Conifer Conundrum - with pictures

TallGirl

Dear knowledgeable garden friends please can you help me.

Got a small garden with no trees and have recently had to take down a large conifer which had out grown its space. Next to it was a smaller conifer which we thought would be fine but turns out it had gone brown on one side.




Its on a pure North facing side of the garden on the right hand side of our garden rigth by the house so very visible from the kitchen window. We didnt get the roots taken out I would assume it would be impossible to plant anything else in the space hence why I have put some pots. I am hoping the ivy will cover the rest of the fence and hopefully cover up the bad bits but will that be enough.



As you can see from any other side it looks nice and adds a bit of height to the garden and the side that is overlooked.

So if this was you what would you do:

1. Get rid of it
2. Cut the brown bits off and hope the Ivy will cover it
3. Leave as it is

Many thanks for you help really appreciate it.

mrbadexample

How about this?

laurel7172

Get rid of it

It's only going to get bigger/more of a nuisance to keep in check/more of a danger to fell.

They're horrible things. Get rid now before you regret it.

(I took out all my conifers (about 30 of them) a year ago, so not biased *at all* )

TallGirl

Thanks for the suggestions and votes I am still thinking about it. The conifer in the picture was planted in 1994 when we moved in so it's not one of them horrible fast growing ones.

Keep the suggestions and votes coming please.

SailorSam

Get rid of it

The only thing good about conifers is they grow quick if you need a hedge. But then once you've got the hedge that you're happy with ........ they keep growing and spoil it.

Sepa74

Get rid of it

I'm voting to get rid of it, mainly because I think if the ivy did cover it, it would still look messy and unsightly. The other option might be to grow a smaller conifer beside it? But there might still be too many roots in the ground.

You will find that over the next couple of years the soil will improve dramatically now that the connifers have stopped sucking up all the nutrients and water from the soil

You can get some variegated laurel type things that grow well in that situation to replace it, but they don't grow very tall.

Another option might be a morello cherry which is shade tolerant, or an acer.
http://www.gardenersworld.com/blogs/allotments/cherry-trees/2905.html
http://www.growsonyou.com/question/show/17666

I also found this article helpful too - I have the same problem!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/gardening/article-1194114/Shady-dealers-Plants-brighten-shadiest-spots.html

blossomhill_2

Get rid of it

I've voted to get rid ... now, where's the poll to get rid of all conifers?

TallGirl

Thanks for the ideas looks like conifers are truly out of favour I thought it was just the fast growing ones that was. Will keep thinking about it as I don't think I can get anything else in the ground due to the old huge one I took out a couple of weeks ago.

paddyrg

Leave it as it is

I didn't have an option for 'keep the tree and plant something in front of it', so went for the 'as-is' button.

Nice healthy tree, conifers are wonderful for birds, so why not keep it and plant something robust, quick-growing and also great for birds next to it?

I'd suggest an elderberry or buddleia in front of it will quickly fill the space with birds or butterflies, covering the brown patch and robust enough to take around the old roots of the previous occupant

lostinrates

TallGirl wrote: »

Thanks for the ideas looks like conifers are truly out of favour I thought it was just the fast growing ones that was. Will keep thinking about it as I don't think I can get anything else in the ground due to the old huge one I took out a couple of weeks ago.

Well, I might be planting some in the future,I care less for fashion in planting than I do what we like and good garden design....if you like it keep it.....

But.....


You talk bout being overlooked, and seems to be from the second picture at least that little conifer is not doing very much to help that. If you planted something g with a larger canopy, but still a small tree, a few feet away you might get more privacy and a nice contrasting shape with your tall slim conifer from other small ornamental trees. (some of which might be ever green, but not conifers) or even from some very large shrubs.

Yorkie1

Get rid of it

I don't think the ivy will in fact cover the brown patch, so I don't think that option is really viable. In that situation, I think that getting rid is probably the best option.