Evergreens in Landscaping

Although more expensive than deciduous trees (trees that drop their leaves in winter), because of their year-round beauty, hardiness and longevity, evergreen trees are worth their cost. Evergreens range from broad-leaved shrubs such as laurel and rhododendron to tall-needled cone-bearing pines and stately spruces.

Most effective as windscreens, the giant spruces and firs are widely used not only because for their attractiveness, but also because of their shape and trim. In addition they do well in the shade, so they are excellent for foundation planting.

Let’s take a look at the different types of evergreens:

Arbor Vitae

The ornamental Arbor vitae, such as cedar, furnishes the flat evergreen branch found in flower arrangements at Christmas. It is at its best in moist, protected places. Although it shears to any size or shape, untrimmed, it is a broad pyramid anywhere from 35 to 50 feet tall.

Douglas Fir

Hardy, healthy, and drought-resistant, the Douglas fir grows quickly and compactly. The best fir for windbreaks and screening, its lofty pyramid makes a good lawn specimen. White fir has an attractive silvery color while balsam fir, the Christmas tree, is noted for its fragrance and lustrous foliage.

Hemlock

Another evergreen with feathery foliage, the hemlock is most effective when planted in a grove with others. The Canadian hemlock can be sheared in a symmetrical manner.

Juniper

The tall forms of juniper, such as the formal columnar juniper and the upright juniper, are useful in planting. As a spreading evergreen the remarkable Pfitzer juniper is best used for banks, edgings and ground cover. The green feathery foliage grows rapidly, can stand crowding and its height at maturity is 8 feet, spread up to 12. Ground-covering junipers include creeping, prostrate, Sargent, and Waukegan.

Norway Spruce

Probably the most widely planted windbreak evergreen, the Norway spruce is hardy and quick growing. It has short needles of dark green and is compact and pyramidal in shape. A slow grower, the Norway spruce can remain in close quarters for many years. The Black Hills spruce grows to 40 feet in time, and is hardy and drought-resistant.

Pine

The most commonly known evergreen is the pine. Noted for its long, soft, light silvery-green needles the white pine can reach 60 to 80 feet at maturity. In addition to the white pine, the red pine is splendid for backgrounds and windbreaks. A broad, compact tree, the ponderosa pine is used for protection and ornamental screens.

The Austrian pine (black pine), popular in the Midwest, has a rich, green color and spreading branches. Globe mugho pine -- a small, rounded tree -- is used for ornamental planting.

White Spruce

Short and thick, with light blue-green needles, the white spruce matures at 60 to 70 feet and is good for landscaping and screens. Although it suffers in drought and heat, the Colorado blue spruce is a hardy tree. Because it withstands dry weather and the thick green foliage has a bronze in winter, red cedar is a fine ornamental evergreen for hedges and windbreaks.

Yew

With its thick, glossy needles and dense, upward-reaching branches, the yew is useful as both a shrub and tree. Although it grows well in sun and shade, it’s best used as a single handsome specimen against a wall of the garden rather than as foundation planting. The low-spreading bushy dwarf yew can be clipped well while other varieties such as the upright yew and Japanese yew are a tapering or conical tree or shrub best used for hedges.

Inclement Weather Tips

Since evergreens tend to be adversely affected by dry, hot summer weather they should be watered every 10 to 14 days during this time of year. Be sure the water reaches the deep-root growth, at least 6 inches deep.

Another way to protect the tree from loss of water in dry weather is with a mulch of grass clippings or peat moss. Another way to help an evergreen thrive is by pruning in the late spring, making sure that the inner branches will develop and the tree or shrub is more compact.

Formal trees can be kept trim with no ragged branches sticking out while badly-shaped or deformed trees can be correct through shaping. When exposed to too much wind and winter sun, evergreens may dry up and their branches will crack under the weight of snow or the force of wind. One way to avoid this is to water them deeply before the ground freezes in the late fall.

Another way to protect your evergreens is by using screens of burlap or straw mats. If the wind and winter sun isn’t too strong, they only need to be shielded on the sunny side. Remember, however, that burlap boxes or covers need to be well-ventilated. So that the branches won’t crack, tie strips of cloth to thin, tall shrubs or small evergreens. To prevent breakage under heavy snow or ice, prop up the heavy limbs of old trees with boards.