Comments on: doodle by andre: revenge of the conifers

By: Deirdre

Deirdre — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:46:08 +0000

Don’t get me wrong. I like trees. I have planted trees (the ugly spruce was replaced by a Stewartia sinensis), and will plant more, even conifers, but they will be placed where they have room to grow and serve a function. People need to think about where they’re going to put those living Christmas trees before they buy them.

By: Margaret

Margaret — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:14:24 +0000

Welcome, Jane. Things do have a way of growing, don’t they? :) After nearly 25 years here I am startled at the size of some “small” things I planted. Yikes. See you soon, I hope.

By: Jane Hale

Jane Hale — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:26:41 +0000

Good Morning “Fred from Loudonville” – Where was your info 20 years ago when I lined my ski house driveway with “cute-little-guys” I moved out of the woods? Who knew how big they would grow! Too late to top them now; have resorted to elevating them so I get back some room for cars and accumulated snow.

By: boodely

boodely — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:38:27 +0000

Watch out for Birnam wood coming to Dunsinane!!

By: Fred from Loudonville, NY

Fred from Loudonville, NY — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:54:54 +0000

Andre,….If I knew how to cut and paste, I would take my comments that I wrote in “My November Garden Chores”, Nov 1, 2009, and enter it in this new posting. I feel a lot of what I mentioned works here. As for planting Christmas trees, I think a lot of people, after planting them, let them grow as they want. A Christmas tree is no different than any FOUNDATION plant (upright or spreading yew, etc.). When the Christmas tree gets to a desired height, cut off it’s terminal bud (top growth where you would place a star). After that, start trimming (shearing) it to keep it small of size and to encourage fuller growth. Think about what TOPIARY or BONSAI are. They are plants that can grow GIGANTIC but through clipping are forced and controlled to a desired shape and size.