It never ends

10 years ago

As some have predicted, after getting my first shipment of conifers, I have been making space for more against my better judgement (need to see my first batch survive at least one season). And now reading about deer in another thread, I am even more worried, deer have munched on everything here although I have not seen them hit conifers yet, they have hit the shrubs and even sedums.

I blame this forum!

First planted
Pinus mugo 'Ophir' and Picea pungens 'St. Joseph Broom"
{{gwi:279894}}

Latest conifer corner
Pinus contorta Taylor's sunburst
Abies lasiocarpa glauca compacta
Pinus mugo Carstens
Abies koreana Kohout's icebreaker
Picea omorika Peve Tijn

Yes I know some of these will outgrow the space eventually but it will be years and the perennials are moving in spring to make more space.

New expanded bed with Pinus strobus Hillside wintergold planted in corner (got this on sale). Have no idea what to do beyond this point but want to incorporate small shrubs, perennials and medium/small sized conifers. Already planted Picea pungens St Mary's broom and Thuja orientalis Franky boy (not in picture). Would love to hear suggestions.

Close up of the Pinus

Also these beds along side of house (3ft wide).

Soo, given the limited space, what small/medium sized conifers should make the shortlist. What shrubs/perennials work well with conifers for you.

And what would you plant along the house that would provide some height and interest (aside from usual arborvitae/upright junipers?)

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Comments (19)

Cher
10 years ago
Others will make recommendations. I just wanted to say that what you've done looks fantastic and what you have ready to plant does also.
Cher
j0nd03
10 years ago
What Cher said. Nice work!!
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Sara Malone Zone 9b
10 years ago
Wow! Love that pine...

Sara
alley_cat_gw_7b
10 years ago
Looking really nice so far! 'Youve got this' !!!!!

Al
wannabegardnr
10 years ago
I love the combination in the first picture.
firefightergardener
10 years ago
Happiness in these photos. Also one of the neatest looking gardens I have seen. Weeds and debris are not allowed apparently! :)
miclino
Original Author
10 years ago
Thanks but to be honest it looks like that because of fresh mulch. Also, it's easier to maintain yards when they are so small! I have to also be honest and confess that I did hire help to get this done although I did my fair share. Don't think it would look half as good otherwise.

I have seen some great top 10 lists on here, Will esp yours in the pic threads. Just need some ideas on what goes well in the context of the space pictured. Now that I have a little more area what moderate sized conifers are on your must have list.
tsugajunkie z5 SE WI ♱
10 years ago
Nice progress. Planting that side of the house looks pretty tight. How far to the lot line and where do those utilities run? Air space around the A/C is a must, but shading it from further out is always recommended. If the lot line is near, you may need to get your neighbor interested in conifers. ;-)

tj
miclino
Original Author
10 years ago
The bed is 3ft wide (wider around ac unit) and the lot line is not in the picture but its not too far (but far enough that any planting should not be a problem for neighbours). I was thinking of planting tall grasses around the ac unit.

The utilites are head towards the front of the house and I won't be planting anything large there.
miclino
Original Author
10 years ago
So for the corner bed in the this picture, I have been looking for some with a green/gold hue to put right in the center, something looks like a "skylands" or perhaps something like Picea abies Aurea Jacobson? Want something that will be mounded/broadly conical but not too large obviously so that it overshadows everything else or outgrows the bed too quickly. The bed itself is larger than the picture seems to indicate.

I can get skylands locally but worried about the fact that it eventually gets very large and may burn. The bed itself is eastern exposure and gets full sun till about 3-4pm when the upright junipers give shade.

The other option is a smaller Japanese maple but would prefer an evergreen.
clement_2006
10 years ago
And after !

Clement
miclino
Original Author
10 years ago
I think you may have meant this for another thread :)

Unless you actually just chopped down the large tree in my neighbors backyard!
tsugajunkie z5 SE WI ♱
10 years ago
I'll have to search other threads to see where Clement's post belongs. 8-)

In the mean time, for your bed, have you thought of the dark green globular form of Picea orientalis 'Bergman's Gem'?

{{gwi:611101}}

That, along with some of the smaller Abies concolors like 'Pigglemee' or 'Hidden Lakes Garden' or an Abies koreana 'Kohout's Icebreaker' might do well together there.

tj
miclino
Original Author
10 years ago
Thanks. I haven't yet added any Abies concolors to my small collection and looks like I will have to!
miclino
Original Author
10 years ago
Also, I need something sizeable with dark green foliage to set the backdrop for the corner bed. I saw some nice specimens of Pinus thunbergii Thunderhead at a local nursery and think this fits the bill.

Am I being unrealistic in thinking that I can candle prune it to bring it to the size I want? Eventually want it at around 5x6 ft. Or should I consider something else and if so what? In this particular case, don't really want to purchase something in a gallon size online and wait for it to fill in.
coniferjoy
10 years ago
Tommy, please change 'Pigglemee' into 'Piggelmee' and 'Hidden Lake Gardens' into 'Hosta La Vista'.
Thanks!
miclino
Original Author
10 years ago
Got this on sale Pinus leucodermis "Emerald arrow"

And here is the Pinus densiflora Burke's red variegated
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
10 years ago
pic above.. blue juniper... i got rid of all mine due to juniper tip blight ... and winter ice/snow load ... sooner or later.. it will fail ...

and what you might want to do.. is remove it now.. and space you your better cultivars ....

and you better start lopping off that apostrophe .. or joys head is going to explode ...

you are really going to have to start shopping for TRUE MINIs ... if you are going to continue to collect .... as you say .. IT NEVER ENDS... lol.. the budget just gets pinched .... lol

ken
miclino
Original Author
10 years ago
The plan is to keep the junipers for now for privacy, once the others fill in, I can remove them (if they are still alive)

It never ends

Comments (19)

Cher

j0nd03

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