Vitax Conifer & Shrub Fertiliser,

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Many gardeners get a little over-enthusiastic when pruning their conifers, out of a desire to keep them looking neat and trimmed. Taxus baccata plants ( yew hedging), with their highly ornate, red fleshy cones, are one of the very few conifer varieties that will re-grow from old wood, making them suitable for hard pruning. Thuja Golden Globe should also not be dismissed as a slower and lower-growing golden variety which is excellent for delineating different parts of the garden. Be careful with planting distances as many conifers have a tendency to drop their lower branches if planted too close together, which makes them ineffective as a windbreak as the wind gets funnelled beneath the plants near ground level. Your conifer needs watering when the weather is hot. This may seem obvious (all plants need water!), but it’s easy to forget to water your conifer, thinking that rain will have this covered already. Signs of Pine Needle Scale are yellowing needles. These will progress from yellow to brown, then they’ll dop off.

that need pruning a little more than this include the Leyland cypress. Take your shears to this one between April and And give them access to some sunlight! Conifers will do well in full sun or partial shade, but they may begin to look sorry for themselves if you place them in full shade. As a general rule, you do not need to stake conifers. They only need staking if you plant them in a windy location. Stake large conifers for one year until the roots get established. Weeping and pendulous conifers also need staking until they can support themselves. Conifers need nutrients, too. Give your conifers a good feed as winter draws to a close. Then, mulch the top layer of soil.

Choosing Fast Growing Conifers

When establishing, trim any off-shooting or wayward branches or growth with secateurs or shears. Ensure the tools are sharp and disinfected before use to reduce the risk of damage or of disease taking hold after pruning. Cut the branch at an angle of around 60 degrees but avoid cutting anywhere near the collar of the branch (the raised area of bark at the branch base), as this could damage it. Always trim larger branches several inches away from the collar. Use secateurs on branches smaller than 1/2" diameter and shears or a pruning saw on larger ones. Fungal infections can seize the whole plant, not just its needles. But the needles may be the first sign of a problem. If you are keen to grow native plantsthere are three conifers native to the British Isles - common juniper ( Juniperus communis), Scots pine ( Pinus sylvestris) and yew ( Taxus baccata)

Root-balled and bare-root conifers are available in late-autumn and winter and should be planted as soon as possible after they arrive The most common cause of brown patches is adverse growing conditions - waterlogged soil, prolonged frosts or chilling north of easterly winds. Conifers are best pruned in late autumn or early spring. However, dead, diseased or damaged branches should be removed on sight, irrespective of season. Unlike other woody plants, conifers do not require frequent pruning because they cannot regrow new leaves and shoots from old branches, therefore, make sure a large fraction of fresh, green branches remain after pruning.While different varieties have varying needs, common problems with conifers tend to centre around the same things, so let’s take a look at the various issues you may encounter. 1) Not Enough Water

Water thoroughly until water comes out of the drainage holes. Water 2-3 times per week for the first several weeks and then once per week. For further watering, place your finger 5-8cm (2-3in) deep and water if the soil feels dry. Do not overwater. Mycorrhizal fungi forms beneficial associations between the roots and the soil, which will help your conifer take up a larger range of nutrients and water.Take garden conditions into consideration and with a small amount of effective maintenance and your new conifer will be sprucing up your landscape with beautiful foliage for decades. Conifer Planting Advice Regular pruning helps to contain conifer trees within their surroundings. When to prune a conifer tree?

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.Prune your conifer tree’s small branches using your hands, and cut away the tips of outer branches and dead, old branches gently. But make sure you do this at the right time of year! More on that next. 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. Wherever you grow your plant, make sure there’s suitable drainage to allow any water that’s not absorbed to seep out.