Fast-growing conifers: unpretentious species and varieties for summer cottages, their descriptions
Landscaping a summer cottage is considered a lengthy process. Young seedlings do not immediately become mature trees. First, they need to adapt to a new place, fully take root and grow branches. To speed up the process of decorating a garden plot, it is recommended to familiarize yourself with unpretentious types of fast-growing conifers and choose a variety for giving.
Selection criteria
Fast-growing trees and shrubs are plants that give a significant crown growth during the first two years, after which their vegetation slows down.In other plants, active growth is observed over the age of 4-6 years. However, their growth does not exceed 5 centimeters. Fast-growing seedlings actively grow greenery during the first years. At this time, they manage to give the desired shape. From the middle of the biological cycle, such plants begin to grow more slowly and do not require intensive pruning.
Fast-growing conifers include spruce, pine and juniper. They are often used for landscaping the garden, as they have an evergreen crown. Such plants can be used to create hedges and tapeworms. Fast growth is especially important when designing a hedge. Such cultures help in a short time to provide protection from the wind, zone the space and make the design more complete.
Fast-growing conifers are most often hybrids. Under natural conditions, classic varieties do not grow as fast. Breeding species, in addition to rapid development, are adapted to specific types of climate, are resistant to diseases and parasites, and do not require specific care.
Classic coniferous crops take root with difficulty in a new place. Fast-growing plants adapt almost without loss. This characteristic is also considered their advantage.
At the same time, not all types of fast-growing plants can grow anywhere. Each variety needs specific conditions that match its characteristics. When choosing a particular culture, you should focus on the following requirements:
- Climatic conditions. It is important to determine the resistance of the crop to frost and elevated temperatures.
- Soil composition. There are varieties that can grow in any soil. However, most conifers prefer a certain soil composition.
- Attitude towards light. This feature must be taken into account when choosing a landing site. It will also help you understand in which composition it is better to use the plant.
- Features of agricultural technology. Before planting a crop, it is worth determining its need for watering, fertilizing and pruning.
- Choice of neighbors. Many coniferous plants are quite demanding on the crops that grow nearby.
Junipers
Junipers are often used to decorate the site, which can be represented by various varieties. Breeders managed to bring undersized and taller plants. In addition, ground cover varieties and tree-shaped crops look good in landscape design.
Old Gold
This juniper is considered truly luxurious. Its appearance fully justifies the name, which translates as "old gold" . The plant has a cubic shape. Its height and width are 2 meters. The needles are distinguished by a yellow-bronze color, which does not change even in winter. The culture is characterized by a high degree of sustainability.
Andorra Compact
This is a fairly unpretentious plant, which is a shrub with a cushion crown. Its height is 30-40 centimeters, and its diameter reaches 1 meter. The plant is distinguished by small scaly needles of a bluish-green hue. In winter, it becomes a little purple. The culture is photophilous, but is able to withstand slight shading. This juniper thrives in moist sandy soil.
Blue Chip
This ground cover juniper is slow growing. It is perfect for a small rocky garden. The culture reaches a height of only 20-30 centimeters. Moreover, its diameter can be 1.5 meters. This juniper has silver-blue needles that turn slightly purple in winter.
Wilton
This ground cover shrub spreads in the form of a dense low carpet. By the age of 10, it reaches 10-15 centimeters. In this case, the diameter can be 2-3 meters and even more.This juniper is characterized by silver-blue needles. It can be grown in containers or used in rock gardens.
Prince of Wales
This horizontal juniper is considered one of the most prominent representatives of dwarf crops. In landscape design, it is used as a groundcover.
This plant is characterized by creeping horizontal shoots, the height of which is 20-25 centimeters, and the length is 1.5 meters. The needles have a green color and a slight silvery sheen. By autumn, the needles turn dark purple. During the year, the shrub grows by 8-10 centimeters.
Another advantage of the culture is its high resistance to frost. Such a juniper is able to withstand temperatures down to -30 degrees. Therefore, it can not be covered for the winter.
Blue Spider
This is a relatively short plant. This culture grows up to a maximum of 30 centimeters, but its width reaches 1 meter. A distinctive feature of the plant is the beautiful needles of an emerald hue.
Cossack
Cossack juniper belongs to the creeping type. It has several types. This culture is considered the most unpretentious. In height, it reaches 40 centimeters and has a fluffy dense crown of a bright green hue.
Expert opinionZarechny Maxim ValerievichAgronomist with 12 years of experience. Our best gardening expert.Ask a QuestionThe culture grows rapidly in different directions and needs constant pruning. For 1 year, it increases in width by 30 centimeters. Another advantage of the plant is its high resistance to low temperatures - up to -35 degrees. The culture is photophilous and drought-resistant. It grows well in partial shade.Pines
These plants are considered photophilous. They thrive in open sunny areas, but are able to withstand partial shade. Pines grow well in poor and sandy soil. However, they cannot withstand stagnant moisture.
When creating landscape compositions, it is permissible to combine such crops with a variety of ground cover plants that love the sun. These include saxifrage, red-leaved barberries, borage.
Pinus mugo (Winter Gold)
This pine has a golden color of needles and has a hemispherical crown, which is characterized by not too uniform development. The name of this variety is translated as "winter gold" . In summer, the culture is distinguished by light green needles, and in winter it acquires a golden yellow color. By the age of 10, the plant reaches a height of 50 centimeters. Moreover, its diameter is 1 meter.
Ophir
This plant belongs to the group of mountain pines. It is characterized by a regular rounded crown. With age, it becomes sprawling and loses symmetry. By the age of 10, the culture reaches 50 centimeters in height and 1 meter in diameter.
Firs
These plants tolerate shade well and grow well in damp places. At the same time, fir trees cannot withstand drought.
Barryi
This is a robust dwarf plant that grows slowly. By the age of 10, the culture reaches a height of 2 meters. Young trees are distinguished by a rounded crown shape, but this property is lost with age. Spruces of this variety have shiny dark green needles. At the same time, young shoots are characterized by a decorative orange-brown color.
Inversa
This inverted weeping spruce has a narrow, uneven crown and cascading shoots. An adult plant reaches a height of 6-8 meters, and a width of 2-2.5. It is characterized by thick and shiny dark green needles.
Nidiformis
This is a unique dwarf plant that features a dense, cushion-shaped crown. The culture does not have a main trunk, therefore the shoots from the central part diverge in the form of a fan. The tree is slow growing. By the age of 10, it reaches a maximum of 40-50 centimeters in height and 1 meter in width.
Glauca Globosa
This is a semi-dwarf plant that is very slow growing. By the age of 30, it reaches a height of 3 meters. This spruce is characterized by a rounded crown of silver-blue color.
Fast-growing conifers allow you to create spectacular landscape compositions in a short time. At the same time, it is important to choose the right plant and provide it with quality care.
