Conifers

Conifers include Fir, Pine, and Spruce trees. Grow them for Christmas trees and seasonal greenery, or leave them in your landscape to grow tall, and enjoy the sound of the winter wind rustling through the needles. Most of the conifers we sell are native to North America, and all provide beauty and habitat year round.

Growing Conifers

• Soil: Tolerate a wide range of soil conditions; most prefer slight acidity.
• Sun: Most tolerate some shade.
• Planting: If you are planting in dry or well-drained areas, dip tree roots in a solution of Agri-gel before planting to protect roots from drying out. Do not soak conifers in the Agri-gel solution; a good dipping is sufficient.

  It is better to prune the roots than to crowd them in the hole; you can shear back roots by about a third of their length. Dig a small hole or make an incision with a spade and slip the tree in to the level it grew in the nursery. Fan the roots out. Water well and pack the earth down with your feet to remove air pockets.

  Periodic deep watering is far more beneficial than frequent sprinkling. Fertilization is not necessary in the first year. In later years you may fertilize around the drip line.

• Pruning: To make evergreens dense and compact, prune back the central leader and the center bud on the end of each side branch. Otherwise, leave them alone.