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Vitax Conifer & Shrub Fertiliser,

£9.9£99Clearance
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When pruning the sides of a hedge, taper them in at the top to ensure the base receives enough sunlight. This is the best way to avoid those dreaded brown patches that look unsightly. Conifers are best pruned in late autumn or early spring. However, dead, diseased or damaged branches should be removed on sight, irrespective of season. Unlike other woody plants, conifers do not require frequent pruning because they cannot regrow new leaves and shoots from old branches, therefore, make sure a large fraction of fresh, green branches remain after pruning. Dig the right sized hole. Most conifers will come in a container, which you should make sure your hole is wider than. Dig a hole that is 2x the diameter of the container and as deep as the container..

When it’s time to prune, be gentle. Only take off a small amount, and do this only in April through August.Conifers overall require little pruning and here at Garden Plants we recommend a trimming in early spring (April-May) to encourage lush, healthy branches the same way we nurture our cultivars. Furthermore, there is a decreased risk of fungal infection when pruned during this period because the bark is more easily damaged during the summer growing season. Summer pruning (especially during hot and dry periods) is not recommended. The majority of conifers cannot re-grow from old wood once it has been pruned too deeply (with the exception of yew plants and leylandii cypress) and will often result in bare and brown patches. It is not recommended to prune more than 1/3 the length at a time to prevent brown patches. Brown patches may also be caused by frost, drought, water logging or fungal infection. Fungal infections can seize the whole plant, not just its needles. But the needles may be the first sign of a problem. In a pot this means drainage holes, and maybe even a layer of gravel between the bottom of the container and the soil. Where drastic renovation is necessary (i.e. more than50 percentreduction in height or width), it is better to stage this gradually over two or three years. Year 1 You may wish to mix the dug soil with up to one-third ericaceous compost to add nutrients and improve the soil structure if planting in heavier ground. If you have a heavier clay soil, incorporate some horticultural grit into the planting mix to improve drainage.

Dig a hole twice the diameter of the pot and just as deep. If drainage is an issue, dig ½ to ¼ deeper and cover the bottom of the hole with Horticultural Gravel, but make sure to cover the gravel with a layer of soil so that the roots do not directly touch it. Gently spike the bottom of the hole with a garden fork to encourage downward root growth, this is especially important with clay soils and will prevent the roots circling in on themselves. If you decide to propagate, take semi ripe cuttings from a healthy conifer at reasonable distance of 10-15 cm from a step to a leaf joint. Late winter is the best period to harvest cuttings. After that, you dip the cuttings in a hormonal treatment before putting in a planting medium.The addition of good quality compost before planting is essential to provide good growing conditions where garden soil is heavy. Conifers are woody trees or shrubs that grow their seeds in cones. Their leaves are called needles. While the needle-like foliage is present year-round or evergreen, not all conifers are always green. Space your conifers, so they’re not too close together – this allows adequate airflow, reducing the risk of infections. Watering: As they grow, conifers adapt to survive in dry conditions, but they need careful watering whilst they are young and still becoming established. Give them at least an inch of water weekly (if it hasn’t rained). They won’t survive if they get too dry during their first year or so of life. Things to look out for are needles dying and falling off, branches dropping for seemingly no reason, and bark peeling. If your conifers have a terrible case of root rot, they may be unsteady. You may need to replace them if this is the case.

Conifers can get big, so they like space. Although growing conifers in pots may suit you better, they’re happiest when planted in the ground. It all comes down to their roots – if their roots don’t have space to expand, this can affect the overall health of the plants. Ask in your local garden centre if you need advice on the specific compost mix for the conifer(s) you’re looking to grow. Immediate removal of infected trees and cleaning of garden tools is a great way to control the spread. Another disastrous disease is caused by a cocci bacteria . They cause immeasurable damage to the tree and promote fungi growth. Use of a bactericide is recommended, but seek professional advice from an agronomist. Propagation This whole process is called winter browning. Don’t worry; conifers often recover when the weather warms up. But choosing conifers native to your climate can prevent winter browning or lessen any damage caused.Just remember that they’re thirstier than you might expect, that good moisture retention and good drainage are both required, and the over-zealous pruning will cause way more harm than good.

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