Planting Trees for Autumn and The Story of Dwarf Conifers

Dwarf conifers are great planted in small landscapes and near the house because they grow slowly and stay small. These conifers may grow only 1 to 1-1/2 inches each year.

They also may not have the same form as the original species. Dwarf conifers may be a pyramidal or Christmas tree shape, such as a dwarf Alberta spruce; or a globe shape, such as a dwarf mugo pine, that will grow only 4 feet tall and 4 to 6 feet wide. Some varieties of creeping juniper grow only 6 inches tall but spread 4 to 6 feet like a ground cover.

Two dwarf conifers that make great accent plants are the compact concolor fir, notable for its soft, gray-blue needles, and the mound-shape arborvitae with its golden foliage.

Before planting, consider the light each conifer will receive to get the most from its color variations. Silver or blue conifers maintain their color better in partial shade. Yellow and golden species require full sun for best color development.

Always purchase dwarf conifers as container-grown or balled-and-burlapped plants. They live in association with fungi that surround the roots and assist the plants in obtaining nutrients from the soil.

Since these conifers grow so slowly, buy plants as big as your budget will allow.

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