Caring for Conifer Trees

by Cris Carl for Networx

Conifers, made up primarily of spruce, fir, pine and hemlock, are an attractive and long-lasting addition to any landscape. Conifers naturally provide the bonus of evergreen color, which can serve as a backdrop or simple visual relief in a stark landscape. Conifers can be used in a number of creative ways as hedges and in rock gardens. So how do you get started planting and working with conifers?

Robert Childs, of the University of Massachusetts Extension Service, shares his knowledge on how best to care for conifers.

Before You Buy

Childs said the first thing you want to do is find a reputable nursery. Second, you want to have your soil tested. “Everybody forgets about the soil,” said Childs. “Most conifers prefer a soil that is slightly acidic,” he said. Childs said that conifers, when they do drop their needles, help to provide needed soil acidity without overwhelming the tree.

Also, be sure you know what planting zone you are in. For example, Massachusetts is a Zone 5. Conifers that would thrive on Long Island, NY (Zone 7), would not be able to tolerate the level of cold in Massachusetts. Here is a link to the UDSA Zone Map.

“Every tree has its own set of needs,” said Childs. “Plant the right tree in the right place.”

Childs also said that a basic rule of thumb about conifers is that most do not like wet soils. Research the type of conifer you want to plant. Childs gave the example of the salt sensitivity of White Pines. “You wouldn’t want to plant them next to a major road or the salt run-off in the winter will kill them. Whereas the Pitch Pine you’ll find on the Cape (Cape Cod) is very salt tolerant,” he said.

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Iuliana S.

12:29PM PDT on Aug 7, 2011

i transfered a little baby conifer from one country to another and i put it in a pot now is it better in a pot or directly in the garden?thank you

send a green star

Eternal G.

2:31PM PST on Jan 24, 2011

Ah the Bunya mountains!

D. J. W.

8:22AM PST on Jan 8, 2011

Useful tips. Thanks!

Beth M.

3:38AM PST on Jan 3, 2011

i like conifers..i have 4 blue juniper ones and would like some pencil pines.. conifers are wise but rather aloof trees..

Nancy S.

5:04PM PST on Jan 2, 2011

Good article

Randall T.

10:49PM PST on Dec 30, 2010

Nice article! People often forget about trees, but my father majored in Forestry, and spent a lot of time teaching me about trees, identifying them, their importance to the ecosystem, and so on. Here in W. Mass., we are lucky to have a wide variety of conifers, but lately, the increase of supposedly green "biomass" plants is threatening them. Is there any petition here against biomass projects? By the way-my latest plant is a good old-fashioned 6' Arbor vitae for the front yard. Last year it was a Leland cypress.

jane r.

8:39PM PST on Dec 30, 2010

Thanks

heather g.

12:07AM PST on Dec 30, 2010

Thanks for the useful info. I love conifers. I wish nurseries would guide people about the size of trees when they are fully grown. I've seen so many cut into bad shapes - sometimes on one side - or ripped out because their planting wasn't done with any forethought.