1 m. It grows well in dry, cold climates and tolerates shading well. The tree's branches are slightly twisted in a spiral, and the bark is reddish-brown in color.
- European larch- this species is durable (it grows for about 500 years). It takes root well on different types of soil: loamy, moderately moist, chernozem, podzolic, calcareous and crystalline rocks. Light green needles grow in bunches of 40-60 pieces.
Fir(Abies) has two features: the needles of the tree are flat, and the cones grow in an upward direction. A tall, pyramid-shaped plant with horizontally arranged branches. The genus includes about 50 species, of which the most decorative are:
- Korean fir- a wide-conical tree up to 15 m high. Young trees have smooth, gray bark purple tint, in adult plants the bark cracks. The violet-purple buds look especially beautiful.
- Balsam fir- a coniferous tree of regular cone shape, plant height - up to 25 m. The needles are located on the branches in a comb-like manner, the bark is smooth, gray-brown in color. The plant got its name due to its healing properties.
Pine(Pinus) is an important forest-forming tree. Pine is light-loving, frost-resistant, drought-resistant, and produces good annual growth. Thanks to its dense crown, the plant is very decorative and is successfully used in parks and gardens on calcareous, rocky and sandy soil.
- Pine Compacta Glauka- a dwarf form 0.5-0.8 m high. The branches are densely located, short, directed upwards. Pine grows very slowly. Color of needles with outside- bluish-green, on the outside - bluish-white.
Spruce(Picea) is a very unpretentious coniferous plant. In coniferous gardens, blue spruce looks most aesthetically pleasing.
- Prickly spruce (blue) has a bright color of needles from light green to bright blue. Found in single plantings and landscape garden compositions.
In addition, dwarf forms and varieties of spruce are very popular: Glauca globosa, Glauca procumbens, Glauca prostrata.
Plant height is the main criterion for choosing conifers
Tall conifers
Tall specimens of coniferous plants can be planted on a large and small area. Often it is tall coniferous trees that take the leading role in the ensemble, and other plants are planted around them. Thus, a single harmonious composition is created.
When planting tall conifers, it is important to calculate the location correctly. Over time, the root system of the tree will grow and occupy a considerable area.
Popular varieties of tall conifers for the garden:
If the growth of a coniferous plant is too fast, it can be stopped. To do this, it is enough to pinch the shoots and prune. The formation of the crown must be carried out annually, otherwise the specimen will acquire irregular shapes and will look inconspicuous.
Conifers of medium height
If tall view Not everyone will decide to plant ephedra on the site, but shrubs and trees average size very popular among summer residents and gardeners. Traditionally, these plants are planted along paths and at the entrance, creating hedges and complementing compositions with them.
Dwarf conifers and their forms
Breeders have developed stunning forms and varieties of dwarf coniferous plants for the garden, which can maintain almost the same height and shape for several years. The tallest dwarf species can reach 2 meters; compact plants, not exceeding 50 cm, are well planted in containers and tubs.
Clear geometric shapes highlight the structure of the rock garden. Dwarf conifers look beautiful in front of the entrance to the house and in compositions with ornamental grasses.
General rules for placing conifers in the garden
Landscape designers, when creating compositions from coniferous trees, adhere to the following rules:
Coniferous plants of different types have a wide range of colors. When combining plants into a single design element, it is important to consider a number of rules for color combinations:
- A composition of three elements should contain no more than 2 colors.
- A composition of five elements will look impressive if it contains no more than 3 different shades.
- Compositions consisting of 25 or more copies must be divided into groups of 3 elements, in which rule No. 1 must be observed.
When arranging conifers, it is important to take into account the growth of plants and the state of the crown in adulthood, so that the harmony of the composition is not disturbed over time.
Compositions from coniferous plants
Coniferous mixborder
A mixborder is created along the path, against the background of a fence, house wall or hedge. When arranging a coniferous mixborder, plants of various shapes, colors and heights are used.
Low specimens are planted at the foot of the composition, tall conifers are planted in the center, and tall coniferous trees and shrubs are placed in the background.
The mixborder is created according to the following principles:
- the vertices of one or another row should not create a straight line;
- the height and width of the mixborder should be in harmony: the area with tall plants should be wider than the area with compact plantings;
- repetition of three to five elements makes the composition more rhythmic and interesting.
