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Three Reliable Conifers for Troughs
By Lori Chips
 One of the first choices a trough gardener makes is the selection of a woody plant to anchor the miniature landscape. There are many conifers with a high "cuteness quotient," but three types stand out for their performance and longevity in a trough. Two things to remember: your choice of a conifer will instantly begin to guide the aesthetic direction you take, and most important, ANY container above the ground will automatically make the plants in them less cold hardy by about a zone.
One of the toughest and most classic choices happens to be Picea glauca in its many forms. 'Jean's Dilly' is a popular one. Most have a cone-shaped, Christmas-tree like habit with dense, fine textured needles. It will take protracted cold, winter sun and most exposures you throw at it except for too much shade. Because of its shape, it is fun to design with, but please keep in mind that a feature plant rarely, if ever, looks good placed smack in the middle of the container.
Another obvious candidate for full sun would be one of the many forms of dwarf mugo pines. 'Valley Cushion,' 'Paul's Dwarf' and 'Donna's Mini' among others will qualify. It is important with mugos (or any shrub) to pay attention to the growth rate when picking one out. Less than an inch or so per year is about right. To keep any pine tidy and tight, learn to "candle" the new growth. In spring when the growing tips have extended, pinch them back by roughly one third to two thirds. The new growth resembles a candle, hence the verb for trimming them. Use your fingers, not a tool for this, as a blade cut will invariably result in odd-looking growth later on. Candle all the growing tips for a congested rounded cushion, or selectively candle certain ones to create an asymmetrical, more windswept look.
The last type of conifer I'd like to highlight here are the diminutive forms of Tsuga canadensis, our native hemlock. Tsuga c. 'Minuta' or 'Coles Prostrate' are both excellent. The first has a round habit, the latter is weeping, often grafted onto an upright trunk and can easily be pruned to achieve various effects. A big plus for the hemlocks is their ability to thrive in shade. I have one that has been in the same shady trough for over a dozen years.
Although no plant in any given setting can be considered completely bullet proof, these three charming and reliable conifers come very close to it. |
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Creative Screening
By Jim Gerrity
 Of all of the different uses plants have in a landscape, screening is probably the most common. Almost every landscape has a view or views that detract from the overall feel of a property. Often, the first thought is to plant a tree or several trees to hide it. The simplest remedy is to mass plant evergreen trees such as spruce, Arborvitae, or white pine. However, not only may this be one of the most expensive solutions to address the problem, it's also the least creative.
By properly accessing the issues, you can plan the best solution. You may find that the views you are trying to hide are only visible from a few vantage points. Careful placement can keep you from planting more trees than is necessary. Take into account distance. The further away you plant, the taller the plants will need to be, and it will require more of them. Try planting in the foreground. Proper placement will draw the eye away from the view you are trying to hide. It's also important that the planting doesn't exacerbate the problem. Screening should look natural and blend into the background. If a planting looks out of place, the eye will be drawn to it instead of the reverse.
So, if your backyard borders I-95 or you have a neighbor storing vintage automobiles, give us a call. The solution may be more simple than you think. |
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 Spring Hours: March-June; Monday-Saturday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
For more information visit our Web site at www.olivernurseries.com, or call us at 203-259-5609.
Image in header: Detail from Spring, engraving by Bruegel. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Dick Fund, 1926.
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