Conifers are evergreen conifers that have long been indispensable in our parks and gardens. The reason is their positive characteristics: They are robust, easy to clean and extremely versatile. Conifers are not only great for hedges, but are also considered ground coveror solitary plants very popular. We give you some hints to help you choose.

What are conifers?

In botany, the conifers form the largest plant order of the naked-seeded plants. The name indicates that these conifers form their seeds in cones and not in ovaries. There were already conifers before the dinosaurs earthpopulated. The prehistoric plants have a straight, woody trunk and form their leaves as non-piercing needles. The cone-shaped fruiting begins only a few years after planting. Your needles loses those conifer only several years away. The exception is the larch, which throws its needles annually.

Which varieties are there?

Central European gardens are dominated by three species of conifers. We give you a short overview:

Cypress trees are among the oldest groups of plants and are almost native throughout the world. In Europe, especially the tree of life is popular, which is also called Thuja. Another well-known representative is the juniper. The Cypress trees very similar Scheinzypressen can be seen on more flattened branches and smaller cones.

Pinaceae are most common in the northern hemisphere. These include spruce, cedar, fir, larch and Douglas fir. A peculiarity of the pine family is that they are used not only as ornamental plants, but also for timber production.

Yew plants are very popular especially in Central Europe. Their different representatives can be found in many parks. When yew trees should be taken to ensure that almost all varieties are poisonous. They are therefore not suitable for gardens where small children play.

Coniferous species for the hedge

Because of their dense needlework conifers are very popular as hedge plants, because they provide reliable protection against wind, street noise or even prying eyes of the neighbors. In addition to various thuja varieties, false cypress and juniper species are particularly suitable. Anyone who hires a hedge should pay attention to the distance between the plants: individual types of conifers can reach a diameter of up to two meters. This should not be forgotten when planting the young plants.

The conifer as a specimen plant

Individual species such as the ball tree of life, the column disc and the cone wax holder can be attractively presented in the garden as a single plant. With their balanced shapes, they set accents in the garden design and underline the harmonious appearance. Small-sized conifers such as the Zwergwacholder or the Fadenzypresse can also be planted wonderfully in tubs. In winter, however, a bubble wrap or coconut mat should be wrapped around the pot, so that the roots do not freeze.

Conifers as groundcover

Some species are perfectly suited as ground cover because they grow flat over the ground and show a very compact growth. Not only does it look appealing, it also prevents weeds from spreading through the beds. For this reason, these coniferous species are also often chosen for the justification for tombs. In addition to different varieties of creeping junipers, carpet waxers and thread cypress types can be used for this purpose.

How do I plant conifers correctly?

The best time to plant young softwoods is in the fall, when the summer heat has died down and the increased rain helps to form the roots. The best time is from August to the end of September. If this is not possible, you can switch to the spring months. Conifers prefer a sunny location. Prior to insertion, the soil should be dug up and upgraded with fertilized soil.