Hedge
When zoning a garden, hedges made of coniferous plants are often used. Such a fence can also be placed around the perimeter of the site. In landscape or modern gardens, evergreen hedges are used as a backdrop for colorful perennials.
A dense functional hedge can be created by planting plants in a checkerboard pattern in 2-3 rows. A formed planting of Norway spruce is considered to be a fairly practical and less demanding hedge.
To divide the area into functional areas Medium-sized conifers, about 1-2 m high, are often planted.
All-round compositions
An all-round composition is a group of plants that should look equally impressive from any view. Most often, such compositions are placed on round flower beds, lawns and in paving openings.
Rules for creating a 360-degree composition from conifers:
- The tallest specimen of a coniferous plant is planted in the center of the composition.
- Plants of smaller height are planted around the central element at the same distance.
- The height of the second row should be no more than ½ and no less than 1/3 of the height of the central conifer.
- The height of the third and fourth rows should decrease proportionally, without covering the previous row and emphasizing its beauty.
When creating asymmetrical compositions, plants are placed in such a way that it is visually impossible to draw a straight line through three elements
Basics of planting and growing coniferous crops
In order for the ephedra to reveal its maximum decorative qualities, planting and caring for the plant must be carried out in compliance with some basic requirements:
Everyone’s dream is to have a coniferous garden on their property, the decorative nature of which attracts and enchants. The dwarf forms are especially fascinating with their exoticism. These plants give the site a well-groomed and prestigious appearance. Our article is about popular types of “babies”, how to choose a seedling, and about growing conditions.
Why are coniferous dwarfs so in demand?
Dwarf forms are plants with slow growth, the maximum height of which does not exceed 3.5 meters. For many, maturity occurs after several decades. Thanks to this, such miniatures are valued by owners of compact plots.Unlike the usual coniferous giants, low-growing ones do not take up much space, do not shade the area and exactly replicate their large-sized counterparts. Today, many varieties have been developed based on pine, juniper, spruce, and yew.
Spruce Canadian Common 60-80 cm
Dwarf forms are in demand in landscape design; they fit perfectly with deciduous shrubs, are included in compositional groups with flowers. Indispensable for decorating rock gardens, rutariums, rockeries.
Babies may have non-standard colors and bizarre shapes. Main advantages: possibility of placement in any limited space; frost resistance, as they are always “head over heels” covered in snow.
The nuances of growing conifers
The fashion for miniature plants has appeared recently, and many gardeners are still poorly versed in varieties, do not attach much importance to the distinctive features of each subspecies, and are unfamiliar with varietal characteristics. This often causes difficulties when growing dwarf conifers.Each plant has individual volume parameters and growing season speed. The cause of cultivation errors comes from inattention when choosing. Some varieties grow by 2-3 cm per season, and there are also varieties that grow by 10-30 cm. Such a difference leads to a violation of the intended layout and distortion of the intended outlines. As a result, your seedling suffers, as redevelopment and transplantation begin.
The main condition for successful growing– ability to understand varietal classifications. Coniferous dwarfs, based on growth characteristics, are conventionally divided into five subspecies. Data is based on annual growth and is expressed in centimeters.
1. Micro-dwarfs – 1-3.
2. Mini-dwarfs – 3-8.
3. Dwarfs – 8-15.
4. Medium-sized semi-dwarfs – 15-30.
5. Full-grown - in a year they increase by more than 30 cm. By the age of 10 they are a mature plant with a height of 3-3.5 meters.
Difficulties in caring for mini-conifers lie in processing fungicidal preparations(at least twice a year), as there is a tendency to develop fungal infections. The soil needs to be cleared of fallen pine needles and leaves.
Pay special attention to the label. For the correct product, information is given not only about the name, but also the variety, species, genus, family is indicated, at least in Latin. Inspect the seedling and make sure it is in excellent condition. Never take with bare roots - they are doomed. Choose a conifer growing in a container.
If doubt arises about the varietal conformity, the classification can be determined visually. The growth rate is usually clearly visible on the side shoots. Accordingly, micro-, mini-, or other types of dwarf can be recognized by eye. You will receive a quality guarantee at the nursery. There you will be given advice and guided with your choice.
