Dwarf conifers in landscape design. Dwarf conifers: all the charm of miniature forms
The dream of everyone is to have a coniferous garden on their site, the decorativeness of which attracts and enchants. Dwarf forms are especially fascinating with their exoticism. These plants give the site a well-groomed and prestigious look. Our article is about popular types of "babies", about how to choose a seedling, about growing conditions.
Why are coniferous dwarfs so in demand?
Dwarf forms are called plants with slow growth, the maximum height of which does not exceed 3.5 meters. Maturity for many occurs after several decades. Due to this, such miniatures are appreciated by the owners of compact plots.Unlike the usual coniferous giants, the undersized ones do not take up much space, do not obscure the site and exactly repeat their large counterparts. Today, many varieties have been bred based on pine, juniper, spruce, and yew.
Miniature juniper. Juniper ordinary. " green carpet". The dwarf, slowly growing, reaches 10 cm in height with 1.5 m in diameter after 10 years. "Old Gold" - decomposed, reaching 40 cm in height and 1 m in diameter after 10 years. Chinese juniper.
Scaled juniper. "Blue Star" - spherical, steel blue needles growing up to 60 cm in height and width. The juniper is rising. "Golden Carpet" - a kind of clover, reaches 10 years only 10 cm in height and 1 m in diameter. 
Korean fir.
Spruce Canadian Common 60-80 cm
Dwarf forms are in demand in landscape design, perfectly combined with deciduous shrubs, are included in composition groups with colors. Indispensable for the design of rock gardens, rutaria, rockeries.
Babies can have a non-standard color and bizarre shape. Main advantages: possibility of placement in any limited place; frost resistance, as they are always “head over heels” covered with snow.
"Tundra" - dark green, spherical, very dense, growing up to 50 cm in height and width. Balsam fir. good live green color. European and Japanese larch. "Kordnik", "Reens", "Blue Dwarf", "Hard Vibr" - a grape variety on a stem 1-1.5 meters. Only the hanging crown can be cut.
mountain pine, mountain pine. "Karsten" - compact, dense, the ends of the shoots. After 10 years, it grows to 0.75 m in height and width. Variable shades, most effective in winter. double crowns, light green in summer, after autumn frosts they become orange-gold.
The nuances of growing conifers
The fashion for miniature plants has appeared recently, and many gardeners are still poorly versed in varieties, do not attach much importance distinctive features each subspecies, unfamiliar with varietal characteristics. This often causes difficulties when growing dwarf conifers.Each plant has individual volume parameters and vegetation speed. The cause of cultivation errors comes from inattention in the selection. Some varieties for the season give an increase of 2-3 cm, there are also those growing by 10-30 cm. Such a difference leads to a violation of the planned layout, a distortion of the intended outlines. As a result, your seedling suffers, as redevelopment and transplantation begin.
"Ophir" - initially rounded, later dense, grows at the age of 10 to 50 cm in height and 1 m in diameter. Bosnian pine. "Smidtii" - a spherical habit, after 10 years growing up to 30 cm in diameter. "Compact gem» - ovoid, compact, grows up to 1.5 meters in height.
Pine wood. "Alice Verkade", "Jane Kluas" - spherical varieties reaching 10 years 50 cm in diameter. 
'Lauryn' is a conical shape, one of the slowest growing varieties, reaching a maximum of 1.5 meters in height. Very nice vibrant green color. "Nana" is a dormant or broad-chested specimen, reaching 10 years after being 30 cm tall and 80 cm in diameter.
The main condition for successful cultivation is the ability to understand varietal classifications. Coniferous dwarfs according to growth characteristics are conditionally divided into five subspecies. The data is based on annual growth and are in centimeters.
1. Micro-dwarfs - 1-3.
2. Mini-dwarfs - 3-8.
3. Dwarfs - 8-15.
4. Medium-sized semi-dwarfs - 15-30.
5. Full-grown - in a year they increase by more than 30 cm. By the age of 10 they are a mature plant 3-3.5 meters high.
It then creates a leading edge, turning into a wide, thick cone. "Brynek" - spherical habit, very slow growth, after 20 years reaches only 80 cm in diameter and 1 meter in height, grows up to 2 m in height. "Little Pearl" - semicircular shape, pleasant green color, growth up to 50 cm in height.
