Planning Ahead with Dwarf Conifers

Using dwarf conifers in small spaces.

Yum Yum Mix® - 12 lb. bag
Item # H0018 		Yum Yum Mix® 2-1-1 Organic Fertilizer: Earth Food

each $16.95
Phlomis russeliana
Item # 77115 		Phlomis russeliana
Hardy Jerusalem Sage

each $7.99
3 to 6 plants $7.79
7 or more $7.59

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One of the frustrating things about landscaping with standard conifers is how the sweet little tree that fits perfectly in your yard will, over time, take on a more significant stature. When a tree grows too large for the spot in which its been planted the only options for the gardener are moving it, cutting it down or severely pruning it, which produces a tree out of proportion with itself and its surroundings. Luckily, nature and selective breeding have enabled gardeners to produce the beautiful look of the evergreen conifer without the worry of it outgrowing its space.

Technically, dwarf is a comparative term, referring only to the size and growth rate of the tree in relation to its standard relative. Some dwarf trees will mature at heights of 20-30 feet, while others will only reach 3 feet. Most dwarf conifers have slower growth rates than traditional conifers. Many only grow a quarter inch to an inch in a year, so getting to that mature height will take a while.

For ease of care, nothing compares to a dwarf conifer. Due to the slow growth rate, pruning can be kept to a minimum. Prune to remove damaged branches and to maintain an attractive shape. For information on when or how to prune dwarf conifers, contact our nursery staff.

Though they like slightly acidic soil, this can be accomplished with a single yearly application of Sulfur or Ferrous Sulfate in the root area (two inches away from the trunk to just beyond the drip line). They shouldn’t be grown in highly fertile soil, as this tends to encourage excessive growth. Generally, a healthy plant will require minimal fertilization—a good organic fertilizer like Yum Yum Mix should be added when planting and can be scratched into the surface of the soil on a yearly basis. Yet another advantage is their relative resistance to pests and disease.

A dwarf conifer is not only a hardy evergreen that is well adapted to our high desert climate, but these small, durable trees can be planted throughout the garden and will not outgrow their space. They are invaluable for providing winter interest when everything else is dormant. The best varieties for Santa Fe are the bright blue Sester’s Dwarf Colorado Blue Spruce which has a beautifully symmetrical growth habit, and St. Mary’s Broom Dwarf Blue Spruce which grows only two to three inches a year, eventually forming a tight mound of very blue-gray foliage. We have over a dozen different mature specimens growing in our Xeriscape Demonstration Gardens. Come see how simple gardening can be.