The garden looks especially advantageous, because when the rose nurseries fade, coniferous trees complete the picture and the garden remains ever green. A correctly selected tree crown, growth and shape of conifers give the garden a special charm. With the help of coniferous trees it is possible to create any design suitable for buildings on the site.
Which conifers go best with roses?
It is believed that the combination with is ideal, since it does not interfere with the development of the rose’s root system and does not extinguish the rose, allowing it to gain strength and bloom every year.
Roses develop well with vertical conifers. These include: and also. The main thing is that the thujas do not grow wider, as in this case they will cover the rose bushes. The following varieties are well suited: Blue Arrow, Moonlow, Sky rocket.
Fig. 1 Only roses and conifers, no other plants, the composition in the opinion of the site’s editors is magnificent, nothing superfluous (photo from the site wcb.ru)
Fig.2 Diluted with deciduous trees, shrubs and summer trees (photo from wcb.ru)
For planting, you need to choose less aggressive conifers so that over time they do not crowd out rose bushes. Aggressive conifers and junipers are considered to be: Blue Alps, Blue Carpet, Gray Owl, Blue Danuba.
Before planting, be sure to outline the goal of what you want to get from the composition, highlight the roses or just close them empty place . From this you should base yourself on which conifer to choose for planting on the site: spherical or growing upward.
The combination of roses and thujas - is such a neighborhood possible?
Thujas can be planted next to roses, but at a distance of one and a half meters, since the root system of thujas grows quickly, and it can destroy the rose. If the rose has been growing on the site for more than five years, then you can safely plant thujas, since the root system of the rose is already stable and nothing will interfere with it.
Photo source - www.thegracefulgardener.com
According to information from the rosebook.ru forum, it is not recommended to plant asparagus with roses, as it inhibits the root system and the roses become invisible. And also, according to the notes of a forum user, the planted squash inhibits growth and when it was dug up, the rose began to grow. Not recommended plant cloves and other grains, lilies.
Forum members agreed that the rose loves freedom and is best grown separately from everything else.
How to beautifully plant thujas on the site
Thuja is unpretentious and grows in almost any conditions: in well-lit places or partial shade, but does not like very dark and northern places. To grow a fence, use the Columna variety; thujas grow into a beautiful hedge.
To create a beautiful hedge, you should find out in advance how much the selected variety grows upward and in width; planting depends on this, so that the hedge remains beautiful even over several years.
The Smaragd variety is also excellent for creating a hedge. The distance when planting each plant is 70 cm. It should be planted a meter or one and a half meters from the fence. In three years, the thuja grows into a tall, beautiful hedge. Thuja western emerald has a regular cone-shaped crown, reaching up to 4-6 meters in height and up to 1.80 in width. This thuja is always evergreen. Grows in any soil, grows best in the sun. The soil should be moist and fertile. Already fertilized seedlings are planted in the ground. Hardy and frost-resistant. Good quality of this variety – it does not turn yellow.
Thuja is suitable for planting together with roses. But we must take into account the rule of constructing an ensemble. If three elements are involved in planting, then the ensemble should combine no more than two colors. So, the constructed composition will look organic. If there are more colors, then the elements are combined into groups of three with the same colors.
The use of roses and conifers in landscape design, perhaps, but a large area must be allocated for this. Due to the extensive root system of both plants, they are planted at a distance of at least one and a half meters– this contributes to the further development of plants. It is recommended to plant thujas in a semi-shaded area, and roses in lighter and more formal areas. The rose will not look great if planted in the shade.
Is it possible to plant roses between thujas along the fence?
Photo source - davesgarden.com, rose variety - "Iceberg". An example of a very beautiful good combination roses and thujas along the fence.
First of all, the rule is that coniferous trees should be planted at a distance of 1.5 meters from the fence, since when they grow, they can damage the installed fence. Developing a composition where thujas and roses are combined looks very beautiful, but requires constant care. Plants must be pruned in a timely manner and their growth monitored.
When planting, thujas are planted closer to the fence (albeit on permissible distance), as they create the main fence, and roses are planted in another trench at a distance of one and a half meters. For planting, it is advisable to use ready-made, proven seedlings. The next rule is timely watering so that the root system is established and does not dry out. When composing a composition, you can plant it, although in both of our examples we used varieties of climbing roses and planted them in the background.
Photo from the site zs-z.ru. They're allowed along the fence climbing rose, a thuja is planted at a distance of a meter and a hosta is planted below, which completes and shades the composition.
In general, there are no obstacles to planting roses and thujas along the fence, but you should keep in mind: the proximity of these plants will require a lot of space. And pay attention to the height of the fence. It is no coincidence that in both our examples it is very tall.