Dwarf conifers in landscape design
Rockery – perfect place for micro- and mini-dwarfs. The remaining categories, except for full-grown ones, amazingly complement compositions with stones, driftwood, and planted on the lawn. It is customary to mulch the soil under group plantings with wood chips or pine bark. Almost all joint plantings Mountain Pine is used: Winter Gold, Mops, Gnom.A combination of several varieties, with various forms crowns and the color of the needles fit together well and do not require any additions. For example, take three plants, the tallest one will serve as a vertical (Cypress, Balsam Fir). Second, it is advisable to choose a spherical one (Mini Mini, Kaktus, Frodo pine). It remains to complement the composition with a creeping coniferous bush.
Most often, the basis for miniatures is the dwarf species of Thuja Occidentalis, let’s name the most popular:
Amber Glow (golden-yellow hemisphere up to 80 cm),
Anniek (spherical 50-80 cm, up to 1 m wide),
Aurea Nana (150-170 cm, oval crown with a pointed crown),
Aureo-spicata (conical height up to 3 m),
Caespitosa (cushion-shaped, compacted, at 15 years of age height 40 cm, width 30,
Cloth of Gold (the slowest growing),
Compasta (ovoid up to 2 m),
Cristata Aurea (erect 1-1.5 m),
Danica (spherical, reaches 50 cm by the age of 20),
Hoseri (multi-stemmed, disc-shaped, 70-90 cm, diameter 120).
It is no longer uncommon to find summer cottages dwarf coniferous trees and shrubs. For a better understanding of the topic, let us explain that dwarf forms include plants whose height in adulthood is less than 3.6 m, or they grow in height so slowly that they reach maturity after more than a dozen years. Let’s talk about these “little ones”.
What attracts dwarf conifers
Breeders from different countries put a lot of effort into breeding as many coniferous species as possible. Their efforts were not in vain, and now there is an impressive variety of ornamental coniferous plants, among which you can find varieties with regular geometric shapes and bizarre growth anomalies, with needles not only in shades of green, but also with yellow, golden, bluish and silver. Such an interesting direction as the selection and breeding of dwarf coniferous species, characterized by miniature sizes and slow growth rates, has not gone unnoticed.
Dwarf variations were found in large quantity coniferous plant species: spruce, pine, juniper, yew, etc. The unusual miniature size generates interest in such plants, because we are all more accustomed to seeing coniferous giants tens of meters high. What’s also fascinating about dwarf conifers is that in other respects, except for size, they exactly copy their full-size relatives. Another advantage of conifers is due to their compactness - much less space is required for planting them. For this reason, some gardeners even collect different types of conifers in their dwarf varieties.
Dwarf conifers appeared in our gardens relatively recently, but quickly fell in love with many gardeners. At the same time, there were certain mistakes in their breeding, associated with a misunderstanding of what place they should be given in the garden. The reason was that the concept of “dwarf conifers” united different species that differed greatly in growth rates, which is why it often turned out that one dwarf species grew by 2-3 cm during the year, and another by a couple of tens of centimeters. Naturally, due to such a difference in growth, the initially planned plantings eventually lost their intended outlines, and the need for new transplants and redevelopments arose.
Unfortunately, the trend of inaccurate use of concepts continues to this day, both in the literature and among sellers.
The classification is so important for creating a harmonious landscape design. dwarf varieties on the topics of their growth has already been created, but not everyone uses it yet.
Dutch gardeners who dealt with the problem of classifying dwarf conifers proposed divide them into:
- full-grown, which can grow more than 30 cm per year, and at 10 years of age reach a height of 3 m;
- medium-sized and semi-dwarf with an average annual growth of 15-30 cm;
- dwarfs (dwarf), characterized by an average annual growth of 8-15 cm;
- mini-dwarfs with an increase of approx. 3-8 cm per year;
- microdwarfs with an annual growth rate of no more than 3 cm.
