Small conifers: low-growing species and varieties for the garden, photo

Content

1 Pros and cons of short conifers
2 Dwarf conifers in landscape design
3 Types and varieties of low-growing conifers for a summer cottage
4 Features of growing low-growing varieties of conifers
5 Conclusion

Small conifers are very popular among summer residents. Their size allows you to place several plants in one area at once. Frost resistance and ease of care make it possible to grow such dwarf forms in almost any climate.

Pros and cons of short conifers

When people talk about low conifers for summer cottages, they mean plants whose size is too small and uncharacteristic for this species. But such a definition cannot be called accurate, because if a tree in the wild reaches 20 m, and some of its varieties are only 10 m, they will not be considered dwarf because of this. Conifers are called small if in adulthood their height does not exceed human height and their width does not exceed the span of an arm.

Gardeners are attracted to the dwarf form of conifers with a number of advantages:

they are an exact copy of tall trees, including all their stages of development;
do not take up much space, which allows you to place several coniferous trees and shrubs in a relatively small area;
compositions made from dwarf plants do not lose their decorative appearance all year round;
ideal for planting in rockeries;
tolerate winter well;
they can be kept in containers and created various New Year's compositions.

Despite the obvious advantages of mini conifers, they also have some disadvantages:

poor resistance to fungal diseases, which requires careful removal of dried parts of the plant and treatment with fungicides;
the shape of the crown suffers, because in the spring there is a risk of branches breaking off;
many dwarf varieties have a short lifespan;
difficult to propagate by cuttings;
there is a risk of damage to the needles from the bright spring sun.

But gardeners do not refuse small conifers for their summer cottages, because they are very decorative. And with proper care, these plants will not cause problems.

Dwarf conifers in landscape design

In modern gardening, dwarf coniferous trees are experiencing the peak of their popularity. They are a decoration for any garden plot. There are connoisseurs who collect entire collections of dwarf fir, spruce, pine and other representatives of the species.

The most successful people in growing small coniferous trees are in Holland. They offer a conditional classification of conifers:

full-grown — growth is up to 30 cm per year, at the age of 10 years such coniferous crops reach a height of 3 m;
medium-sized (semi-dwarf) - their size ranges from 15 to 30 cm;
dwarf - no higher than 15 cm;
mini dwarf - up to 10 cm;
microdwarf - no more than 5 cm.

Small conifers are used almost everywhere: single or group plantings, flower beds, containers. They are often located at the entrance to the house. Dwarf coniferous plants for the garden will attract attention in any type of landscape.

Advice! When purchasing small forms of trees, you need to carefully study the name - the form nana, dwarf or prostrata should be written on the label.

Experienced gardeners can determine at first glance how much a dwarf tree can grow, which allows them to correctly place it on the site.

Types and varieties of low-growing conifers for a summer cottage

There are many varieties of each type of low-growing conifer, which allows you to choose the one suitable for a particular landscape. They are all decorative and differ in sizes and shades of needles. Such small plants will fit even on a small plot of land. Below are the names and photos of the main low-growing conifers in the garden.

Pines

Dwarf representatives of pine trees have a spreading crown and needles collected in small bunches. The number of needles in bunches differs for each variety. The needles are replaced every few years. Pine trees are the most unpretentious conifers. It is important to ensure proper placement and care in the first year of life. Such plants love light and tolerate frost and drought well.

Small forms of mountain pine are popular among gardeners: the Gnom variety with long needles and a spherical crown, grows up to 1 m; varieties Mops and Ophir reach only 0.5 m in height.

Variety Gnom on the picture:

Ate

Very often, dwarf versions of spruce trees are used in gardens and parks, as well as in summer cottages. The most common:

Low-growing form of common spruce variety Little Gem - has a flat-rounded crown, annually gives an increase in height of about 2-3 cm and by the age of 10 years reaches 0.5 m.
The miniature format of Canadian spruce is represented by varieties Laurin with a crown in the form of a narrow cone, spherical Echiniformis and Alberta Globe, looking like a hemisphere. They add up to 2 cm per year, and at the age of ten their height is only 0.4 m.
Spruce Laurin on the picture:

A variety of prickly spruce - nest-shaped spruce dwarf variety Nidiformis.

So named because of its crown shape with a slightly flattened top. Every year it gains 3-4 cm in height, but mostly in width. The height of this conifer rarely exceeds 1 m.
Variety Maxwellii - the smallest representative of the prickly spruce, reaching only 0.6 m. Thanks to these parameters, the conifer is often grown in containers as a New Year tree.

