conifer bed width

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

What's the minimum width of a bed for future dwarf and miniature conifers that don't look like they are planted in a straight line. It would be on the outside of a fence, with plenty of room to expand in the future if one wanted to. Would like to keep it simple but have things that are different.

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Comments (3)

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
5 years ago
Depends entirely on the conifers you will be planting. The only thing that separates dwarf and mini conifers from standard forms is rate of growth. Given enough time, they can grow much larger than expected.

Planting beds tend to be routinely undersized. I'd start at least at 6', more if available. And think about what other plants you might want to add to compliment the conifers.
bernbecca
Original Author
5 years ago
I don't know what I will be planting, I do like weepers. Since I'm old, slow growing works for me. Right now I thought I would just make the bed which will be covered in wood chips and when I find something that intrigues me, find a spot in that bed. Thinking about 6x200'
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
5 years ago
thats a lot of wood chips.. at 200 feet ...

my rule of thumb.. 10 years after ... was i should have doubled my first estimates.. lol ...

keep in mind.. as trees... they never stop growing ... most good size estimates are at 10 years.. and you can easily expect double that in 20 years ...

i would suggest you make the plan ... but make it a 5 year plan ... of implementing it ... do it in stages.. as you collect the plants ... so the plan can evolve as you learn ...

and imo ... try to avoid a straight line bed edge .... make it wider where you know things will get larger faster.. and thinner.. where you might plant things on the fence itself ... e.g... clematis or some such ... break it all up visually ....

below is a link to the ACS growth rate page ... presuming i can find it..meaning .. they didnt move it ... lol .. as gal noted.. the difference is how much a plant will grow .. once established ... plan ahead in placement for said annual growth ... NOTE .. dwarfs can grow as much as 6 inches per year ... and that is pretty fast compared to the 1 inch mini growth rate ... group the latter .. but space the former ....

and btw .. if the fence will need painting or some such.. plan enough space to do such work.. without damaging you plants ... do NOT plant too close to the fence regardless ....

and.. when you start a new post on suggests .. include you location.. big city name .. not everything grows everywhere .... or do it here ... and zone alone is not good enough ....

ken

https://conifersociety.org/conifers/learn/conifer-sizes-growth-rates/