General recommendation: First find out everything about the dwarf, then buy and plant. The main sources of information for you will be a sales consultant, the Internet, and advice from friends who have experience with dwarf conifers. If the necessary information from these sources is insufficient, then you can rely on a visual inspection of the plant and examination of the label. By eye, you can try to determine the growth rate of the past and current year in the guide, or in the side shoots.. A good label indicates the genus, species, variety, plants - it certainly should be in Latin. Ideally, the nursery in which the plant was grown is also indicated.
To choose the right dwarf coniferous tree for your garden, it is recommended to determine which category from the classification described above the seedling you like belongs to. Knowing what crown shape is typical for this species, it will be easier to estimate the parameters of the tree in a few years and, taking this into account, choose it suitable place in the landscape of your garden.
Dwarf conifers: planting and landscape design issues
Creating a harmonious composition of dwarf coniferous plants is not so easy: you have to take into account not only aesthetic and spatial requirements, but also find the right place for each tree, taking into account its potential size and growth rate. Therefore, it is precisely what the seedling will become in a few years that you need to focus on. Using information about the average annual growth of dwarf conifers planted on the site, you have to calculate what diameter the seedling will be after 5, 10 or even 15 years, how much it will increase in height and width.
A particularly careful approach is required when planting mini- and micro-dwarfs. Their modest size allows them to be included in the composition of a rock garden, rock garden or hill. In general, dwarf conifers always look harmonious against a rocky background; miniature green spaces greatly enliven the harsh rocky landscape. A group of dwarf conifers greatly benefits from an aesthetic aspect if the ground under them is mulched with pine bark.
Descriptions of some popular coniferous dwarfs
Below we will describe several popular dwarf forms of coniferous plants that can wonderfully decorate your garden.
Mountain pine is the record holder for the number of dwarf forms, the most famous varieties are “Gnom”, “Mops”, “Winter Gold”, there are many varieties with a dense crown in the shape of a ball and unique micro-dwarfs - “Frodo”, “Kaktus”, “Mini Mini”. Almost all soils are suitable for pine and its dwarf forms.
Balsam fir "Hudsonia" - also very interesting dwarf plant, no more than 30 cm high and a crown up to 60 cm in diameter. It grows very slowly and has a pleasant aroma. The perfect solution For small gardens.
Lawson's cypress "Minima Aurea" is a very pretty dwarf conifer with bright yellow needles, shaped like a pyramid. It is easy to grow, you just need to protect it from the winds.
Juniper scaly "Meyeri" is another dwarf juniper with dimensions of 90 cm x 60 cm.
Quite shaggy, but immediately attracts the eye. Cool blue color.
Sometimes brownish spots appear on adult specimens, which are recommended to be cut off.
Canadian spruce "Konika" is a rather large plant for a dwarf form (120 cm x 60 cm). One of the most popular varieties of coniferous plants. It is distinguished by a strict conical shape, which does not lose over time. The needles on new shoots are a pleasant bright green shade.
Pseudotsuga Menzies "Fletchery" is not the smallest dwarf coniferous plant (90cm x 150cm).
The needles of the needles are colored blue-green color, the bark is furrowed, the apex is flat.
Canadian hemlock "Pendula" is a winter-hardy dwarf conifer; the term "Pendula" in the name indicates that it belongs to the weeping forms, therefore it looks especially impressive when its branches hang from the wall.
Thuja occidentalis "Hurt's Midget" - but this is a very miniature plant (30 cm x 30 cm). It grows in the shape of a dense ball with soft needles. Perfect for small garden plot and will feel good in not very dense shade.
Thuja occidentalis "Rheingold" is another variety of thuja, but larger (90 cm x 90 cm). The plant looks as if its branches were combed upward, thanks to which the spherical shape was transformed into a conical one. This material will tell you about preparing conifers for winter.
The rich golden color of the needles begins to cast bronze in the fall.
Evergreens decorate the garden and improve the health of the air. Often, if you feel unwell, walks through a coniferous forest or park area are recommended. These are hardy and beautiful trees, but in the garden they feel a little different than in wildlife. Despite their unpretentiousness, they will still need to be given attention and care.
Coniferous plants for the garden and cottage
All coniferous plants are highly decorative and look great in group and single plantings. With their rich green color, they provide year-round attractiveness to the garden. However, not all conifers are evergreen. Among them there are those that shed their leaves for the winter. But for most representatives, the renewal of needles occurs unnoticed: in place of the fallen one, a new one immediately grows.