Flower beds of roses and conifers: diagrams
In order to plant a coniferous flowerbed in landscape design, use this composition:
- A flowerbed with a lawn or a flowerbed in the form of a slide is taken as a basis;
- The decor can be stones or bark;
- Low-growing varieties of conifers are considered priority;
Source - dacha-vprok.ru
- The first composition features the Globosa variety;
- Number two is Selena;
- In the center, number three, is a cedar pine;
- At number four, Tsuga Canadensis is planted;
- At number five, junipers, variety Tamariscifolia, are planted;
- Number six, a pine tree, the variety Pinus sylvestris, is planted.
Scheme from the site dacha-vprok.ru
How to create a mixborder?
Mixborder is the creation of a flower bed in groups, where each group of plants smoothly flows into another. The flowerbed consists of three stages:
- Three-dimensional plants are planted in the background;
- Tall plants;
- Plants without lush foliage.
Source - landas.ru
Planted flowering perennials in front of the thuja, they will look especially advantageous; creeping thuja or horizontal juniper are planted at the very bottom of the composition.
Flowerbed with roses and conifers (diagram):
Rice. from the site idei-dlja-dachi.com
In this composition, juniper will highlight the roses and make them stand out from the background of the entire flowerbed. Sage helps light varieties of roses look good. If the sage grows, it can be formed into any shape. Hosta, planted along the edge of the flowerbed, complements the created composition.
Best neighbors for roses
The material presented in the video is quite controversial. Do the cultures suggested by the authors really look good with roses? And does everyone like this kind of garden-thicket?
Preface
The warm season is ideal for the garden to bloom. But I really want him to be able to please even in winter. And this is where a flower bed of conifers will help you - it can inspire with greenery throughout the year. Arborvitae, junipers and other species will fit perfectly into the overall style of your garden, and in summer the flower beds can be supplemented with other flowers and shrubs.
Flowerbed of coniferous plants - diagram and stages of creation
There is nothing difficult in creating such a flower bed. It is important to know exactly the stages of work, as well as study the recommendations experienced gardeners on choosing and caring for plants in the future.
Making a flowerbed with your own hands:
- Soil preparation. Despite the fact that evergreen conifers can grow in almost any soil, it is best to mix turf or leaf soil with peat and sand. Don't forget to add to be safe special compounds for these types of trees, which can be purchased at a regular gardening store.
- After this, we begin planting. It is best to plant tall species in the center of the flower bed. For example, you can choose junipers, which we install at a distance of about a meter from each other. The depth of the dug holes should be approximately 50-70 cm, lay them on the bottom soil mixtures. You can’t do without drainage, which can be sand or pebbles. We plant lower plants around in the same way.
- We compact, mulch and decorate the flowerbed. After planting the plants, the soil must be thoroughly watered and compacted, adding a layer of soil if necessary. Next, we carry out mulching using peat or pine chips, and the layer should be at least 10 cm. Pebbles or marble chips are suitable for decoration.
- We are improving the area. Undoubtedly, not only planting is important, but also the creation of a decent ambience. We need to dig a ditch around our evergreen flower bed, where we will plant lower flowers and plants. The soil should be neutral, “flavored” mineral fertilizers- this will allow you to grow lush and healthy bushes. When choosing plants, monitor their flowering period and select according to the same principle - this will allow you to get beautiful flower beds from conifers.
A flowerbed of conifers - ensuring proper care
Using a small example, we will show how best to design an evergreen flower bed. Before you begin a task, determine future view compositions taking into account size, style, relative position, and then, based on these factors, select plants. The main thing is that they look good and can sit side by side. The simplest option is to create a flower bed with a symmetrical arrangement of shrubs and trees. A pyramidal, “funnel-shaped” plant should be taken as the main (central) element. For example, it could be Chinese juniper - the tree grows up to 2.5 m. After this, we plant “second order” shrubs symmetrically. These include mountain pine, western thuja, European spruce– those types of evergreens that reach 1.5 m in height.
Massive passion for landscape design has contributed to a noticeable transformation country houses, cottages and dachas. Vegetable and fruit gardens, popular in the recent past, have replaced flower beds and other decorative plant arrangements.
A special place in landscape design is occupied by coniferous trees, some species of which appeared in the vastness of our country relatively recently.
Representatives of the coniferous group of plants gained their popularity thanks to unique properties, allowing them to look great both in single (solitary plantings) and in group plantings 365 days a year. Coniferous plantations are not picky about soil types, rarely get sick and tolerate any weather changes well.
