Dwarf Evergreens for NH
Comments (7)
3 years ago
3 years agoRelated Discussions
My dwarf evergreen Magnolia is not doing well....
Comments (6)You are correct about them resenting being transplanted, however, I have moved several over the years (either because of a change in the design scheme or moving and taking one with me)--younger ones transplant better and I've read that the cultivar "Victoria" is better about moving than most. Cut off any dead wood and wait and see. (You can always replace it in the Spring--which is when I transplant this species anyway.) Grandifloras actually prefer some degree of shading. I have some in full sun, some part sun, and one in rather deep shade (all seem to be doing okay and are flowering). Did you make sure you watered it well once you moved it and kept it from getting too dry? Was it mulched? Mid-summer is a stressful time for transplanting as noted above. You might consider applying an anti-desiccant spray at this time. Bboy, I don't know what happened to 'Little Gems' in your area last year, but I am sure my Winter was worse than yours and mine looks fine (min 4 F. with bouts of freezing rain, ice, snow, wind, etc.). One of my most tender cultivars seems to be 'Green Giant' (based on burning of some of the foliage). But this one is also the fastest grower (no comparisons)!!...See MoreDwarf Evergreen
Comments (3)It's a learning curve, but the first thing to remember is that these evergreens (even dwarfs) never stop growing. Unfortunately, the only way to keep it from going past 6-8 is pruning. I'm not a fan of that just because it makes them look to cookie cutter looking. You could plant something that's slow growing, but will take forever to get to 6-8 feet. Or you can plant something that's fast growing, but will exceed 6-8 feet in time. If it were me, I'd plant something that grows fairly fast, after it gets to tall or out of control, chop it down and plant something new. A semi exception to the rule is to get a weeping conifer. One that can't get taller unless you physically train it. As soon as you get it to hit 6', let the leader bend over and head towards the ground to create a skirt. With that said, I will suggest Pinus strobus 'Angel Falls' or there are other weeping Pines available....See MoreEvergreen dwarf shrub for sun?
Comments (3)Oh yes, sacrificing the flowering criteria definitely opens up a lot more possibilities! :) Helleri hollies get about that height. I just bought some hollies called "Little Rascal," and they only get about two feet high by three feet wide (supposedly...that's what they say). I fell in love with the foilage on these. It's kind of crinkly. I bought them kind of late in the spring, though, and out of three now I'm down to two. :( I probably haven't watered them enough. I hope they do better once they're established. What about arborvitae? There is a globe arborvitae that doesn't get huge, but I'm not sure it stays below three feet. I'll tell you another plant I think has some awesome cool foilage - plum yew. But I don't know the ultimate size of those either. I *think* they stay small-ish...? I've seen some in our neighborhood that are about 2-3 feet right now. But, don't know how old they are. You should go to a good nursery and look around and get them to make suggestions. Bates Nursery is good if you're north of town. If you're east, Needham's and Bagatta's. Needham's has a good Web site and Bates' Web site is even better as it lists their exact inventory. :) You could spend some time looking around on those. Bates' site links you to pictures on Monrovia for a lot of their plants. Hope that helps!...See MoreSeeking dwarf evergreen/winter int. plant for container staple
Comments (1)Saw the most common Japanese red-barked maple, Sango Kaku, in containers on the patio at Winterthur Estate and Ilex verticellata in containers at Longwood Gardens. Quite impressive. Longwood had a yellow barked Cornus in a container. I use the Japanese Maple called Fjelheim in the same fashion, moving the pot about during different Winters. Did buy some bluestar junipers to place in pots to get through the Winter, but neglected them, and they are not pretty, but the ones I have in the ground are wonderful Winter accents. Did set up a Christmas tub outside church with moss and a central dwarf Ilex verticellata 'Red Sprite'. It looked good until replaced in Spring....See More
3 years ago- 3 years ago
- 3 years ago
Some pics.
Slope from a number of years ago when things were "neat". Spirea got raggedy looking, a couple of the barberry weren't 'Crimson Pygmy' unfortunately......etc. etc....
Now under construction:Up top is a small Pink Stewartia and a dwarf Oakleaf Hydrangea. In front of those are a couple Rugosa roses. I am trying to replace the Spirea 'Crispa' (in above pic) which all but died when we cut them back a bit with a hedge of Rugosas. There's a Dwarf Alberta Spruce behind the Stewartia. I'll be very happy when that tree really gets going and gets some height.
The dwarf alberta spruce and the barberry are staying. Anything else can come out, move around, etc. Nothing has been working for me as I've been experimenting over the last couple of years. This drought year has taught me to all but give up on perennials on the slope. Still have to remove "stumps" of everything I cut back today. Aside from the spruce and barberry, this can pretty much be considered a blank slate. Was thinking about trying some Oso Easy Roses 'Paprika' on the slope along with conifers.
Pic below shows brick staircase between 2 sides of the slope. The left hand side has a couple pinus and barberry and carpet roses. Would like to blend some dwarf conifers with right hand side. Was thinking something globular in front of barberry next to the alberta spruce to start that bit of symmetry.
Below is from left hand side where you can see the pinus and barberry. The barberry to the right is on other side of brick stairway. So the alberta spruce and barberry are on either side of the brick stairs. Please pardon the burnt lawn below. We were planning a revamp of this whole area so didn't care about the grass, but have changed out minds on that too........we've had terrible heat and drought this summer.
We have realized that despite the drought (we have been able to give some supplemental water but not a whole lot) that the Barberry, Dwarf Alberta Spruce and Pinus still look great. They don't appear to be suffering at all.
Any suggestions/ideas for design/evergreens, as well as original question regarding mail order sources would be welcomed. Thanks in advance.
- 3 years ago
whaas_5a