99 Garden design by Colette Charsley A Conifer is for Life, not just for Christmas


It’s a tough life being a conifer. Unfortunately there is perhaps no other single group of


plants that has been so badly used and maligned. Since the height of their popularity in the 1970s and early 80s they have become deeply unfashionable which is a shame because they have so much more to offer than simply being a prop for your Christmas decorations. Ponder the following: The world’s oldest trees are bristlecone pines that can live for over 5,000 years. The largest (by bulk) and tallest are also conifers: namely the giant sequoias and coast redwoods, some of which are more than 370 feet tall. On the other hand the world’s smallest trees are also, probably, conifers. The pygmy pine and pygmy cypress only reach just over three inches when fully mature. Conifers can be used in almost any


garden. They make excellent companions for perennials and ornamental grasses, as highly structural specimens or accent plants. You can use them as the anchors or punctuation points around which a design can be built. Many, such as Yew, respond well to clipping, cloud pruning or topiary. The Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris) usually grows to over 10 m tall but it can easily be pruned in late spring to keep it manageable and give it a more shrubby habit. They come in a range of colours from


green to blue, grey and gold. Some have interestingly coloured new growth or change colour completely during the summer or winter. Others have extraordinary coloured cones.


Conifers can be used in almost any garden


Good winter structure


They have strong silhouettes and can be used almost in place of sculpture. The basic shapes are pyramid, conical, weeping, round, flat or ground hugging. These can be combined to form dynamic sculptural groupings that really come into their own during the winter. Bear in mind that few conifers are native


A dynamic grouping Plant them in pots


to Britain. If you live in rural areas, you should think carefully about which you plant, because species with brightly coloured leaves or striking shapes can look badly out of place if juxtaposed with a natural landscape. In town or village gardens, however, a far wider choice is suitable. The only real limit is the size of the tree when it is mature. It is worth checking the growth rate of any that you like the look of because some, such as the dreaded Leyland cypress, grow at a terrific speed, whilst some are extraordinarily slow growing. Just don’t forget them after 12th night.


colette@charsleydesign.com www.charsleydesign.com t: 01803 722449 m: 07774 827799 Follow me on Twitter @ColetteCharsley


Professional Landscape and Garden Design


Creative and beautiful designs for village, town and country gardens


Colette Charsley PG Dip OCGD 01803 722449 07774 827799


colette@charsleydesign.com www.charsleydesign.com


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