The importance of conifers for the garden
In addition to the aesthetic effect, evergreens conifers can benefit people and nature:
- absorb dust and noise efficiently;
- hold back gusts of wind;
- soften the microclimate around the house or cottage;
- stop the reproduction of certain viruses, bacteria and insects;
- provide the air with a colossal amount of oxygen and phytoncides (the undisputed champion among healing trees is juniper).
Therefore, if you dream of a beautiful, well-kept garden with a favorable microclimate, turn your attention to compositions of coniferous plants. Their charming appearance, exquisite shape and medium-sized crowns reveal unique opportunities for creating the most daring compositions in landscape design, both in large and small areas.
How to create coniferous compositions in landscape design?
- Spruces, pines, junipers, cypresses, firs, thujas and many other evergreens are usually located in the very center of a personal plot, to form coniferous sculptures, or at the borders of the territory.
- The ensemble of pine needles looks very picturesque surrounded by heather, roses, erik, rhododendrons and deciduous plants. They bring some brightness and contrast to the design and allow you to change the garden design seasonally. (The exceptions are bird cherry and birch trees - they have a bad effect on plants with needles).
- Pyramid-shaped conifers look great. Landscape designers use them to create complex geometric figures, spiral columns, tiers and intricate front alleys. Figuratively trimmed conifers divide the space of the site into so-called “rooms”, decorate stone slides, small ponds, and colorfully complement rock gardens and relief changes.
- In order for landscape design with coniferous plants to please the eye with its volumetric structures and color pictures not only in summer, but also in winter, it is necessary, when creating compositions, to pay increased attention to combinations of different shapes, textures and colors in the coniferous group.
- Experts recommend choosing as accent trees and shrubs winter-hardy species, which are stable all year. In the background, as a rule, plants with a spreading crown are placed. And the coniferous composition of the landscape design is completed by properly creeping, low plants.
- The decorative capabilities of conifers (they are easy to trim) are perfect for creating hedges and disguising unsightly areas in the fence.
Important!
When choosing conifers for home garden compositions, one should not forget that many plants change the color of their needles in winter.
Conifers in landscape design: planting rules
- It is best to plant conifers in early autumn.
- The depth of each hole for seedlings should not exceed 85 cm, and the junction of the stem with the root (necessarily with an earthen lump) should exactly correspond to the earthen level.
- The distance between neighboring plants ideally ranges from 90 to 160 cm.
- For better growth young plantings, you need to add sand and clay to the ground.
- Within six months after planting conifers, the soil must be fed with mineral fertilizers.
- During dry summers, watering is important for plants. During the season, it is enough to make 5-6 waterings of 20 liters per plant.
- To make the crown thicker, annual shoots need to be cut off by a third every spring.
- It is recommended to cover young trees that have not reached a meter in height by winter with spruce branches or kraft paper to avoid winter burns.
- Regular loosening of the soil around the trunk promotes the rapid growth of coniferous plants.
Conifers in landscape design - planting video
Coniferous trees and plants for landscape design - how to choose the right one?
Plants for the garden must be purchased from specialized, trusted nurseries, and not from mass supermarkets, long before the start of the planting season. Before you go for seedlings, you need to have at hand a clear plan for the future garden and a list of the necessary plants.Keep in mind that the older the plant, the more difficult it will be for it to take root in a new place.
In case of purchasing large-sized conifers, the best option would be trees and shrubs 5-6 years old.
When choosing coniferous trees and plants, you should consider what shapes and forms they will take in the near future. Owners of spacious plots can safely plant big trees with a spreading, oval-shaped crown. But giants in a small garden will look rather ridiculous, drowning out the rest of the “tenants” with their size.
Today, landscape design has become a favorite hobby of many owners of land and private houses. It is thanks to their efforts that the space that surrounds many private houses has recently begun to undergo significant transformation.
On some personal plots vegetable gardens and even ordinary ones orchards They begin to gradually lose ground and give way to decorative lawns, bright flower beds and unexpected plant compositions that delight their owners.
But if, flower arrangements have always been held in high esteem by our gardeners, and some unpretentious shrubs can always be often found on plots, coniferous evergreens are not yet used so widely in landscape design. Although their popularity is increasing.
Conifers in landscape design provide an opportunity decorate your home space aesthetically pleasing and rich, in addition, the garden will look like this at all times of the year.
The increasingly widespread use of coniferous shrubs and trees in landscape design is due to their properties: the plants are harmonious both in single plantings and in year-round compositions, most species and forms are unpretentious to soils, tolerate harsh weather conditions, are less susceptible to pests than deciduous trees and diseases.
In addition to the already mentioned aesthetic effect, such plantings compare favorably with:
- Good absorption of street dust and noise;
- Windproof properties;
- Improving the microclimate in the local area;
Suppression of the reproduction of pathogenic viruses and bacteria, due to the release of biologically active substances by all parts of the plant;
Air supply all year round significant amount of oxygen, since most conifers are not deciduous.
