Decorating with fresh-cut evergreens is part of the holiday fun, but if you’re trimming branches in your own garden, prune with care. Cuts you make this winter will affect the shape of your tree or shrub in years to come: a cut just in front of an upward- or downward-growing branch will trigger growth in the same direction next spring. Tip for pruning … [Read more...] about Quick tip: Make kinder evergreen cuts
Evergreen
Designing with dwarf conifers
When it comes to conifers, bigger isn’t always better. We may pine for mature Douglas firs and Norway spruces, but those goliaths will swallow up most urban gardens. Thankfully, there are dwarf forms of many conifers, suitable for gardens of all sizes, right down to pots and troughs. Of course, “dwarf” is a relative term. The ‘Fat Albert’ cultivar of blue spruce is often called … [Read more...] about Designing with dwarf conifers
Cutting your own boughs for holiday decorations
If you’re making tabletop and mantel decorations from evergreen branches, your own garden may have much to offer. Boughs of cedar, boxwood, fir, juniper, hemlock and spruce are handy for holiday projects, but first consider where to make the cuts. Sometimes an overgrown shrub or tree is in need of trimming to balance its shape, and you may be able to use the branches you’ve … [Read more...] about Cutting your own boughs for holiday decorations
Protect evergreen shrubs and trees in winter
Despite the surprisingly warm days this week, it’s smart to consider what we can do to protect needle and broadleaf evergreen plants from winter injuries. Evergreen shrubs and trees might give the impression that they’re tough and resilient, but the truth is these plants require as much consideration as tender perennials, and need regular watering and an annual feeding to keep … [Read more...] about Protect evergreen shrubs and trees in winter
