Zigzag, I'd love to have some garden "Elves"! Heck, I'd love to BE one if I didn't have to work/commute most of my life. As for the evergreen...my (own) redesign for this foundation bed is to replace the typical, now over-grown "green worm" of boring (I guess) boxwood that was here when we bought the place. These bushes are all the same size, plain green, and prone to get out of hand twice a year. The place I moved FROM had a very formal front yard where I spent a horrible amount of time shearing hedges. I don't want to do that any more. Besides, this place is not the same kind of house as that one was. It was impressive, formal, Charleston colonial architecture...this is a very, very long one story double wide. (Hey. We downsized.) I'm thinking that shrubbery that is more varied in shape, texture and color and a lot more informal will help more than what is basically a long dark green underline along a long white house. I'm planning a curved edge to this border, a red Japanese maple at the set back corner between the main house and the room we are adding, several dark barberries or lorapetalums - something red or purple, anyway - a couple of sweet olives near the front porch along with a couple of yellow-green spireas, several variegated liriopes and a few spaces for annuals and perennials tucked here and there. I have it all drawn out on paper. I realize that many of these plants are used to death in landscapes but they should be hardy and easy to grow (important) and they can't ALL cost the earth on account of my limited budget. I do plan to spend a bit on that Japanese maple and on this vertical whatever-it-turns-out-to-be.There is just this one space between two windows where there is only boring wall. That is where I want to put a really killer vertical evergreen "something". Even though it will be in a "border" it will actually be more of a focal point (to balance the Japanese maple further down). I'd rather it did not grow higher than the eave of the house...so, not real tall. And I sure don't want to have to prune it. Oh...and elves are not in my budget. LOL But I was thinking. It doesn't actually HAVE to be a conifer. I would prefer evergreen but it could be something else if you can think of something impressive that would fit in that kind of spot. Oh, and I realize it is probably difficult to visualize from my somewhat spacy description but if anyone has helpful suggestions about my "design" I'd be happy to consider them. Just one more thing...I think those little magnolias are cute as bugs but my dh would divorce me if I planted one on the place! Even though I would be the one dealing with the dropped leaves!

I'll stop getting technical. Sometimes I assume I know more than I know. Junipers and water don't mix paricularly well if they are splashed on or the soil is always wet (my mom keeps her soil constantly wet in flower gardens)... our soil here is unique as I try to mention in my screen title. It's unlike anything you could imagine. I personally also know that humidity and splashing of water on a Juniper is not a good combination. This person is in Ohio. However Ohio seems to be one of the 'trickiest' states for me to get a grip on. They can grow Lawson Cypress (Gardengal, either species or cutlivar) with perfection and no-where else in the midwest can this be done. So... I made some leaps outside my "normal self." tjsangel, Ignore me! Truly. It's not like I should be this 'technical.' We're all gardeners and we should plant what we like. Ken's idea is a great plant for you. Kind Regards, Dax

Hey there everyone. Thanks for the replies! Ken: Well I was mostly just trying to help them get answers to their questions. I know for me personally I'd start a new thread for a question like that as opposed to burying in an old thread. As for loving them too much, well, I definitely am not one to do that! haha. as it is I have been doing Miracle Grow as I said, normal strength, once to at most twice per growing season. Usually just as the buds fully open, then once in mid summer. I do it about 1/2 strength. As you can see the results . I may water once or twice to the point of water coming out of the bottom, but then again it is a very porous mix that I'm using too so even that is not alot of water. I don't wanter a whole lot honestly. If there is reasonable rain I cut the watering way back. I check them about once a week or so and if they are DRY 2" or so down into the mix then ill do a watering. The main reason I even asked about ferts was mainly to gather thoughts on using a conifer specific type of fert as opposed to the general, all plant nature of MG. I suppose though that sticking with what has worked is my best bet. Will: Thank you! I've always admired how great yours look in containers as well. It's shown me that it can be done and done well and that's what I'm going for. I 'm going to upgrade a few others as well. Most have (or had) been in their new homes for 3 years now. While some were probably fine I like to err on the side of giving more room than not having enough. I think that is how I killed the horstmann blue dwarf, by NOT upgrading it fast enough. (ive killed a few others as well from not enough attention to the containers.) Granted it was a larger plant though. The Picea Omorika 'Bruns' was at its limit. One more growing season in that pot and I likely would not have been able to get it out of the ground (the roots were well into the ground through the bottom of the pot) and / or it would have died from not enough space / dessication. This upgrade for that one should last 3-4 years, and may be its last upgrade before needing to go into the ground. The P. Mugo Fastigiata are getting separated into their own containers to give them a bit more room. However nothing near as large of a change as what I did for the P. Omorika. They are much smaller plants in general and I think have adapted to more cramped spaces among rocks high in the mountains. I also think that the P. Sylvestris 'Gold Coin' ( if it makes it through it s scale infestation which is fairly bad) and the P. Strobus 'Elf' will likely be fine for another few years in their new homes as they have PLENTY of room and are not exactly fast growers. Josh: Yea I think I am going to keep doing what I have been since my results have been great to this point. As I said I was just looking for opinions on possibly using a conifer specific fert to maybe boost / enhance them a little bit. But hey, if it aint broke don't fix it right? Thanks again all! As always I'd love to see more photos of container conifers!

though cute and blue as babes ... they do turn into a rather large ugly tree ....and subject to those orange globs.. of which i am blanking this morning ... rust of some kind or another ... ken https://www.google.com/search?q=orange+blobs+on+juniper&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi2wLmM0MHQAhVC2WMKHde5DoAQ_AUICCgB&biw=891&bih=744&dpr=0.9