The evergreens have a wide range of usefulness in landscape plantings, not only in home grounds but also in community parks, cemeteries other public areas.
The needle evergreens, also referred to as conifers, will withstand long periods of drought and reasonable neglect without serious damage. Other desirable qualities of this large group of plants are their winter color, extreme hardiness and their effectiveness in protecting our homes and gardens from the cold wintry winds.
One has only to observe the plants that have survived these last few years of drought to learn that the conifers have shown less damage than deciduous plants. The way in which pines, cedars and junipers have survived is comforting indeed.
If you will try to recall some of the most beautiful landscapes you have ever seen, in which evergreens were present, probably you will recall a clump of white birch or aspen with a background of deep green evergreens or an old pine tree outlined against a white house.
A pool of water, a fountain or a colorful bed of flowers in front of evergreens also may be particularly beautiful. These past observations may be helpful when planning your planting in your own landscape. A carefully planned evergreen windbreak is effective in protecting the house and terrace from winter winds.
For Patio, Windbreak and Reduced Energy Costs
This not only makes the patio area usable over a longer period in the spring and fall but also reduces the heating bill for the winter. Another advantage of an evergreen windbreak, where drifting snow is a problem, is that it permits enough breeze through the trees to spread out the snow over the yard and garden.
A tight fence or wall causes the snow to pile in deep drifts where one may not want it. A well placed evergreen planting likewise gives needed privacy on a patio, backyard or in the garden at all seasons of the year.
Easily Over-Planted
Although evergreens are desirable and effective, one should realize that they easily could be overplanted. Evergreens are without attractive fruit, flowers, brilliant fall colors and interesting winter twigs. In the average yard, one third of the plantings in evergreens is usually about right.
In the selection of plants for the yard, as in the choosing of furniture for the living room, oddities or extremes in color and form should not be considered. Weeping, gaudily colored and variegated foliage plants should be used sparingly in the garden if unity and rest is to be had.
A single plant with silvery or yellow foliage, such as Colorado blue spruce or a golden arbor-vitae, should never be used by itself and most emphatically not in the center of the front lawn.
A more appropriate location for such as plant is in a group of conventional green trees to give a touch of color and variety to the large planting. A row of trees of all the same kind, shape and color is often more effective than a row of trees of many different types.
Evergreen Hedges
Where cost of maintenance is not a consideration, trimmed evergreen hedges make excellent enclosures and take up less space than an untrimmed hedge. Most needle evergreens are well adapted to trimming. Red cedar, arbor-vitaes and yews are commonly used owing to their finer texture and tolerance to shade.
Even Colorado blue spruces are used for hedges in the Rocky Mountain region. Black Hills and Norway spruces are also used. Firs and occasionally pines are used for trimmed hedges.
A common practice to prevent hedges from becoming sparse in foliage at the base is to keep them trimmed narrower at the top than the bottom. This permits sunshine to reach the sides of the hedge, allowing the foliage to grow densely and attractively to the ground.
Evergreen hedges will not grow well near large shade trees such as elm, hackberry, and silver maple. These trees not only cause evergreens to become unsightly from their dense shade, but the roots rob the evergreens of moisture and food.
As Foundation Planting
Heavy foundation plantings around the modern house are undesirable. Newer homes usually have no visible foundations, so heavy plantings are meaningless. Tall plantings partially hide the house and reduce its apparent size and height.
The two and three story houses of the of the early 1900’s probably needed such plantings. A few well chosen evergreens at the door are effective in giving the entrance the proper emphasis.
One or two accent plants at the door may be enough. If the door is unsymmetrically related to the house, then plants of different size and form would probably look best.
A Mugho pine on one side with a tamarix juniper or compact Pfitzer on the other side might appeal to some. Others might prefer an upright Japanese yew or a Caneart red-cedar on one side with a dwarf Japanese yew or a Woodward globe arbor-vitae on the other.
A door symmetrically placed in a house calls for a somewhat more balanced planting, although some out-of-balance elements will relieve the monotony and lend more interest to the symmetrical house.
Low spreading evergreens such as Andorra or Waukegan junipers may be used effectively in front of tall evergreens. These make a transition from tall evergreens down to the lawn.
Almost all the needle evergreens used for interest around the door need systematic pruning several times a year to keep them small and in scale with the door.
In Rock Gardens
Rock ledges or large rock gardens may be planted effectively with spreading and creeping evergreens. The size of the rocks or ledges and the extent of the area determine the size and character of the evergreens used.
For example, a large Pfitzer or Savin juniper looks good with large rocks or ledges six to eight feet high. But low creeping evergreens, such as Waukegan junipers, are more in scale with small ledges usually found in rock gardens on home grounds. Care should be used not to overplant.
The evergreens should complement the rocks and not completely cover them. For large naturalistic plantings like those found in parks, cemeteries and large home grounds, plantings must be carefully planned if they are to look natural.
One species should dominate. Trees should be native to the area and arranged informally so that no three are in line. The trees used should be similar in texture, form and rate of growth. The texture of a red-cedar or an arbor-vitae may not harmonize well with the texture of a western yellow or Austrian pine. The form of a globe evergreen may not look well with the conical spire of a red-cedar.
Climate Control
One should not plant large evergreens so they shade the house in the winter. As much sunshine as possible should strike the house in winter and as little as possible in summer. A deciduous tree that shades the house from the hot southwest sun in summer is without leaves in winter permitting the sun to warm the house and add cheer and comfort within.
This principle of climate control tends to reduce the heating bills in winter and air conditioning costs in summer.
Judicious pruning of a large evergreen tree may greatly improve its artistic quality and give it added interest and character. This kind of pruning is sometimes referred to as “sculpturing” a tree.
In nature, evergreens often have crossing and interfering branches, or too many branches at one point on the trunk. A picturesque sculptured pine or hemlock would be most desirable if it partially framed the picture window and the view into the garden or to a distant natural landscape.
There are several creeping needle evergreens that are desirable ground covers for sunny areas. Those commonly known as creeping juniper seldom become more than 12 inches high. Three common varieties of this species are Waukegan, Andorra and Bar Harbor junipers. These ground cover junipers are sold by most of the nurseries in Mid-America.
Most of the ground covers for shady areas are broadleaf evergreens or perennial herbaceous plants; the needle evergreens fill an important place in providing ground covers for sunny areas.
In cemeteries where plantings are permitted on lots, this type of ground cover provides an attractive perpetual evergreen blanket for graves.
As Christmas Trees
Considering the many uses of the needle evergreens in landscaping, it seems appropriate to consider planting a live Christmas tree in the yard. It is possible to obtain a balled and burlapped evergreen tree from the nursery for use as a Christmas tree in the house.
After Christmas, it is planted in the yard near the house where it can be enjoyed as an ornamental tree throughout the year and as a lighted tree for future Christmas seasons.
In handling an evergreen this way, care must be taken not to let the ball dry out from the dry air of the house.
The ground where the tree is to be planted should be kept from freezing by covering the area with leaves or some type of mulch. This should be done before the soil freezes. Otherwise, it will be very difficult to dig the hole for planting.
A permanent underground electric line can be laid to the base of the tree for lights. The most common evergreen used for a Christmas tree is the Douglas fir. Other desirable kinds for a living Christmas tree are white fir, red-cedar, white pine, white spruce, Colorado spruce and hemlock.
Contributed by LR Quinlan
