3 reasons why you should buy a conifer this Autumn

Creative, colourful and convenient – not necessarily the first three words that would spring to mind if asked to describe a conifer. Yet the modern day British conifer is all of those things as will be demonstrated during National Conifer Week 2010 which runs from 2 – 10 October.

During National Conifer Week, a campaign driven by the HTA British Conifer Group (ABCG) and supported by Plant forLife, many garden centres will be highlighting conifers as their ‘plant of the month’ with eye catching displays, demonstrating the variety of conifers available.

Roger Ward from Golden Acres Nursery who is chairman of the ABCG explains, “Conifers are a wonderful way of adding colour and shape to your outdoor space. Whilst being practical and useful they are also visually stunning and can transform a garden into something quite magnificent. Many conifers change colour throughout the year, so you can achieve fabulous splashes of orange, blue or purple in autumn or winter when other plants are dormant.”

With several hundred varieties of conifers available in the UK, existing in all shapes and sizes there is a conifer on hand to suit every type of garden. Choose from tiny dwarfs to magnificent trees – the modern day conifer can add structure and drama to any space, large or small.

British conifers are incredibly versatile and can fulfil a number of roles in the garden. Some are perfect for growing on balconies and patios, others great for giving height to borders. Alternatively, try using a pair of conifers around a door to create a striking, formal look.

As long as they are planted in the right spot and there are many positions in the garden that would be suitable, providing there is good drainage. Conifers are easy to look after.

Soil preparation for all types of conifers is important. The size of the planting hole should be larger than the pot that the conifer has been growing in. Add suitable organic material such as garden compost, well-rotted farm manure or weathered mushroom compost and mix in with the soil before filling around the plant’s roots.

Conifers will need watering to get them established, but once growing will need little attention and will provide year-round interest. They are pretty disease resistant, virtually maintenance free, needing just a little loving care during really cold spells and will perform for years to come.

What to consider planting, there are many to choose from:

• Thuja (Arbor Vitae) – ornamental and hedges
• Juniperus (Juniper) – different types can be used in borders, rockeries and
  containers, alpine troughs
• Taxus (Yew) – ornamental, hedges and topiary
• Picea (Spruce) – different types can be used in borders, rockeries and as
  specimen plants
• Pinus (Pine) -dwarf ground cover
• Cryptomeria (Japanese Cedar) -specimens and informal hedge
• Chamaecyparis (Cypress) -specimens, screening and hedges
• Abies (Silver Firs) -specimens

To be inspired download the Conifer Look Book here