Tall
Tall conifers can play a major role in garden design. They serve as a background for other plants and are effective in compositions with deciduous trees and bushes. They are often a solo plant in the garden. Small size plot is not a reason to refuse tall conifers. In order to for many years To decorate the local area, it is enough to plant one tree. In 10–15 years it will become an accent in the garden, invariably attracting attention.
Juniper Skyrocket
Evergreen conifers - great choice for creating hedges, decorating rock gardens and rockeries
A vigorous shrub, notable for its cone-shaped crown. At the age of 10 years it reaches 3 meters in height. In landscape design, it is most often used in single plantings and as a vertical element of group compositions. With a tree height of 5–7 m, the diameter of its trunk is at least 1 m.
Sun-loving, does not tolerate shade. Prefers fertile, breathable soils. Winter-hardy, drought-resistant, has a powerful root system. The needles are small, with a bluish tint. Suitable for growing in urban environments.
IN recent years Hoopsie spruce is considered a favorite among gardeners
A representative of tall conifers, with a luxurious cone-shaped crown with blue needles. Grows up to 15 m tall, unpretentious and hardy. The diameter of the trunk of an adult plant can reach 5 m. It is distinguished by the rigidity of its needles, which is why it has the second name “prickly”.
Strong spruce branches can withstand significant snow load. The tree tolerates well difficult conditions urban environment, recommended for planting in parks and other recreation areas. Remarkably high growth rates: annual growth of at least 20–30 cm. In the garden it is most impressive in single plantings. It is undemanding to soil quality and does not tolerate waterlogging.
The columnar crown of the thuja Brabant allows the plant to be used as a hedge
In the Russian climate it grows up to 3.5 m. Not suitable for landscaping areas in regions with arid climates. It is moisture-loving and tolerates air pollution well. Recommended for creating hedges in cities and towns. Thuja Brabant can be planted in both sunny and shaded areas of the garden.
The tree is evergreen, the lower branches are located almost at ground level. The needles are bright green, medium hard. The crown is narrow pyramidal in shape, dense. On average, per year it grows by 10 cm in width and 30 cm in height. The fruits are brown cones, 8–12 mm long, oval in shape with widening at the base. Looks great in single and group plantings, recommended for forming alleys and hedges.
The difficult Russian climate is not an obstacle to the growth and development of Unicolor fir
Known as a tree with beautiful needles, a dense pyramidal crown, oval dark purple cones 80–120 mm long. The single-colored fir has much larger and brighter needles than other members of the genus. The average length of the needles is 70 mm. A distinctive feature is the same color on both sides. Fir grows up to 40 m in height with an annual growth of 15–20 cm.
Grows well on sandy loams and loams, prefers well-lit places. It is highly drought-resistant and recommended for planting in the southern regions. Among all types of fir, it has a reputation as the most hardy and resistant to adverse environmental factors.
European cedar pine looks good and takes root near water bodies
A close relative of Siberian pine, which is often confused with cedar due to its external similarity. It grows up to 25 m in height, the trunk diameter of an adult plant is 100–150 cm. It is shade-loving, but can grow in sunny places. The needles are long, elastic, dark green with a bluish tint on the back of the needles.
European pine blooms in June, the fruits are dark brown cones. This tree is a long-liver, with an average lifespan of 300–500 years.
Canadian yew needles are sickle-shaped
A shade-loving tall plant growing up to 2.5 m tall. The needles are thick, dark green, longer at the base of the branches than at the top. The crown is pyramidal, up to 2 m in diameter.
Good for molding. The plant is frost-resistant, with an annual growth of up to 5 cm. The bark, branches and needles are poisonous due to the presence of an alkaloid toxin. The wood is hard and durable.
Low-growing (dwarf)
Dwarf conifers for the garden are the product of many years of selection by specialists from different countries. Plants of this type are rarely found in nature. Low conifers are one of the spectacular plants for the garden, and at the same time the most problematic. The reason is that if the planting site is chosen incorrectly, dwarf plants can produce good annual growth. The plant in this case may be taller than defined by the standard.
The golden needles of the thuja Amber Glow change color depending on the time of year.