Junipers

Junipers are represented by many dwarf forms. The most popular of them:

Wiltonii - grows only up to 10 cm and gains height very slowly. Recommended for planting in large groups or individually, but among large stones.
Green Carpet — the height of the plant is around 10-15 cm, but the juniper spreads to the sides by 1.5 m. The needles are not thorny, it is undemanding to watering, and can withstand severe frosts well.
Repanda - dwarf creeping juniper, 30 cm high and about 1 m wide. It has soft needles and a flat crown. Also used for green roofs, it can withstand harsh conditions.
Spotty Spreader - creeping dwarf conifer up to 20 cm tall, growing 2 m wide. In the sun, the ends of the shoots become creamy.
Pfitzeriana Compacta - bushes grow up to 30 cm and spread 2 m around. It grows quickly, the needles are soft, there are no hard shoots, which makes it look like a soft grass lawn.

larches

Dwarf larches are represented by such varieties as Larix decidua, Compacta, Kornik, Marta Radek. The latter is the most popular; it has a spherical crown and is grown in standard form, reaching 1 m in height.

The Marta Radek variety is shown in the photo:

Tui

Cypress conifers are mostly heat-loving, but there are also cold-resistant varieties.Most dwarf trees are very miniature, however, shrubs are also found in this group. In any case, their size allows you to plant low-growing varieties in the plots; they look very impressive. There are two types of cypress conifers:

with yellow needles, they are located in well-lit places;
with green needles, Suitable for growing in light shade.

Most often, gardeners can find dwarf thuja. The Amber Glow variety is interesting for its golden hue of needles and its small size - its height is only 1 m. Oriental thuja has a low-growing Aurea Nana variety. These small conifers have a dense oval crown with many branches and a sharp crown. The needles are golden-green in color during warm periods and bronze during cold weather. Western thuja is represented by several dwarf varieties - Caespitosa, Danica and Hoseri.

Amber Glow variety with a golden hue:

Fir

Fir is a fast-growing conifer. They are usually placed in partial shade, in areas protected from the winds. The soil must be moist and good drainage must be ensured. Caring for small fir trees is simple and includes loosening the soil and timely sanitary pruning.

Attention! For the winter, it makes sense to cover these conifers with spruce branches only in the first year of life.

The most famous dwarf varieties are balsam fir Nana and Korean Tundra.

Fir Nana:

Type of low-growing conifer - Tundra fir:

Hemlock

The Canadian hemlock has a small form, which does not exceed 1 m in height when mature. The shoots grow to the sides, spreading out quite strongly, and their tips point down. The needles of the dwarf conifer are about 2 cm in size, green and shiny.The plant loves moist soil and tolerates being in the shade and severe frosts.

Features of growing low-growing varieties of conifers

Small forms of conifers have growing rules that are common to all species. Planting is carried out at the end of April or beginning of May, depending on climatic conditions. Usually, dwarf forms of seedlings are purchased in specialized stores, and care must be taken to ensure that the quality of the material is high. The main thing is to check the integrity of the earthen coma; it must be at least ⅓ of the entire seedling, otherwise the plant may not take root. It is worth paying attention to the rich color of the conifer needles and their elasticity; these indicators indicate the good quality of the seedling.

Advice! The best temporary packaging for the root system of dwarf conifers is burlap.

Landing is carried out in this way:

the hole should be slightly larger than a clod of earth;
a mound is poured in the center, reaching ⅔ of the height of the pit;
a conifer seedling is placed on the top of the embankment, and the roots are carefully spread along its slopes;
then the plant is buried, simultaneously compacting the soil;
the seedling is well watered;
dry soil should be poured around the trunk;
The final stage of planting is mulching the soil with peat.

Caring for dwarf conifers involves watering, sanitary and, if necessary, decorative pruning. In winter, it is worth removing excess snow so that it does not break thin branches and trunk.

Basically, dwarf conifers are susceptible to the following diseases:

Brown Schutte - a very common disease, it is a fungus that mainly affects young specimens. The needles become brown and covered with a gray-black coating. It is treated with preparations containing copper and fungicides.
Rust - due to the fungus, orange spots appear, which then turn into brown growths. Slow down the growth and development of the tree. Drugs such as Fitosporin-M and Abiga-Pik are used.
Gray mold or rot — gray mycelium appears on the needles. Fungicides are effective against it.
Fusarium - the fungus causes the plant to dry out. The needles begin to turn yellow, become rough to the touch and fall off. The whole plant gradually dries out. It is almost impossible to cure a tree; Fundazol is used for prevention.

Pests of small forms of conifers include:

Bark beetle - lives under the bark, making many moves there. They live mainly in forest plantations and can spread from there to a summer cottage. The insect selects weak trees that die as a result of such an invasion. They fight the pest with the help of special preparations.
Sawfly - under this name many insects are united, attacking mainly spruce and pine. Pests eat shoots that dry out and break. They get rid of them using special preparations or an ash solution.
Hermes - parasitic insects that drink plant sap. Seals form on the tree, branches are also deformed, and buds are destroyed. The method of control is insecticides.
Shields - attack dwarf thujas, yews and junipers. The needles turn brown, then turn yellow and fly off. The tree becomes weaker and dies. Insecticidal preparations are effective against scale insects. Onion peel is suitable as a folk remedy.

Conclusion

Small conifers will decorate any area. Even novice gardeners can handle the maintenance. And for those who do not have a plot outside the city, forms grown in containers are perfect.