"Pumila". "Push" - Karlova, growing up to 50 cm in height, decorative purple-red cones appear at the ends of the arrow. "Maxwelly" - an irregular, wide cone. It grows up to 1 m in height and several times wider. "Inversa" - forms of weeping, creating interesting overhanging trees, growing every 2 meters after a few years.
Difficulties in caring for mini-conifers lie in the treatment with fungicidal preparations (at least twice a year), since there is a tendency to develop fungal infections. It is required to clean the soil from fallen needles and leaves.
Take Special attention label. For the right product, information is given not only about the name, but also the variety, species, genus, family, at least in Latin. Inspect the seedling, make sure it is in excellent condition. Never take with open roots - they are doomed. Choose a conifer growing in a container.
Miniature brushes, brushes. Eastern Brigade. "Justina" - dense, columnar, reaches a height of 1 meter after 10 years. "Golden Pygmy" - originally oval, later wide concrete, has golden scales, reaches 70 cm in height and a similar width. Western salmon.
"Little Champion" - a spherical habit, compact, grows in 10 years to 50 cm in height and diameter. "Teddy" - young needles are soft and pleasant to the touch, the spherical variety reaches the age of 10, about 0.3 m in diameter. "Little Dorrit" - spherical habit, regular, after 10 years of growth to 40 cm high and 60 cm wide.
If there are doubts about the conformity of the varietal affiliation, then the classification can be determined visually. The growth rate is usually well visible on the side shoots. Accordingly, micro, mini or other types of dwarf can be recognized by eye. You will receive a guarantee of quality in the nursery. There you will be consulted and guided with the choice.
"Little Pearl" is a flat dog variety, after 10 years of growth up to 40 cm in height and 60 cm in width. Giant spike. "Rogerian" - dense, wide concrete or spherical habit, reaches 25 years of cultivation 1 m in diameter. For most of us, a large garden will forever be a dream. However, our green knight might be a bit of a shift on the segment. The device is not as expensive as a large garden and takes less time. However, we must plan carefully and choose plants that do not grow too much because they quickly shade the garden and the expansive space is too large.
Dwarf conifers in landscape design
Rockery is an ideal place for micro and mini dwarfs. The rest of the categories, except for full-grown ones, amazingly complement the compositions with stones, snags, and land on the lawn. It is customary to mulch the soil under group plantings with wood chips or pine bark. Almost all joint plantings use Mountain Pine: Winter Gold, Mops, Gnom.The combination of several varieties, with different crown shapes, needle colors are well assembled and do not require any additions. For example, take three plants, one tallest will serve as a vertical (Cypress, Balsam Fir). The second is desirable to choose a spherical (pine Mini Mini, Kaktus, Frodo). It remains to supplement the composition with a creeping coniferous bush.
However, many varieties coniferous shrubs low, compact size - spherical, dense and conical - are cultivated, but these plants are preserved without special cutting. If we choose pine needles, we can have an interesting evergreen garden even in containers on the terrace or balcony. Flower pots with varietal varieties can also be collected freely, and this in a simple way rebuild the terrace space every year. Miniatures are also a great material for creating colorful compositions, as we have many different colors- from bright to dark green, they are also golden, gray and blue.
Most often, the basis for miniatures is the dwarf species of Tui Western, let's name the most popular:
Amber Glow (golden-yellow hemisphere up to 80 cm),
Anniek (spherical 50-80 cm, up to 1 m wide),
Aurea Nana (150-170 cm, oval crown with a pointed crown),
Aureo-spicata (conical height up to 3 m),
Caespitosa (pillow-shaped, compacted, at the age of 15, height 40 cm, width 30,
Cloth of Gold (slowest growing),
Somrasta (ovoid up to 2 m),
Cristata Aurea (upright 1-1.5 m),
Danica (spherical, reaches 50 cm by the age of 20),
Hoseri (multi-stemmed, disc-shaped, 70-90 cm, diameter 120).
Coniferous trees fell in love with the Czechs, the Dutch and especially the Japanese, who mastered the art of miniaturization to perfection. In their gardens you can find beautiful compositions from the same dwarf shrubs planted in pots or in the ground, on walls and in attics.
