Conifers come in 50 shades of green (and more)

I couldn’t resist jumping on the “50 Shades” bandwagon. But it is true that even within the world of needle-leafed evergreens — what we nursery types call conifers — there is a wide variety of choice in foliar color from bright or dull green to bluish or chartreuse or to reddish and even variegated. Truth be known, there are a heck of a lot more than 50 shades.

While evergreens form the backbone of our native forests — hence our state’s nickname — their domesticated relatives also form the structure and bones of our landscapes. Fastigiate varieties become our focal points, mounding ones act as fillers and spreaders assume the role of ground covers.

They are also the consummate low-maintenance plant, assuming one selects the proper variety. And because they come in so many shades of green they can provide enough variety to keep the landscape interesting.

There are easily more than 20 different genera of conifers and a gazillion species and cultivars available for planting in our yards. Some form symmetrical pyramids while others can be twisted and contorted or tall and narrow. They come in just about every form and color imaginable. These domesticated varieties are all mutants from some native forest variety somewhere in the world that a dedicated nursery professional found, propagated and introduced to the gardening public.

One of the most respected wholesale growers of choice conifers is Iseli Nursery in Boring, Oregon. Over the years they have introduced hundreds of selections of conifers that are now gracing gardens all over the world. (I like to think of them as the Baskin-Robbins of the conifer world.)

Whether you are looking for a major feature in your landscape, something to create a privacy screen or just a little accent to place in a rock garden or container, this is an excellent time of the year to shop. Many conifers still have their winter colors of plum and bronze instead of their summertime blue and green. There are even a couple of pines that turn a bright yellow in the winter (Chief Joseph is the Holy Grail of pines).

You will be surprised at the contrast and drama you can generate with conifers just from the variety of foliage colors and growth habits that are available. And don’t forget to look for miniature varieties that only grow an inch or less a year, which makes them well suited for containers rockeries or miniature gardens.

I have a few conifers that I planted in my garden but my all-time favorite is the giant weeping Sequoia that, at only a few feet wide, shoots up to the sky like a rocket on an erratic trajectory and serves to anchor my entire front bed. In the back garden is a slender Hinoki Cypress that got a little too big for its britches so I have been artfully — my words, not my wife’s — pruning it to better fit the space.

On the other extreme is a cute little Korean Fir called Silver Pearl that sits in a pot by the back steps and stays nice and tidy by only growing an inch a season.

For more information on selecting and growing conifers, go to the Iseli Nursery website at www.iselinursery.com and make your list. Then come to our class March 7 and hear Jock Demme, sales manager for Iseli Nursery, discuss conifers.

Steve Smith is owner of Sunnyside Nursery in Marysville and can be reached online at info@sunnysidenursery.net.

March to-do list

Here’s a list of chores for the month of March. I expect you to get out and accomplish these things. Trust me, in the end you will be glad you did.

Frost protection. Get out those frost blankets and have them ready this month for what is sure to come: below-freezing temps. This is especially critical considering how mild it was in January and February. If the mercury is going to drop below 30 degrees then cover your plants before you go to bed and remove the fabric in the morning after the sun is out for a couple of hours.

Lawns. Kill the moss early in the month with iron sulfate and later in the month do all the renovation stuff when the soils are a bit warmer. I will have more details on renovation later in the month.

Pruning. March is the month to finish up fruit trees, tidy up hedges, cut back ornamental grasses, massacre the roses and shape up the wisteria and clematis. As early blooming plants like Forsythia, candy tuft and heather fade it is time to prune them back aggressively.

Perennials. Be very careful this month when you are tromping through the flower beds. The tender new shoots of perennials are starting to pop through the surface and the last thing you want to do is squash them. Get some organic food and compost on the soil to get them off to a good start.

Veggie gardens. It’s time to get the veggie garden in shape. Remove any weeds and spread some lime, organic fertilizer and compost and till it all together and you will be ready to plant all the cool season crops like potatoes, carrots, peas, radishes, onions, lettuce, spinach, cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower to name just a few.

Small fruits and berries. Blueberries, raspberries, blackberries and strawberries are all itching to be planted this month. Grapes and kiwis, currants and gooseberries can also be planted now. Always use some compost and organic starter fertilizer when you are planting new plants.

Fruit trees. Like I mentioned above, this is the best month to prune and spray your fruit trees with copper and oil. It is also a perfect time to plant a few new ones as well. Most trees these days are on dwarf or mini-dwarf root stocks that keep them 10 to 12 feet tall. Buy them while they are still at bareroot sale prices.

Bulbs. Summer blooming bulbs are now in stock such as dahlias and gladiolas and lilies and should be purchased this month for the best selection even though I would recommend holding off until April to plant them.

Weeds. Don’t let those weeds get ahead of you and go to seed. My favorite weeding tool is the Hula-Hoe and the Cape Cod Weeder. They are both quick and efficient. Remove the weeds and get the ground covered immediately with a layer of compost and some Preen or equivalent weed preventer and you will be miles ahead of the weeding game.

Educational opportunities. We’ve got a great line up of classes this month as do most local garden centers. For more, check out the websites for your local nursery. Also visit me at the Everett Home and Garden Show March 6 through 8. I will be speaking each day at 2 p.m.