Wednesday, September 24, 2008


CONIFERS – THE PERFECT SOLUTION FOR THE NO-SPACE, NO TIME GARDENER’S IN THE SOUTH WEST

Today’s busy lifestyles and hectic schedules mean that many people are short of leisure time and may struggle to look after a garden. PlantforLife, in conjunction with the Association of British Conifer Growers, found that over half (57%) of people in the South West want a garden that is easy to care for, with more than a quarter (29%) of those surveyed saying they want to enjoy a great-looking garden.

Since garden aesthetics are still hugely important and people are short of leisure time, there is a need for plants which are manageable and easy to maintain. However, people still want their gardens to have the same impact as large, well cared-for gardens.
Conifers fit all of the above criteria so they are an ideal solution for many gardens. Conifers are a wonderful way of adding colour and shape to the garden. What’s more, they last all year round – unlike many other plants. Many of them change colour throughout the year, giving gardens fabulous splashes of orange, blue or purple in the autumn and winter, when other plants are dormant.
When thinking of conifers, many people associate them with the large and fast-growing Leylandii conifer. While these can be very useful and magnificent trees, they can be too much for small gardens if not properly trimmed. However, there’s a lot more to the conifer family than tall trees. There is a huge variety of shapes and sizes of conifer.
Conifers are also fantastically versatile. They can be used in containers or as dramatic standalone features in the garden. They can give height to borders or create a formal look around a front door. Their beauty is striking when frost or snow covers their shape in winter.
Many conifers are also very easy to look after. As long as they are planted in the right spot, and there are many positions in the garden that would be suitable, conifers only need an occasional trim or prune to keep them looking good. They will need watering to get them established, but once growing will need little attention and will provide year-round interest. They are virtually maintenance-free and great value as they will perform for years to come.
The fourth National Conifer Week takes place from 27th September – 5th October 2008 and St Bridget Nurseries' Garden Centres in Exeter are brimming with home-grown conifers and information on how they can add a contemporary look to your garden. Additionally, visit
www.plantforlife.info/conifer for conifer suggestions, pictures, gardening advice.

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