Coniferous conifers are so called. sports, that is, short-term mutants. In plants of normal size, as a result of a viral or fungal infection, pods are formed. Proteins retain these forms, they multiply, they multiply vegetatively, they become thinner - and thus create a new miniature variety. Sometimes on miniature varieties there is a significant increase in plant growth, which affects the entire plant. This often happens on vaccinated plants. You need to cut them because they will dominate and deform the sample.
Evergreen dwarf conifers.
Dwarf conifers, like their tall relatives, have different types of crowns - this gives us wide range their applications.
Usually coniferous forest consists of tall and straight trees, the height of which can reach 50 meters. Dwarf plants include varieties that, even after many years, reach 1-2 meters in height. The exception is fast-growing creeping varieties, which, although they remain low, grow strongly to the sides. However, among these conifers there are varieties whose growth is limited, therefore they are considered dwarf conifers. Miniatures include undersized varieties, whose height does not exceed 0.5 - 1 meters. They are ideal for growing in pots and tubs.
In nature, most species of conifers are trees, and varieties are transformed by humans with slow growing or small shrubs. These carvings are different height and width. Before buying, it is worth making sure that this miniature will not grow beyond our expectations. Arthropods of conifers growing in the ground have the same soil and position requirements as their large relatives. When we plant them in containers, they quickly deplete their nutrients. Potted plants are just for us, so we have to water them regularly every 3-4 years to overwhelm fresh soil and feed them with miles of conifer fertilizer every spring.
In my opinion, this is very comfortable view plants, there is no need to monitor the height of the plant and limit it in a timely manner. Sometimes you want to sit on a bench and relax under a pine or spruce, and the smell of cedar is simply healing.
It is clear that we do not have a place for a coniferous forest in our gardens, but dwarf plants are the most necessary option.
The root system of trees and shrubs is usually proportional to the size of the crown. Carotenoid plants have a small root system. Planting a plant in a small container will always slow down their growth. miniature varieties conifers so popular that they can be bought at any gardening center.
Their price depends on the age of the plant, and not on the size or growth of the plant. For example, cypress cypress "Nana Gracilis" can cost up to several hundred zlotys. Many miniature coniferous trees have a very compact and regular spherical life and retain it throughout their lives, such as Alberta Globe, Cyprus Cypress, Dwarf, Molly, Moroccan Pine and Schmidtia. "Danica", "Little Champion", "Hoseri", "Teddy". A slightly spherical ball - such as 'Nana' spruce, 'Little Pearl' or 'Jeddeloch' spruce.
I’ll tell you a secret: in plant astrology, each sign of the zodiac has its own tree and flower, well, if everything is more or less clear with flowers, then trees with their size can alert many gardeners. Again, the option with dwarf conifers can solve this dilemma. Knowing which tree you have in astrology, plant it in your garden and it will be your source of strength and health, yes health. So many trees have healing abilities, ranging from buds to tree bark. And with such a doctor, it hurts - and diseases will go by the wayside. But we will most likely talk about this in another section, but here let's deal with these mysterious dwarfs.
Often the shape of the sphere is only small, and the older ones are exuberant and more pyramidal. There are also variations that are initially spherical, later hemispherical or mounded, and float gently on the ground. Yes it is. Slender cone-shaped dwarfs always make an impression. Like miniature balls, they look great in many compositions. Serpentine "Nana" and "Gnome" "Compact", as well as several cypresses, such as "Compact" peas, "Nana-lutea", "Little Ann" and "Bonfires". Columnar bushes are usually very dense - their branches are closely connected to the main stem, as in the indirect ticks "Christopher" and "Wojtek".
A viable tree grows constantly. This also applies to dwarf forms, but their annual growth is 2-3 cm. The main features of dwarf conifers are short stature and crown density. Lateral branches are short and are at a small distance from each other. In addition, among dwarf conifers there are spherical forms that are not found among ordinary conifers.