Therefore, if there is a dream of a green surrounding space in which the most favorable microclimate for people will be naturally provided, then compositions of coniferous shrubs and trees in landscape design will optimal solution. Moreover, there is always the opportunity to choose plants of the most unexpected shape and crown sizes, this allows you to create any compositions on your site.
Planting and care
For planting and growing compositions of coniferous plants, certain rules have already been formulated, which are well known to both professional botanists and landscape designers. But, since some site owners want to do the design themselves, while others simply do not have the financial ability to hire a qualified specialist, it is necessary to begin the process of creating a composition from coniferous trees from the theoretical part.
When planning planting, you must immediately take into account that ready-made landscape compositions will look holistic if the distance from the place from which they will be most often viewed is at least twice their height.
An essential point is the careful preparation of the site for planting. Its further development, and, consequently, the beauty of the entire composition will depend on this. Places on the site that are subject to periodic flooding are unsuitable for planting. It must be taken into account that each species develops best on a certain soil composition. This needs to be clarified at the stage of choosing species for your garden plot.
In terms of timing, most optimal time for planting work is the period from the last days of April to the beginning of May. At this time, coniferous shrubs and trees have not yet begun to actively grow and, as a result, are easier to tolerate replanting and take root in a new place.
When digging a hole, it is necessary to calculate its depth so that when planting a seedling, it is located in it no deeper than the root collar (this is the border where the trunk meets the root). After planting, you need to water abundantly, this is done to ensure best contact soils with roots, that is, they need to be watered regardless of soil moisture. For the next month, the soil around the plant should not be allowed to dry out until it begins to develop its root system in a new place.
Most conifers are not very capricious when grown, but they, like other artificially grown plants, need care. In hot years, it is necessary to cover young plants from sunburn, this is especially true for various firs. In winter, take measures to protect southern, imported species from frost (this includes sheltering low-growing plants, snow retention, etc.) Seedlings are sold with a closed root system (with a lump of earth or in a container) and with an open one (the roots are exposed). If planting occurs in the spring and the roots are open, you need to pay attention to the presence of young roots.
Layering out the lawn to create a backdrop for coniferous plants will greatly improve the overall visual experience. Often coniferous plants are planted next to ponds so that, together with weeping deciduous plants, they form an overall original composition.
- various types and varieties of junipers: Cossack, rocky, Virginia, Chinese, etc.;
- spruce: prickly, European;
- pines: mountain, black, common.
Those. those types of conifers that grow wild in our forests without any care. Naturally, wild plants often grow too large, they do not have sufficient decorative qualities, so you need to buy varieties with known qualities.
Junipers, pines and North American spruces are quite light-loving and undemanding to the level of humidity and soil fertility. If the flowerbed is in shade for a significant part of the daylight hours, it is recommended to choose zoned (that is, those that have been tested and are suitable for growing in your region) varieties of yew, European spruce or western thuja.
For a low-maintenance garden (requiring a minimum of work throughout the year) in our latitudes, carefully purchase cypress trees, hemlocks, pseudo-hemlocks, microbiota, arborvitae, cypress, cupressociparis, fir, Kemfer larch, Japanese cryptomeria, swamp cypress, thuja and other less common species of conifers.
Based on the size of an adult plant, conifers can be conditionally divide into three groups.
Tall species of conifers
To the number large plants can be considered such common types:
Medium-sized plants for coniferous compositions
- Branched and very aesthetic evergreen tree. Growth is slow.
- Yew berry. Compact shrub, dense needles. Popular for its combination of rich greens and red berries.
- Golden yew. Tolerates partial shade well and combines with tall and short plants. It grows in the shape of a bowl, the needles are yellowish-green, green or golden in color. They often serve as the basis for compositions.
Low-growing and creeping conifers
For such forms of conifers, it is very important to have sufficient space for development, because they do not grow upward, but in a horizontal plane, forming something similar to a kind of lawn.
- Common spruce Lombers. A low-growing plant, dense needles, bright, emerald color.
- Hampi mountain pine. Used in rock gardens. An unusual property is that the buds, at temperatures below zero, are painted in beautiful reddish-brown shades.
- Mountain pine, Mini Pug variety. It grows in the shape of a kind of pillow.
Compatibility
Despite the unpretentiousness of most conifer species to growing conditions, it is necessary to form compositions based on them taking into account some features. Many conifers are characterized by their “aggression”. Species are called aggressive, which in the process of evolution have developed the ability to secrete substances that suppress the development of other plants. In conifers, this feature allows in nature, with their very slow growth, to compete with fast-growing species. That's why:
All coniferous plants do not do well near larch, although they can be planted, but at some distance.