A low-growing shrub with a spherical crown and golden needles. Average height is 80–90 cm, annual growth is within 5–6 cm.
To save decorative properties The shrub must be planted in sunny areas of the garden. In the shade, the needles take on a green tint.
Amber Glow has good frost resistance, but requires shelter for the winter. The bush looks great as a soloist and in a composition with flowers and deciduous plants. Heather gardens are also recommended.
Oriental thuja Aurea Nana can be grown in containers for use in decorating terraces
An evergreen tree with a beautiful ovoid crown, dense and branched. Feature: pointed crown. Grows up to 170 cm tall. Annual growth is 5–6 cm. Crown diameter is 80–90 cm. The needles are golden-green in the warm season, with a bronze tint in winter.
The plant is unpretentious and grows well on any soil, except rocky and heavy clay. Prefers well-lit places, moist, breathable soils.
Possible planting in partial shade. For normal plant development, regular watering is necessary. Small thuja is suitable for forming low hedges; in urban environments it is grown as a border.
Thuja occidentalis Caespitosa
In 1923, Thuja Caespitosa was discovered in the greenhouse of the Irish Botanical Garden in Dublin, its origin unknown.
One of the shortest coniferous plants, reaching a height of no more than 40 cm. The crown is dense, cushion-shaped, semicircular in shape. It is characterized by low growth intensity: by the age of 15 it is a tree 30 cm high with a crown width of 35–40 cm. The branches are erect, the needles are dense.
Thuja occidentalis Danica
With regular pruning, the crown of Danica's thuja becomes dense.
Dwarf thuja, characterized by extremely slow growth. By the age of 20 it reaches 60 cm in height and the same in crown diameter.
In the warm season, the needles of the tree are bright green, but with the onset of cold weather they take on a brown tint. It is recommended to plant in places protected from the wind, in partial shade.
The plant needs shelter in winter and protection from sunburn in summer. The root system is superficial and requires regular watering in the first two years after planting. Tree trunk circle It is recommended to mulch thujas to retain moisture.
Thuja occidentalis Choseri is widely used in modern gardens due to its unusual crown shape.
Evergreen low-growing thuja, bred by Polish breeders. It has a spherical dense crown.
A multi-stemmed plant with thick scaly needles that change by autumn green to bronze-brown. The tree is frost-resistant, but in the first 3–4 years after planting it needs shelter for the winter.
It tolerates crown molding well and exhibits small annual growth. Planting on well-drained fertile soils is recommended. Tuya Hoseri requires regular watering.
Creeping
Creeping conifers are also called creeping conifers. The most common area of application in landscape design is decorating gardens and local areas as a “prickly lawn”. Some types of juniper are horizontal and reach a height of only a few centimeters and are used as ground cover plants. Creeping conifers of medium height make spectacular evergreen borders.
Ground cover juniper Blue Chip is characterized by high winter hardiness
Juniperus horizontalis Blue Chip is one of the popular varieties of creeping conifers. A plant with small and dense needles of a silver-blue color. It grows quickly, forming a continuous prickly carpet.
The shrub is characterized by an average growth rate; by the age of 10 it reaches 20 cm in height with a crown width of 30–50 cm. The shoots grow evenly in different sides, the tops are slightly raised above the ground level.
Juniper Blue Chip is a powerful air purifier that improves the health of the atmosphere within a radius of 10 m from the place of growth. Widely used for decorating rockeries and rock gardens, feels good on rocky soils.
It is drought-resistant, but the plant requires watering to achieve high decorative properties. The soil should be well-drained; stagnation of moisture is undesirable. Photophilous, recommended for planting in rocky gardens, decorating retaining walls and small hills.
The branches of the flat crown of the Green Carpet juniper are pressed tightly to the ground
Dwarf juniper Green Carpet has soft, dense light green needles. The shoots are arranged horizontally, intertwined with each other, covering the soil with a dense fluffy carpet. By the age of 10 it grows up to 20 cm in height. The crown is wide and flat, reaching 150 cm in diameter. Planting on sandy and calcareous soils and sandy loam is recommended.
The plant grows well in sunny places, but prefers partial shade. Possible during the summer heat sunburn. It lends itself well to molding, after which the crown becomes denser and more beautiful.