Miniature conifers are also dense. They are also great for composition. This group is the largest of the cypresses. Inflorescences are also used for miniature compositions, as their growth is limited by the place of vaccination. The smallest grafts are on a short stump. Only their crown increases, which can be shortened. In addition, on the chest are vaccinated various varieties juniper, pine, spruce and cypress. These shapes look very painterly, and they work well in containers and on slides.
However, it is important to know that they are more susceptible to disease and the blues.
Miniature conifers are also dense. They are also great for composition. This group is the largest of the cypresses. Inflorescences are also used for miniature compositions, as their growth is limited by the place of vaccination. The smallest grafts are on a short stump. Only their crown increases, which can be shortened. In addition, various varieties of juniper, pine, spruce and cypress are vaccinated on the chest. These shapes look very painterly, and they work well in containers and on slides.
Dwarf conifers are not pure species. They are propagated vegetatively- cuttings, layering and so on, not seeds. From the seeds of a dwarf plant, as a rule, ordinary tall trees grow.
Dwarf conifers are usually sold in containers. You need to make sure that root system seedling well developed, not damaged. Before buying, you need to carefully read the information about the shape of the crown, the size of the plant and the rules of care. Many conifers, even after many years, retain good shape. Some first have a spherical crown, and then become cone-shaped.
As for the prices of dwarf conifers, I can’t find other words for how they bite in my vocabulary. And this is understandable, before the plant goes on sale, more than one year passes. Therefore, I carefully ask you to consider the choice of variety so that your “dwarf” does not turn into a giant.
Dwarf conifers are the result of a mutation various kinds conifers, so they need the same growing conditions as their tall relatives.
Given their small form - here comes the feast for our creative imagination:
Rocky garden. Thanks to clear forms, dwarf coniferous plants are a structural element of a rocky garden.
Winter flowerbed. Plant plants near your home. ornamental grasses will give the winter flower bed not only color, but also structure.
Pots with floral and coniferous arrangements can be placed on paths, patios, rooftops or lawns. (it all depends on your imagination and the place where this fantasy is applied).
Stone trough. Plant dwarf conifers together various shapes and colors. Flowers will add additional color to the composition.
If you are going to plant plants in containers, then before buying, you need to ask the experts about the size, shape of the plant and care for it. Necessarily in the vessel will need to be done at the bottom drainage holes(many gardeners have troughs - let's use it and we will get a kind of coniferous boat). Holes are needed to drain melt and rainwater. Fill the vessel or trough with earth to a height of 5 cm from the edge. We plant plants, and if you wish, you can add flowers, apparently you should not be reminded of the size of the plants. (it is clear that the flowers added to the composition of dwarf conifers should not exceed the conifers themselves in growth).
The most popular dwarf conifers:
Globular:
Norway spruce– the needles are light green, shoots are short, densely branched, height up to 0.5 m.
mountain pine- needles are dark green, shoots are dense, branched, height 0.2-0.5 m.
Balsam fir- the needles are dark green, shiny, sprawling branches, densely growing. Height up to 1 meter.
Thuja western- the needles are dark green, thick, scaly. Height 30cm.
Tapered:
Lawson's cypress– matte blue needles, very small height 1m.
Gray spruce- needles are blue-green, young shoots are light. Height up to 60cm.
Serbian spruce- the needles are dark green above, silvery below, 25 cm high.
mountain pine- the needles are dark green, dense, located radially plant up to 2 meters high.
Columnar:
Yew berry- golden yellow needles, dense slow-growing plant with a height of 0.8-2 meters, poisonous plant.
Red cedar- bluish-green needles, crown narrow plant height 3 m.
Arbor vitae- green-yellow needles, scaly. Plant height 60cm.
Lawson's cypress- The needles are blue-green, thick. Fast growing plant height 1m.
Creeping:
juniper prostrate- green needles, with reverse side bluish, short shoots height only 15-20cm.
mountain pine- The needles are dark green, thick and creeping shoots, the crown is cushion-shaped. Height 50-80cm.
Juniper horizontal- needles are silver-blue, creeping and 15-20 cm high.
Yew berry- the needles are dark green, growing to the sides, creeping height up to 1 meter. The plant is poisonous.
As you can already imagine, composing a composition will not be difficult, it can be selected both by the color of the needles and by growth. Good luck to you.
