On the face of it, conifers are pretty boring plants. Green and fast growing. Great for hedging. And that’s about it. Though there probably isn’t another plant that has been the source of so many neighbourly disputes. But I have to say, conifers are underrated. There are so many different ways you can use them in your garden. Let’s start with the obvious.

Hedging and Privacy Screens

It’ll be no surprise to anyone that conifers like Leyland cypress or arborvitae are ideal for creating dense, evergreen hedges. They are perfect for year-round privacy and protection from wind. Plant your conifers close together to form a solid wall of greenery and you can block out any ugly views. They also make excellent sound insulators against traffic and other noise.

Of course, if you want to maintain cordial relations with your neighbours, regular pruning is essential. Keeping the hedge clipped and in good shape will not only keep it looking nice but will also encourage denser growth.

Specimen Plants

Not something usually associated with conifers but some varieties such as Blue Atlas Cedar or Japanese Cedar can make very striking specimen plants. They have unique shapes, colours, and textures will catch anyone’s eye and add plenty of interest to your garden. They can stand alone and be placed to be the main attraction in garden beds, and will look fantastic as a centrepiece of your lawn. The look of your specimen conifer can be enhanced by underplanting with ground covers or low-growing perennials.

Border Accents

Not all conifers grow to be ridiculously tall. You can find dwarf varieties. And those like dwarf Alberta spruce or mugo pine are evergreen conifers which can be planted to add texture to the border. Their size makes them ideal for edging and defining boundaries of borders. If you use conifers like this, consider planting them in groups or clusters for a more natural look. You could also combine them with seasonal plants and bulbs to create a display that will change throughout the year.

Pathway Liners

Some conifers such as creeping juniper and other low-growing conifers can be used to line garden pathways. They are great to outline walkways guiding visitors through the garden and highlighting the path's route. They can be planted close together to form a continuous edge. As an added bonus they will keep the path clear as their foliage will suppress weeds making them a practical choice for busy gardeners.

Rock Gardens

Back to the little guys. Surprisingly conifers can be used to great effect in your rockery. Dwarf pines or spruces are especially effective as their hardy nature and slow growth make them perfect for a rockery. They’ll give some height without overpowering your rock garden. You can add conifers to your rockery by planting them among stones and gravel. This will allow their roots to find natural crevices to grow into. Pair your conifers with alpines and succulents to create an unusual but great looking space.

Container Gardening

The growth of conifers can be managed and grown in containers to decorate patios, seating areas, or to frame doorways. Varieties which have a compact and manageable growth habit, such as dwarf blue spruce or hinoki cypress, make excellent plants for containers. By combining your conifers with seasonal flowers or trailing plants, you can create a display in your container which looks amazing. Using pots and containers allow anyone to enjoy conifers.

Winter Interest

The great thing about evergreens like conifers is…they are evergreen. No matter the season, no matter the weather a conifer will add interest to your garden right through the year. Even in winter (perhaps especially so) their green foliage will stand out and provide colour even when other plants are dormant. Make the most of their evergreen habit by planting together conifers of different shades and textures.

Windbreaks

Leylandii conifers are fantastic to use as a windbreak. They’ll protect your garden from high winds and will not only shelter you in the garden but also give great protection to all your other plants. If your garden is especially exposed you can plant your conifers in multiple rows with staggered spacing to provide a very dense windbreak which will resist the strongest winds.

Living Christmas Trees

With a conifer like the spruce, you can grow your own Christmas tree. And who wouldn’t want to do that? Especially if you have young children or grandchildren. You can decorate the tree at Christmas but also enjoy it unadorned all year round. Planting a living Christmas tree is an eco-friendly alternative and let’s face it, there is something very traditional and heartwarming about a real tree in the garden. If you’ve purchased a real tree to use indoors during the holidays you can transition it to the garden gradually to prevent shock. In other words, keep it in the pot when first putting the tree outside. Once planted in the ground, the tree will require regular watering and care until it is established.

Shade and Shelter

If you’re lucky to have a sun-drenched garden you can use large conifers to make shaded areas. The tall trees will provide a cool space for you to enjoy during hot days and will also offer shelter for shade-loving plants. A mature conifer will have a dense canopy which makes it ideal for making a pleasant spot to relax in. If you are thinking about planting conifers you do of course need to think about how big they will get and the amount of shade they will throw. Although we’re trying to create shade you don’t want it impacting plant beds and borders which need plenty of sunlight. So, make sure you position your conifers carefully so they cast shade where it is most needed, such as over your patios or garden bench. On the other hand, the shaded area beneath a conifer can be used to grow ferns, hostas, and other plants that thrive in lower light.

Natural Fencing

Use conifers to make a natural, living fence. Naturally living fences are more attractive than wooden panelling or iron fencing. They are certainly more environmentally friendly, especially as they can provide a friendly habitat for birds and other wildlife. To make your living fence simply plant your conifers in a row, not forgetting to take into account their mature spread when you think about spacing. Regular pruning and shaping will keep your conifer living fence dense and looking good.

Mixed Planting Beds

As we said at the start of the article conifers are very versatile and you should think of them as a plant in their own right rather than just a hedge. You can combine them with other perennials and shrubs in mixed planting beds to great effect. They will add texture and colour and will perfectly complement flowering plants and other evergreens. When you’re planting a mixed bed with conifers use their height to provide a background to shorter more colourful plants.

Topiary

You can shape most conifers and yew is especially suited to being trained into simple shapes. I must admit I’m rubbish at this but even I can achieve pyramids. They may be simple but they look very pleasing and are quite easy to achieve. Shaping your conifers doesn’t take too much effort but you do need to keep on top of your pruning and shaping or the effect will soon be lost as the tree quickly grows.

Vertical Gardens

You can use columnar conifers like the Italian cypress in your vertical gardening designs. Their tall and narrow growth makes them ideal for this as they will add height and spectacle without taking up much ground space. If you only have a small space a vertical garden is ideal. But they are also great for urban gardens or confined areas. You can enhance your conifer vertical garden by adding climbing plants or hanging baskets to make a multi-layered space.

Pathway and Driveway Borders

Conifers are perfect for lining paths and drives. Or for marking any other kind of boundary. Their evergreen foliage adds a neat and tidy look all year-round. When planting pathways take care to ensure the conifers are spaced out to avoid overcrowding as they mature. Try combining different varieties to add more interest. Remember to mulch around the base of the plants to restrict weeds and to keep your pathways looking good without spending too much time on maintenance.

Remember you can purchase your conifers from Direct Plants to be delivered directly to your door and we sell anything from single conifer plants to full pallets for larger projects. Check out our popular and great value conifer pack for your next planting project.

For added assurance on the quality of plants you will receive from us, click here to see our plant guarantee.