Best dwarf conifers from a reading distance and from an overall view
Ontario_Canada5a_USDA4b
5 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (16)
PROOntario_Canada5a_USDA4b thanked David Olszyk, President, American Conifer Society
Ontario_Canada5a_USDA4b
5 years agoRelated Discussions
Conifer pics from England
Comments (31)Hi re-juvenator.This is a good one isn't it?I like the debate:.dwarf versus 'real' conifers.Very funny.Someone must have planted those real ones when they were probably not unlike their dwarf cousins.Resin comes along 50 years later and at the click of a button he becomes a 'real' gardener? I said in an earlier thread that I think that creating a garden is a courageous act.In fact,I think all planting is.Planting for now and for posterity,for ourselves but also for those who come after us.I used to do garden construction work in the London suburbs.You wouldn't believe how many private garbage dumps I have seen.And amongst all that thrash someone decides to have a patio,or a lawn,or a pergola or a wooden fence with some nice trellis on top of it.We hire a skip (container) and wheel out rusty washing machines,car tyres,soggy matrasses and what have you.Occasionally we demolish a WWII bomb-shelter.When the work is done it stands out like a vase of roses on the moon.When you come along five years later,you notice the neighbours have also made an effort,and their neighbours too,and so on.Now,twenty-odd years later,some of those gardens have huge trees in them.Very pretty when young,but alas,wrong choice for the available space. So,the miniature,the dwarf or semi-dwarf -be it conifers or something else-are indispensable for Mr and Mrs Jones's garden.Much as I admire the wonders of nature,I also admire the creative spirit of man.That's what keeps him or her ticking. T....See MoreDistancing: Dwarf and Mini Conifers
Comments (12)the key is the annual GROWTH RATE .... you can find such at the ACS database .... plus what you start with .... if a mini grows one inch per year .... it surely doesnt need to be put 10 feet from anything ... if a dwarf grows 3 to 6 inches... well you are going to have to give it more space .. comparatively speaking ... etc ... on intermediate and species .... i tend toward the logic of .. plant something that will make your toes curl for about 10 years.... and then get rid of it.. and start over ... if it out grows the space .....so i guess i use spacing under such logic ... no use buying things that FIT... just because they fit .... buy something special ... but then.. things die.... the one next to it matures into something really ugly ... etc ... so think about your garden in 5 or 10 or 20 years .... and truly understand ...NO GARDEN IS PERMANENT ... the real beauty of minis... is you can pretty easily move a 15 year old plant ... it isnt going to be all that big in the future .... but you dont want to try moving the bigger ones in a decade or two ... plan the backbones of your garden .. but dont worry too much about the smaller stuff ... my best advice .... there is no season for conifers .... get out this winter.. to a professional arboretum ... and instead of focusing just on the plants ... focus on how they spaced theirs .... you dont mention where you are.. if you did... we can probably recommend such .... if you are within 2 hours of hidden lakes garden in tipton MI ... just north of adrian .. it would be one of the best road trips you ever took ... in regard to conifers.... link below i have planted various shrubs.. and daylily and iris in between plants [the plants that most gardeners share for free] ... just to take up space.. and provide some interest ... if and when the plants need the space... well ... you know whats going to die ... lol ... they also can live with as little care as an established conifer .... good luck ken Here is a link that might be useful: link...See MoreThoughts From the Belly - December 2004
Comments (12)Diann & Cricket, Thanks for your kind responses. I am trying to pump a little life into this forum but it is sometimes tough to tell. I write these articles and have posted a few of them with usually almost no response. I'm not sure if nobody is reading them or if most just wish I would shut-up. Most of these articles are somehow design related because I believe that is where we, as gardeners, can get the biggest bang for our buck. I believe in substituting common sense in place of dollars and cents anytime that I can. The problem is that this topic has usually been so poorly presented that more fear and confusion have been created than helpful knowledge generated. Far too many folks wind up avoiding design issues because it intimidates them. One of the great secrets to life is that the experts usually don't know anywhere as much as you think they know. Unfortunately, when it comes to garden design, many of those who don the appearance of expertise know even less about it than the people reading the magazine. Sorry... I'm not falling for the notion that some writer living in a high rise apartment in New York City is qualified to be telling us (who actually play in the Iowa dirt) how to do things. Picante sauce should not come from New York City and neither should garden advice! I just try to present a little different look at design based upon what I have found actually works. Many times, all that really needs to be done is show folks how they can apply common sense used in daily life to garden situations. I am a great believer in the power of the human spirit. Given a chance and combined with a bit of working knowledge, the potential is awesome. However, each of us are individuals and we don't all learn things the same way. I attempt to capture the essence of design principles and present this information a bit differently without all the highfalutin words. Hopefully, some of us in "that other group" can now understand it too. I may be just an old clod kicker but I have come to realize that the "experts" seem to have a hard time explaining highfalutin words without using a bunch of other highfalutin words. Perhaps they really don't understand things that well either. IronBelly P.S. If anybody actually reads this stuff and would like me to continue posting other articles; please let me know. I'm not looking for ego strokes -- just want to make sure I'm not wasting your time. Otherwise, I'll just crawl back in my hole....See MoreBest native conifer 15 feet from end of septic?