Purchasing plants
Coniferous trees for creating compositions can be purchased both in special nurseries and in garden stores.
It is not worth digging in natural forests and groves, because, firstly, it may be illegal (if this territory belongs to some biosphere reserve), and secondly, it is unpredictable what it will be like mature plant, even within the same species, wild specimens can vary greatly (this depends on many factors and heredity); thirdly, there is the possibility of introducing new types of pests into your garden.
There is no need to buy a plant just because it is beautiful and cute. Definitely recommended study Latin name , first inquire about the size and habit of an adult plant and buy only those plants that are suitable for a particular site.
Conifers, especially young ones, are strikingly similar and only a specialist can distinguish them externally. This is a rather expensive purchase, designed to last more than one year, so you should prepare for it in advance, arm yourself with a catalog with descriptions and photographs. Very often we see the disappointment of buyers of extremely expensive topiary forms grown in Western nurseries (formed by special pruning of seedlings) when they are created from species that are not zoned in our latitudes.
We should not forget that it is advisable to buy coniferous plants with a clod of soil; dendrological nurseries sell them in burlap or wire mesh; the best option is grown in a container, they can be plant in any season. Naturally, you need to buy seedlings only in reputable garden centers, after checking the general condition of the needles and the quality of the root system. Quite a few novice gardeners have “burnt themselves” by purchasing cheap cuprossociaparis and cypresses in pots, often sold in supermarkets; they often sit there, without watering, for weeks. After such conditions, these delicate plants recover extremely difficultly, most often dying during the first wintering.
As for the price of seedlings, coniferous ones most often cost more than deciduous ones, container ones are more expensive than those grown in the ground, grafted and topiary ones are more expensive than those grown without shaping, etc. Designers most often recommend purchasing several accent, central plants (size about 1.0-1.5 m in height), to give the flowerbed volume, and buy the rest small (no more than 40 cm). But at the same time you need to be prepared for the fact that dwarf species they grow extremely slowly (sometimes less than one cm per year) and having planted them very small, you will have to expect the required decorative effect from them for many years.
Coniferous compositions in landscape design
The principle of constructing a landscape composition from coniferous plants
To properly plan a composition of conifers, you initially need to decide where exactly it should be located, what type is needed, what elements will be included in it. And after that, choose plants that meet the characteristics necessary to form the composition, taking into account the existing conditions.
The facade of the house and the front garden, as a rule, are the first to be seen by guests, so its design should be somewhat solemn and always elegant, which is appropriate here landscaping with basic elements a regular style, which is based on the symmetrical arrangement of all components or a repeating rhythm. It will be better when the range of species here is too diverse.
The main, accent plant is the pyramidal one, standard, which in adulthood reaches a size of no more than 2.5-3 m (based on the size of the flowerbed). Then, symmetrically on the sides, plants of the second order (sub-accents) are placed, with dimensions up to 1-1.5 m. Between them you can (without deviating from the pre-planned pattern) plant dwarf and prostrate conifers, compact ornamental deciduous shrubs and ground cover.
In informal style plantings, compositions of coniferous plants are recommended to be placed on the lawn in the shape of a flower bed - “island”, include them in the mixborder along the edges of the site, interspersed with decorative foliage plants, thus zoning the space. Here it is optimal to select the plant habit according to the “irregular scalene triangle” system.
Afterwards, the remaining space is filled with plants as their significance and external saturation decrease. In the foreground of the flower beds, shorter plants are planted, and taller and more voluminous ones are planted in the center. It is advisable to choose plants with different colored needles so that the flower bed does not look boring. If the accent plant has silver colored needles, there is no need to plant a variety of the same color next to it. Don’t forget about lighting the flower bed and various seasonal plants. Against the background of bright greenery, early bulbous plants will look great.
To land on alpine slide or in beds with various annuals and groundcovers, you can use miniature varieties with spherical and cushion-shaped growth forms, as well as groundcover species that cover the ground with a carpet or cascade down from retaining walls.
To create a harmonious landscape composition, it is necessary to take into account certain rules.
Geometry of shapes
Contrasting combinations
By combining contrasting colors and shapes you can achieve different visual effects. Against the background of small plants, large trees will be striking in the transitions various sizes and the outlines of the crowns can be smoothed out the lines of the exterior.
Asymmetry and symmetry
The use of conifers in landscape design, implies a combination of incongruous things. That is, you can decorate the area with both symmetrical compositions and unexpected asymmetrical elements that will look quite harmonious.
