help wanted with buying planting and looking after conifers

[straker]

Hello gardeners! . . .

I want to plant conifers to eventually make a hedge for a little added privacy, I know less than
nothing about gardening

So all help appreciated please, which type/colour to go for?
what size to buy?, best way to plant?, and then what do they need?

Looking at ebay my budget dictates a maximum size of 2 to 3 feet per per tree, are they harder to plant?
I can get lots of 30cm plants but obviously these will take longer to get to the size I'm after.

And then what? How often is it best to trim them and is there a best time of year for this?
How much can or should be trimmed in one go?

Sorry for all the questions but as I said, I know nothing!

thanks . . . straker

[Paul Drawmer]

errrrrrrmmmm. What is it that you particularly like about conifers?

[Simpo Two]

I'd go to a good garden centre and ask for advice.

[straker]

"errrrrrrmmmm. What is it that you particularly like about conifers?"

they grow quickly, I dont want to wait 15 years . . .
I like the colours . . . I believe they are green/yellow all year round, others I have seen look good, looks like they'll grow anywhere . . etc etc

you sound like you know something about them? I'm not set on them so if you have a better suggestion/alternative then let me know, as said I'm starting from zero experience.

the idea of posting here is to get real world experiences and tips . . . , whilst garden centres may well be knowledgeable, have they actually planted them/looked after
them for ten years/had to trim them every year etc?

thanks . .

[terry tibbs]

well they are a little boring but effective.

bit late to plant bare root, so containerised is the way to go from now until November

dig a large hole bigger than the container, when planting break away roots to help roots grow out as they will have been restricted by the pot.

Water frequently to help establish, once established allow them to get to the height you want and then try to keep them at it with biannual light pruning with a shape hedge trimmer.

When pruning try to keep flat or chamfer to the top to form an A
See CLG site re nuisance hedges

See rhs web site for any additional help

[thesyn]

Wow why would you want to visit this plague upon yourself? They grow so quickly and darken everything

Unless you are planning on moving within a few years then it will become someone elses problem

[Paul Drawmer]

Conifers grow quickly. Most varieties if left to their own devices will grow much higher than a house.

They keep growing quickly - so they need trimming at least every couple of years. If you leave it too long and then trim back beyond the growing part, you'll just have a woody part to look at, they won't grow the green back, except multiple shoots at the top.

They can and do become a problem, and have been the cause of many disputes because they grow quickly to a great height...etc.

So; even though they are green or gold all year round, they are a commitment to trimming.

Apart from that....If you are planning on planting 3ft trees of any type this year, you might like to put it off unless you feel like putting a monthly bucket of water on every one by hand this summer.

[rog007]

Paul Drawmer said:

Apart from that....If you are planning on planting 3ft trees of any type this year, you might like to put it off unless you feel like putting a monthly bucket of water on every one by hand this summer.

Depends upon where you live! Don't tar every water company with the same inefficiency and failure-to-fix-leaks tar brush!

[Paul Drawmer]

rog007 said:

Depends upon where you live! Don't tar every water company with the same inefficiency and failure-to-fix-leaks tar brush!

Good point!
But Hey; I live in Oxfordshire. Isn't that the centre of the world?

[straker]

thanks for the replies . . . pruning twice a year doesnt seem such a chore . . but then I havent
done it before

so, if conifers are evil what are the alternatives? . . .

thanks

[rog007]

[Vron]

straker said:

thanks for the replies . . . pruning twice a year doesnt seem such a chore . . but then I havent
done it before

so, if conifers are evil what are the alternatives? . . .

thanks

Laurel hedge - evergreen and easier to control.

Conifers are a quick fix but need regular maintenance to look good. The dreaded spider mite will turn them brown and once they get brown patches that's it you can't prune it out and get regrowth and it looks terrible.