We grow a small range of evergreen Conifers suitable for planting in small
and medium-sized gardens.
Foliage colour and eventual height varies depending on variety.
Their form or shape will usually conform to one of the following :
PROSTRATE:
Sideways-spreading or arching branches, they grow much wider than their
height.
SPREADING:
Loose, tumbling foliage.
BALL:
The growth is stiffer and vertical, but still loose enough to form a domed
rather than conical head.
CONICAL:
Stiff, upright, conical or pear-shaped growth.
COLUMNAR:
Narrow, upright growth, the foliage held close to the trunk system.
Price code S £1.42 each or price code C £3.26 each depending on size and
variety.
These are all slow-growing varieties that should take many years to out-grow
their position (many may never do so). We produce small, planting-out sizes only
- we do not grow large specimens.
As a general rule the varieties of conifer that quickly produce a sizeable
plant continue to grow rapidly after planting and soon outgrow small gardens.
CONIFER NOTES:
If you have never grown conifers before you need to understand their defence
mechanism against harsh, winter weather.
Unlike most plants, they have a highly-resinous sap which acts like the
antifreeze in your car - due to its concentration it prevents the water in
the sap from freezing.
This means that in freezing, winter weather, winds blowing through the
foliage can still help to remove moisture from the leaves.
If the plant had been a forest seedling growing in its natural habitat
this would cause no problem. Before it grew too far out of the leaf-litter
it would have sent down some roots below the frost-layer (the level below
ground where the soil is never frozen even in the hardest winter) enabling
it to take in water in freezing weather.
However, when you buy a pot-grown plant the roots are only as deep as the
pot base. This may cause two kinds of problem:
If severe, freezing condition occur you may need to protect your newly-planted conifers during their first winter. All the water surrounding the
roots will have turned to ice so they will be unable to replace any water
lost from their leaves. Use a wind-shield of sackcloth or similar open weave
material, but remember to remove it as soon as the frost gives.
Planting conifers in tubs means that you have just created an annual
problem, they have to be protected or moved out of the wind every time we
have a freeze-up (by the time you realise they need moving they are usually
firmly stuck down with ice). Unless you have a very sheltered position we do
not recommend the planting of conifers in tubs.
If you fail to take these precautions the desiccating foliage will slowly
turn a duller colour (dying) and then, eventually, brown (dead).
If your garden is next to a highway that is salted during the winter remember
to hose-off (using as little water as possible) any salt spray thrown up onto
the foliage by passing vehicles. If a cold spell ends in the usual bout of heavy
rain this may not be necessary.
