Vitax Conifer & Shrub Fertiliser,

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Make sure that use proper planting technique for your new conifer to establish. Take consideration to plant your new conifer correctly and it will reward you with a lifetime of wonderful landscape enhancement and improve the overall quality of your garden. Conifer Trimming Advice

Firm down the soil with your toe pointing towards the conifer so you're not pushing the conifer down, just firming the soil around it. Then cover the ground where you've firmed the conifer in. If you're planting a containerised conifer, trim any roots that may be growing out of the drainage holes and tease out any roots circling around the container. And in the second instance, the soil is unable to hold enough moisture regardless of whether there’s enough of it. 2) The Wrong Compost You only have to feed your conifers once a year. Overfeeding can cause problems of its own, so refrain from frequent feeding.

Conifer Hedge Spacing

And conifers use the natural resources in the ground to fuel their growth. The nutrients aren’t readily available in pots unless you’re frequently fertilising! Most conifers are evergreen adding year round structure and colour to the garden, a few such as European larch ( Larix) and the maidenhair tree ( Ginkgo biloba) are deciduous (lose their leaves in winter)

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. Conifers sold in nurseries are either grown on free ground or in a container. Field grown conifers are directly lifted from the ground and more likely to be root balled and may require more care than its counterpart. Put a piece of wire screening over the drain holes and shallow layer Horticultural Gravel so the drain holes do not become clogged, add a covering layer of compost so the roots do not directly touch the gravel. Conifers should be trimmed using hedge shears in spring or during a cooler period in early summer. In fact, pruning during dark and rainy weather is best because trimmers work more effectively on wet foliage due to the benefit of water lubrication and it means your foliage won't get scorched. Do not trim in the summer during times of plant stress, such as prolonged drought or hot, dry spells. Most conifers have little or no capacity to re-grow from old wood once it has been pruned into (with the notable exception of yew plants), so over-enthusiastic hedge trimming is discouraged as it often results in bare patches. Instead, trim little and often in April, June and early August, being careful to ensure you do not cut into brown, woody, older stems.

Conifers are available all year round in containers, from garden centres, nurseries and online suppliers.Most conifers for sale in garden centres and nurseries are small plants, usually in 2-3 litre pots; these settle into the ground well and will soon put on growth. You can buy large, specimen plants which, although costly, will give an instant effect. These semi-mature plants are harder to establish and require extra care in planting and watering. Signs of Pine Needle Scale are yellowing needles. These will progress from yellow to brown, then they’ll dop off. Conifers are characterised by their foliage, which is either scale-like for example in pines or short, spiky and needle-like as in junipers. The foliage comes in various shades of green, gold, silver or blue and variegated combinations; some such as Cryptomeria japonica take on reddish hues in winter. Conifers are incredibly resilient and can be planted year-round providing the ground is not frozen or waterlogged; however there are some seasonal recommendations. Preferably conifers are planted in early spring or late autumn during periods consisting of cooler temperatures and moderate to consistent rainfall. After you receive your new conifer, keep the rootball moist until the day of planting. Needle Cast encompasses diseases that cause conifers to shed their needles. Conifers suffering from Needle Cast will experience needle discolouration. First, the lush green needles will develop yellow spots, then fade to brown.

This whole process is called winter browning. Don’t worry; conifers often recover when the weather warms up. But choosing conifers native to your climate can prevent winter browning or lessen any damage caused. Mulch around the root ball to a depth of about 3 inches, and keep mulch away from the trunk. Mulch will help keep roots cool in summer and warm in winter and help retain water.

Conifer Planting Advice

In the first instance, there’s just not enough soil available to soak up the moisture required to keep the plant alive. Conifer plants are arboreous, gymnosperous seed plants which are spread across most of the planet. Due to their evergreen nature and ecological importance, gardeners and home owners around the world seek to grow these woody plants. Root disease is a conifer killer. These diseases come about when your conifers have wounds close to their base. Root disease can also invade the roots! When you are planting a conifer, make sure that the trunk flare (the point where the roots and the trunk meet) is slightly higher than ground level. This will compensate for the tree settling once it has been planted. Build a rim around the newly planted tree that will act as a saucer and allow water to collect around the roots.