At the moment, a large number of coniferous plants have been bred, differing in color. Those who like to experiment with colors should remember that contrasting color scheme components of a small coniferous group can “destroy” the composition. Therefore, experts advise using no more than two colors in groups of conifers of three plants; in groups of five seedlings you can plant no more than three colors. But in large coniferous groups (more than 30 in number) you can plant plants with different color scheme, not forgetting to combine them into small groups of three plants of the same color.
Crown height and shape
When creating compositions, you need to take into account not only the color of the seedling, but also its dimensions in adulthood and the outline of its crown. In order to predict the type of composition in the future, you should initially study the characteristics of the proposed varieties before purchasing them.
Song types
Mixborder
The mixborder can be placed where, in accordance with the wishes of the owner of the site, it will look best. Don't be afraid to do what you want. The garden landscape only benefits from the manifestation of individuality.
For the largest plants it is necessary prepare the place at the very edge of the future composition, then the plantings are arranged in descending order of size, so the most low growing plants. There is no need to strive to maintain the same geometric accuracy plantings. Curvature will only emphasize the pristine beauty of the composition.
The natural harmony of the mixborder must be respected: the width of plantings of large plants must necessarily exceed the space allocated for low-growing plantings. The planting may contain specimens that differ in the color of the needles and the shape of the crown.
Coniferous hedge
hedge, using coniferous plants, are created quite often. In regular style plantings, which are rarely found in our latitudes, a coniferous hedge is nothing more than a hedge, but landscape style and modern makes it possible to use evergreen hedges as a backdrop for bright perennials. Conifers can be used to form dense, formed or unformed hedges. In order to create a dense green hedge, plants are placed in several rows, in a checkerboard pattern. The formed checkerboard planting of spruce is rightfully considered one of the most impenetrable hedges.
Coniferous compositions with all-round view
All-round viewing compositions are called landings, decorative effect which must be visible from all angles. Compositions of this kind are usually planted in paving openings or in round flower beds. Planting, maybe any - irregular or symmetrical. The largest plant is placed in the center of the symmetrical composition, with smaller species around it at an equal distance.
For asymmetrical groups, the same principle applies: the height of each subsequent row should gradually decrease, thereby emphasizing the visual perception of the previous row. The formation of an asymmetrical composition is one of the most complex work for a landscape designer. It must provide a view of the landing from all angles.
For example, consider the option of using Scots pine as an accent plant. It is necessary to select the variety of this tree, reaching a height of 2-2.5 m, with small bluish-gray needles.
A specimen of a slow-growing, fairly frost-resistant Korean pine pine is planted in front of it; a pyramid-shaped variety with long silver-blue needles is desirable. In the corner of the composition you can place three Cossack junipers. To the left of them plant two slow-growing dwarf ones. You can add several western thujas to the composition. The space between the plants is covered with a layer of decorative mulch; it is aesthetically pleasing to use ground fir cones as mulch. This composition does not require special care.
Compositions with a geometric crown shape
Prickly spruce with bluish-white needles will look good in such a composition. The height of the selected variety should not be more than 3-4 meters.
To the left of it you can place thuja occidentalis, a variety with a narrow cone-shaped crown. Between the spruce and thuja, four plants of slow-growing mountain pine, a spherical variety with dark green needles, will look good. There are varieties of mountain pine with an original property - their needles turn yellow with the first frosts, and green color returns in the spring.
In addition to those listed, there are also a huge number of different compositions and combinations of plants. This article lists only some of the most common ones.
Conclusion
Here, in brief, are the basics of creating coniferous compositions. But this information is only an invitation to a world full of creativity and beauty landscape design, in general, and the creation of coniferous compositions in particular.
Any person can transform both a large plot and a small area near the house into a one and only composition of living plants. It's not as difficult as it might seem at first glance - a little patience, knowledge and your own imagination.
Whatever the size of the plot, there will always be coniferous plants for it, without which no garden can be considered complete. Today's abundance of varieties and species allows you to experiment and create new coniferous compositions in the landscape design of small and large gardens.
Coniferous plants, with their diversity, confuse the gardener when choosing candidates for creating landscape forms. Getting your knowledge of evergreens in order is the first step in planning a beautiful garden.
The whole diversity of conifers is better represented if they are divided into groups:
- Full-grown, whose annual growth is 30 cm or more per year;
- Medium-sized and semi-dwarf individuals grow no more than 30 cm per year;
- Dwarf forms with an annual growth of about 8 cm;
- Miniature, which add 3-5 cm per year;
- Microscopic with an increase of no more than 1 cm per year.
Based on these characteristics, the gardener determines the place that conifers will occupy in the landscape design of the site.
