Care for conifers - 5 tips

Caring for conifers is actually quite easy because they are extremely robust. Nevertheless, it is best to follow our 5 care tips.

Almost all conifers are evergreen plants, which conjure up a little color in the individual gardens even in winter. In addition, in our latitudes, they are considered to be extremely robust, often hardy and, on top of that, absolutely easy to care for. Which is why they are so popular in gardens as solitary plants or group plants (sometimes also suitable for hedge design).

However, it is always important that when planting coniferous trees, you always take their expected size and width into account. The growth (fast or slow growing) of individual coniferous trees also often plays a decisive role in the purchase decision.

By the way:

Conifers are far more attractive when planted in combination with flowering deciduous trees. Extremely small conifers are also suitable for pot planting and/or grave planting. However, they then require more intensive care. (Link tip: plant coniferous trees - when is the best time for this?)

Interesting cultivated forms

In the meantime, the specialist trade even offers various cultivated forms of individual coniferous trees whose growth height, cone shape and cone colour, etc. can be perfectly adapted to the needs of modern gardens. How about a monkey tail tree or a Korean fir with blue cones at this point?

However, the conifers also require appropriate care so that you can enjoy the individual plants with their appearance for long enough. In the following, therefore, here are a few important tips that you should definitely observe when caring for conifers.

Care for conifers - 5 tips

Tip 1 - watering:

You should always water the evergreen trees regularly in the first year of planting and protect them from excessive sunlight (e.g. with an awning). This avoids so-called radiation damage and dehydration damage, which otherwise cannot be properly compensated for for many years.

With all coniferous trees, you must always bear in mind that the density of theBranches usually only a little water gets into the root area. That is why you need to water your conifers adequately during longer periods of drought. Otherwise, the conifers will soon only have brown needles.

Tip 2 - loosen the soil:

In principle, you should loosen the soil around a coniferous tree with a rake once a year (in spring or autumn). If necessary, you can also work in a little natural compost at the same time.

When loosening up, you should also roughly remove any needles that have fallen off, which will largely prevent infestation with fungal diseases.

Tip 3 - Fertilize:

Most conifers also thank their gardener for a complete fertilizer application once a year, e.g. by spreading blue seed around the trunk area.

Tip 4 - Remove broken branches:

Knocked branches, e.g. caused by the wind, should always be removed immediately from the coniferous trees (saw off as gently as possible). Furthermore, you should always free the branches from heavy snow loads during the winter months.

Tip 5 - pruning/shaping:

In principle, you should refrain from radical pruning or topiary for all coniferous trees, because many varieties then no longer sprout freshly on the old wood. The result: bald spots appear. You must take this tip into account, especially when planting hedges!