Not a single weed survives under the dense carpet of Green Carpet juniper branches.
Frost-resistant juniper Prince of Wales is unpretentious to the soil
The low-growing creeping juniper Prince of Wales grows to only 15 cm in height. In this case, the crown diameter reaches 250 cm.
Effective in group and single plantings, recommended for decorating rocky hills and rock gardens. It is characterized by high winter hardiness, does not freeze out in Siberian conditions and Far East. When used as ground cover plant The recommended planting scheme is 2–3 bushes per 1 m2.
In the first few years of life, the crown has a cushion shape, later creeping shoots grow. Fruits with small cone-shaped berries. In the warm season, the needles are green with a bluish tint; in winter they take on bronze tones.
During the hot period, common juniper Depressa Aurea needs abundant watering and sprinkling of the crown
The low-growing coniferous shrub Depressa Aurea is characterized by high growth rates among creeping ones. Annual growth is up to 15 cm. The maximum height of an adult plant is 50 cm, crown diameter is 200 cm.
The branches are slightly raised upward, the tips hang down to the ground. The needles are thick, golden-yellow in color, and over time begin to prevail brown tones. In the cold season it turns brown. The plant is undemanding to soil quality, winter-hardy, grows well in shade and partial shade.
The slow-growing juniper variety Golden Carpet was bred by breeders in 1992
Juniper horizontal Golden Carpet is one of the popular creeping plants for decorating rock gardens, garden compositions and forming coniferous flower beds.
The height of the bush does not exceed 15 cm, the diameter of the crown is 150 cm. The needles are thick, golden in the upper part of the shoots, and yellow-green in the lower part, facing the ground. It is recommended to plant in places well lit by the sun: in the shade this plant loses its decorative effect. Grows well in any soil, but prefers moist and well-drained soil.
Photo gallery: conifers in landscape design
Coniferous plants are widely used in landscape design not only due to their decorative properties. Representatives of this group are distinguished by good winter hardiness, are shade-tolerant, and saturate the air with healing phytoncides.
Dwarf forms of conifers are popular in the design of alpine slides
Dwarf species will enliven and decorate a rocky hill. The crown of these plants tolerates pruning well and holds its shape for a long time. As an accent, 1–3 medium-sized conifers are planted, emphasizing the decorative nature of the rock garden.
A lawn is often used as a background for a coniferous composition.
A composition of coniferous trees with a cone-shaped and spherical crown is a decoration for any area. These plants go well with deciduous trees and shrubs.
When combining conifers and flowers in a flower bed, it is necessary to take into account the soil requirements of the plants
Single plantings of conifers add a touch of presentability to flower beds. With bright green needles they emphasize and set off the beauty of flowering flower beds.
When creating a composition of conifers, the tallest specimens are placed in the background
A frequently used technique is a combination of medium- and tall-growing conifers with creeping ones. In this way, a spectacular taiga area is created in the garden.
Coniferous plants tolerate topiary cutting well
The art of crown formation will help you create a uniquely beautiful plant in your garden. It will become the highlight of any composition, emphasizing the respectability and well-groomed nature of the site.
Conifers ornamental plants decorate the garden path all year round
Low conifers with a spherical crown are original prickly flower beds, most spectacular in single plantings. This technique can be used when designing garden paths and paths.
Tall coniferous trees can delimit garden compositions
Tall conifers are an excellent backdrop for rock gardens and rockeries, rocky areas, and flower beds.
Coniferous plants are widely used in landscaping parks
Tall and dwarf conifers are an integral element of large-scale compositions. Look great against the backdrop of well-groomed lawns.
Coniferous hedges are not only beautiful, but also functional
Linear plantings of tall conifers help to zone the area and create an impressive but passable barrier.
Skillful combination is the main requirement for creating a complex landscape composition of coniferous plants
A flowerbed of plants with different crown shapes is highly decorative. Caring for conifers is not difficult, just regular watering and trimmings.
Video: coniferous ornamental plants on the site
Evergreens do well in many climatic zones Russia. To create long-lasting garden compositions, it is important to choose the right variety. coniferous bush or wood, taking into account the requirements of a particular species to the influence of external factors.