The first group of plants reaches a height of 3 meters or more at the age of ten. For example, the common spruce (Picea abies) at the 12th year of life is a beauty 4 meters high, and its crown in the lower part reaches a diameter of about 3 meters.
Norway spruce 
Cedar of Lebanon (Cedrus libani) from this group also belongs to the category of giants. At the age of 10 years it can reach a height of 5 meters. In adulthood, and conifers grow for a very long time, it will be a 25-meter giant, presenting a delightful sight.
Cedar of Lebanon
Semi-dwarf forms of coniferous plants are by far the most attractive for garden or park compositions due to their versatility. They don’t need a lot of space, but even from a distance of 10 meters, a group of such plants looks quite presentable.
Dwarf and miniature forms are suitable for small gardens, where plants are given a small area and the picture needs to be observed from a distance of no more than 5 meters in order to appreciate the beauty of each participant and the entire composition as a whole.
Semi-dwarf spruce 
Dwarf larch 
Miniature cedar
Microscopic evergreens are grown by indoor gardeners in Japanese style. An ensemble of such plants can be placed on a pedestal in a small courtyard.
Evergreens must also be divided into groups:
- trees;
- bushes.
Shrubs are common and dwarf. Cossack juniper (Juniperus sabina tamariscifolia) is a common resident of parks and gardens due to its unpretentiousness and vitality. It does not reach a height of more than one meter, but in width, if it is released and does not form a crown, it can occupy an area of about five or more meters in diameter.
On the contrary, horizontal juniper (Juniperus horizontalis) in the landscape design of the site plays the role of a prickly blanket that spreads along the ground and reaches a height of no more than 15 cm. It grows quite slowly.
Juniper horizontal
Pros and cons
The merits of coniferous plants include:
- ease of care;
- decorating the garden at any time of the year;
- absence of fallen leaves;
- lack of inflorescences that need to be trimmed;
- abundance of shapes, sizes and colors;
- the ability to form any shape using trimming;
- improvement of ambient air;
- durability.
In some sources, the disadvantages of coniferous crops include the unpredictability of their growth and appearance in adulthood. The correct approach to growing coniferous plants eliminates all the disadvantages of keeping them. If the planting site and type of plant are chosen taking into account its needs, size and climate, then the gardener can only timely treat diseases and pests and feed his coniferous pets a couple of times a season with tasty fertilizer for health and a fluffy appearance.
Willow Hakuro Nishiki Willow is a plant familiar to almost everyone; it is often used for landscaping. But the copies...
There is a plan!
With the help of coniferous plants, the garden can be completely different shapes. Fast-growing coniferous trees for landscape design of the site will be appreciated by those who like quick results.
A well-planned project is half the success.
The entrance area of the site can be decorated in a ceremonial style: clear forms of trimmed thujas of spherical and conical shapes greet guests and owners near the entrance to the house. They are surrounded by a well-groomed lawn or colored shredded bark in discreet shades.
In order for thujas to please the eye with fresh greenery, they need proper care and attentive attitude. A fairly common situation is when the plant dries out and looks unkempt (do not confuse these cases with the golden varieties of this plant).
A living fence made from clipped thuja will help divide the garden into several different zones. Behind a two-meter wall of thuja, the continuation of the site will not be visible, and the winding path will mysteriously hide and beckon you further into the garden.
Quite a frequent and popular guest. They are well suited for growing in urban environments, as they can withstand increased air pollution.
Such large-scale structures and large trees will be appropriate if there is sufficient space.
Conifers in garden landscape design should not look alien and unnecessary. Having assessed the space allocated for conifers, a good gardener will first examine the varieties that will be suitable for specific purposes.
In a small garden, groups of medium-sized and semi-dwarf plants look good against the backdrop of a lawn or gravel. Due to lack of space, a mixborder of coniferous plants is created along the fence. In the background you can place several balls of western thuja (Thuja ossidentalis), between them a creeping semi-dwarf juniper (Juniperus horizontalis “Glauca”), and in the foreground there will be a neat “Conica” spruce (Picea glauca albertiana “Conica”) with its small in size and bright green needles. It goes well with the golden ball of the Japanese spirea “Golden Princess” (Spiraea japonica). For color harmony, you can add dwarf oriental thuja with golden foliage (Thuja orientalis “Aurea Nana”). At the beginning of summer, all this splendor is decorated pink flowers spirea
Coniferous mixborder 
Semi-dwarf juniper 
Eastern dwarf thuja
The creation of a coniferous paradise
When incorporating coniferous plants into landscape design, you must follow some rules:
- the tallest specimens are planted in the background;
- a coniferous composition from different plants should not combine more than three crown shapes;
- symmetry and precise geometric shapes are inappropriate when creating an evergreen open-plan group;
- the ground floor strict composition must be strictly symmetrical and requires constant care and haircuts;
- an ensemble of coniferous plants does not need variegation;
- accents are required;
- the viewing area should be at a distance equal to twice the length of the composition;
- the wrong green neighbors can nullify the gardener's efforts.
