Take care with conifers

Press, 29 May 1981, Page 14

Take care with conifers

Conifers have countless uses as ornamental subjects, their variability of shape colour. and height providing suitable selection for almost every conceivable situation, from ground cover to individual specimens. Apart from such uses they have also proved to be invaluable as hedging, for shelter belts and as wood lots.

Size has been referred in a previous article, but no excuse is made for raising the issue once again.

Many conifers are particularly attractive when young, but they grow very rapidly. Ofen they lose their juvenile foliage, and become less acceptable the older and bigger that thev become.

As this happens they begin to over-crowd neighbouring plants and can create other problems of space, light, and depletion of the soil. The seemingly very suitable planting suddenly turns into a realisation of how very dominant they have become. This can become particularly embarrassing on the smaller sections more usually possessed today. It is easy to say that they can be shifted or cut down when the time comes, but this in itself presents problems.

Genuine sentiment is not an unknown quality even in present times, and it can be very hard to get oneself to dispose of a fine specimen of tree with axe or chain saw — a job which may in any case be fraught with difficulties in restricted areas.

Most well established con ifers resent transplanting un less the task is properly carried out. As this most usually requires mechanical assistance, it may again be ruled out because of the restriction in gaining access. Almost all the conifers can be pruned and shaped as desired, though many large specimens will not respond well to hard cutting back- if they have been neglected or allowed to grow for years without attention. Specimens of large stature once cut back will invariably require regular attention thereafter. Another point to consider in respect to the planting of large-growing conifers is that although the top growth can be restricted root development will still continue, and the hungry roots will be competing with other plants for nourishment.

Root pruning will possibly give some respite for a period of time, but this is not an answer to the problem.

The above remarks can apply- with almost equal facility to other types of trees. In the long run planting must be guided by the prevailing situation on hand. This includes the ability- of the owner to cope adequately with problems in good time should he choose to go ahead one wav or another.

All that can be emphatically advised is to choose well for permanent enjoyment — after all there is a very extensive range to pick from even if some are more expensive or elusive to come by than others.