Evergreen that Everyone will Envy.

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Evergreens make up a large portion of our landscapes. Some selections tend to be embraced, overplanted and can lead to insect and disease pressure. Also, care and pruning can enter into the selection.

 

spruce

 

 

 

 

So where do we start with considering evergreen trees or shrubs for the landscape. Three words: DO YOUR RESEARCH!!

 

The following is a list of topics to consider as you research plant selections.

 

1.) Ph is a very important when selecting evergreens. Many require a Ph as low as 5.5. Most do not thrive in an alkaline soil above 7.5. This Hemlock struggles from growing in a Ph of 7.6

 

hemlock

 

 

 

 

as oppose to thriving at 6.0.

 

hemlock 6.0

 

 

 

 

2.) Drainage has a large impact on the success of evergreens. Generally, most evergreen trees and shrubs prefer moist, well drained soils.

 

spruce 2

 

 

 

 

If the same trees are planted in poorly drained soil, they will struggle like these Norway Spruce.

 

spruce 3

 

 

 

 

3.) Zone hardiness and preference should be considered. The forests in northern Ohio begin to transition from simply deciduous hardwoods to a mixed forest of deciduous and evergreens.

 

pines

 

pine2

 

 

As we move north across the Great Lakes into Canada, evergreen trees occupy much more of the forest as it becomes a Taiga biome, which is predominately evergreen,

 

waterfall

 

 

 

 

 

conifer forest (cone bearing).

 

cone

 

 

 

 

 

As our climate gets warmer, many of the evergreens we have traditionally planted may begin to experience stress due to higher summer temperatures, drought, excessive water events, and more moderate winter temperatures.

 

 

Interestingly enough, evergreens tend to thrive where there is elevation variation and cold temperatures, like the ones at this ski resort located in Mansfield which tends to be a frost pocket.

 

ski1

 

 

 

Surprisingly, they are not the only ones who likes these condition!

 

ski2

 

 

ski3

 

 

 

 

 

Stressed trees tend to be more disposed to insect and disease pressure. An example is the Blue Spruce with symptoms of Rhizosphera.

 

rhizo

 

 

 

 

 

4.) Maintenance can enter into consideration. Many of our evergreens can be pruned into shapes.

 

shape

 

 

 

 

 

The landscapes of the past included bowling balls,

 

ball

 

 

 

 

columns,

 

column

 

 

 

 

spirals,

 

spiral

 

 

 

 

pom poms,

 

pom

 

 

 

 

and even letters or numbers.

 

erie

 

 

 

 

 

The tendency now is to allow evergreens to be selected based on growth habit that requires less intensive maintenance as with these Alberta Spruce.

 

alberta

 

 

 

 

 

But some homeowners and landscapers still like their nice manicured shapes.

 

shapes

 

 

 

 

 

5.) Growth habit is a consideration in itself. Some conifers can be upright and triangular.

 

triangle

 

 

 

 

 

Other growth habits can includes compact growth habit,

 

blue spruce

 

 

 

 

 

weeping habit,

 

weeping

 

 

 

 

 

or prostrate habit.

 

blue rug

 

 

 

 

6.) Foliage color can be another consideration. From blue green,

 

blue

 

 

 

 

 

to variegated

 

variagated

 

 

 

 

to bright yellow, leaf color

 

chaem

 

 

 

 

 

is a consideration.

 

 

7.) Texture is another consideration.

 

hinoki

 

 

 

 

Broadleaf evergreens can provide a coarser texture

 

holly

 

 

 

 

while needled evergreen can tend to be a softer look.

 

white pine

 

 

 

 

 

8.) Genus and species as well as cultivars are important. Many of our narrow-leaf evergreens can include Spruce,

 

spruce 1

 

 

 

 

 

Fir,

 

fir

 

 

 

 

Pines,

 

pines

 

 

 

 

 

Junipers,

 

juniper

 

 

 

 

Chamaecyparis,

 

cham

 

 

 

 

 

 

and Arborvitae.

 

arb

 

 

 

 

 

Broadleaf evergreens can include Boxwood,

 

boxwood

 

 

 

 

 

Holly,

 

holly

 

 

 

 

 

Azalea,

 

azal

 

az

 

 

 

 

 

Rhododendron,

 

rhod

 

 

 

 

rhodo

 

 

 

 

 

and some evergreen Magnolias.

 

sweetbay

 

 

 

 

 

 

But not all grow in all parts of Ohio. And just because they are suited or recommended to grow now, doesn’t mean they will be suitable in 20 years.

 

 

In addition, some plants are prone to diseases like this Austrian Pine.

 

aust1

 

aust2

 

 

 

Others can be very tasty to wildlife especially deer, who will browse as far as they can reach.

 

arb2

 

 

Deer love Japanese Yew!

 

yew

 

 

 

 

 

The take home message is “Do your research!” One good site that can be a resource is Missouri Botanical Garden:

 

https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/

 

But don’t give up on Evergreens. Many evergreens can still survive and thrive in Ohio if given the right conditions.

 

GO GREEN!

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