Comments (29)I'm surprised to hear people suggesting pines. I always read that they're one of the worst choices near septic fields. I think I'll stick with Canaan Fir for now as it serves my needs and is the smallest growing of the native firs of eastern USA. speaking of which, Colin, by native, I mean anything in my general region...east coast, hilly appalachia style terrain. I'm in northwest NJ in a rural-suburban wooded area near a lake....See More- PRO
coniferbros
5 years ago- PRO
David Olszyk, President, American Conifer Society
5 years agoMy plant is about 5 years old and the size of a large Brussels sprout.
Ontario_Canada5a_USDA4b thanked David Olszyk, President, American Conifer Society Ontario_Canada5a_USDA4b
5 years ago
Sara Malone Zone 9b
5 years ago- PROOntario_Canada5a_USDA4b thanked David Olszyk, President, American Conifer Society
User
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoThese all fall into your 10’ view category.
P. Strobus ‘Blue shag’
P. Glauca ‘Jean’s Dilly’ and Tsuga Canadensis ‘Abbott’s Pygmy’ (rt. center)
P. Pungens ‘Sester’ and behind and to left Pinus contora ‘Spaan’s Dwarf’ (and continuing down Vanderwolfs Pyramidal pine, Canaan fir, P. Pungens ‘Hoopsi’, P. Pungens, Scotch Pine, Thuja ‘Forever goldy’, and barely seen is P. Pungens ‘Bakeri’ to the right of silver maple at bottom on left.)
Ontario_Canada5a_USDA4b thanked UserOntario_Canada5a_USDA4b
5 years agolast modified: 5 years ago- PRO
coniferbros
5 years agoI'm a big fan of 'IslPrim'...especially because it resembles a dwarf Hinoki, which I don't seem to be able to grow in the ground very well.
I bought this one from the ACS, it took winter like a champ. Bronze through winter, but greened back up very nicely for spring.
Several nurseries I frequent have had these little liners in 4" pots for about $15. How could I not get another?
Ontario_Canada5a_USDA4b thanked coniferbros- PRO
Jacob Bisharat VA zone 7A/7B
5 years ago
Related Stories
LANDSCAPE DESIGN9 Design Tips to Enhance Views of Your Garden From Indoors
Foster a stronger connection between home and garden by designing your landscape with window views in mind
Full Story
SELLING YOUR HOUSEA Moving Diary: Lessons From Selling My Home
After 79 days of home cleaning, staging and — at last — selling, a mom comes away with a top must-do for her next abode
Full Story
KITCHEN DESIGNStandouts From the 2014 Kitchen & Bath Industry Show
Check out the latest and greatest in sinks, ovens, countertop materials and more
Full Story
GARDENING AND LANDSCAPINGGarden Lessons from a Grand Northwest Reserve
Borrow classic landscape ideas from this Washington state treasure, a series of gardens as thoughtfully planned as they are spacious
Full Story
TRENDING NOW9 Great Ideas From Popular Spring 2020 Home Gym Photos
Houzz users were drawn to resort-inspired style, biophilic elements and gyms with screens for taking virtual classes
Full Story
SMALL SPACESLife Lessons From 10 Years of Living in 84 Square Feet
Dee Williams was looking for a richer life. She found it by moving into a very tiny house
Full Story
MOST POPULAR15 Remodeling ‘Uh-Oh’ Moments to Learn From
The road to successful design is paved with disaster stories. What’s yours?
Full Story
DECORATING GUIDES10 Design Tips Learned From the Worst Advice Ever
If these Houzzers’ tales don’t bolster the courage of your design convictions, nothing will
Full Story
KITCHEN DESIGNPearls of Wisdom From a Real-Life Kitchen Remodel
What your best friend would tell you if you were embarking on a renovation and she'd been there, done that
Full Story
HOUZZ TOURSDesign Lessons From a 10-Foot-Wide Row House
How to make a very narrow home open, bright and comfortable? Go vertical, focus on storage, work your materials and embrace modern design
Full Story
alley_cat_gw_7b