Some of these rules require a detailed approach and specifics. If the first postulate is simple and understandable, then the question of forms can be explained by the structure of the human eye. The abundance of shapes, as well as colors, creates a feeling of unease. A composition of three colors or two or three contrasting shapes looks much more pleasant and holistic. Pyramid thuja Brabant in the landscape design of the group is best placed in the background. Their severity is emphasized by the spherical forms of the cypress tree, and in the foreground the entire ensemble is calmed by creeping juniper or ground cover deciduous plants. Even if the territory allocated for conifers is quite extensive, the rhythmic alternation of the same plants is better perceived, rather than a set of various varieties and colors.
To prevent the eye from wandering over the composition, the beginning of contemplation should begin with an accent, which can create a tree or shrub of an unusual shape or color, slightly different from all the others. The starting point for the view is a small heather garden, which combines beautifully with conifers. A boulder of an unusual shape, buried in the arms of a juniper, or interesting solution garden lantern also attract the eye and help to perceive the entire composition and each plant separately.
The combination of sizes of coniferous plants in a group should be harmonious. A tall spruce is perceived at a great distance, while a small spherical thuja is interesting up close.
For the decent development of coniferous plants, it is necessary to take into account the influence that plants have on each other. The proximity of spruce and thuja will depress both plants. A beautiful specimen of larch will not tolerate anyone near it. This individualist loves to grow alone, just like the birch tree.
Larch
The combination of conifers and roses looks very beautiful. But this neighborhood may not be very comfortable for the rose.
Conifers in different roles
Many gardeners give preference to conifers when decorating a site, because these plants can play a variety of roles:
- Hedge;
- Solo part;
- Mixborder;
- Alpine slide or rock garden;
- Ensemble;
- Container garden.
A hedge of evergreens can be functional or aesthetic. If you need to separate a resting place from prying eyes, columnar junipers or thujas will cope with this role very well. Planted tightly to each other, they will create a beautiful and impenetrable wall that will look organic in the green mass of the site.
Dwarf juniper or cypress will make an excellent fence for fencing a playground or flower bed, which will not block the view, but will create a beautiful frame.
As a solo performer, coniferous trees or shrubs with an interesting crown shape, the color of the needles or an exotic type of fruit are used. A better combination all at once for the decorative effect of the soloist throughout the year. The background for the artist can be a lawn, gravel or decorative wood chips.
A composition, that is, a “mix,” of plants along a path or fence forms a kind of border, and all together this is called a mixborder. This garden element is very popular among gardeners. It can be decorated with conifers or a combination of conifers with flowers and ground cover plants. It is better to decorate the mixborder near the path with dwarf and semi-dwarf forms, so that the eye covers the entire group of plants at once.
Alpine slides or rock gardens in the recent past were a favorite decoration of garden plots. In any, even very small, piece of the garden, amateurs tried to create something similar to the Alps with the obligatory assortment of ground cover and coniferous plants. Creating a rock garden that would naturally fit into the landscape of the site is not an easy task, but it is quite feasible. It can be much simpler - a combination of plants and stones. For this element of the landscape, you do not need to build mountains, just a beautiful boulder and evergreen plants, correctly selected for it. Dwarf mountain pine will feel at home in landscape design if it is surrounded by several stones of interesting shapes or colors. Ground cover flowers or creeping junipers are planted between stones and conifers. In this case, plants and stones located on pebbles look more natural.
Compositions from coniferous plants are the simplest and most nice solution to revitalize your lawn or patio.
Conifers can be combined with deciduous plants suitable for growing conditions. The unpretentious and beautiful staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina), with its feather-like leaves, will look great in the summer against the backdrop of austere spruce trees, and in the fall its scarlet colors against a calm green background will attract the eye of even an experienced gardener.
In group compositions, contrasts of form and play of color play a major role. Columnar thujas with bright green needles combine perfectly with golden thuja balls, and creeping juniper of deep green color completes this composition spread out on the lawn.
There are coniferous plants that a gardener would really like to see in his green kingdom. But not all conifers tolerate frosts and low temperatures. In this case, container forms of conifers come to the rescue. You can decorate your patio with them or add them to an already finished composition in the garden. The container form of plants allows you to combine the incongruous. In this form, the dream of a duet of roses and spruce is quite feasible.
Present the finished result and go! You will succeed!
