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30.05.2025
Conifers are survivors. With their evergreen needles, they defy cold, snow, and drought, shaping landscapes from high mountains to boreal forests. Conifers are also popular in parks and gardens.
In this article, you will learn everything you need to know about the origin, choice of location, care, pruning, fertilization and, above all, the correct watering of conifers.
Conifers origin
Conifers are among the oldest plant families on Earth. Many species existed even in the time of the dinosaurs. Today, conifers are widespread throughout the Northern Hemisphere and form extensive forests, particularly in cold and temperate climates. Here are some examples:
- Spruce trees (Picea), Fir trees (Abies) and Pine trees (Pinus) are native to Europe and Asia and inhabit mountains, moors and forests.
- Larches (Larix) are the only native conifers that shed their needles in winter.
- cedars (Cedrus) originate from the Mediterranean region and the Himalayas and are popular garden and park trees in our country.
- Thuja and juniper (Juniperus) are robust woody plants that are often used as hedges or for topiary.
- Mammoth trees are native to North America and East Asia. While the giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum) is native to the mountainous regions of California, the coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) grows along the Pacific coast. The dawn redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) was rediscovered in China. Despite their unusual appearance, all three species are considered conifers.
- Eiben are among the oldest tree species in Europe and were already widespread on the continent during the last Ice Age. Conifers are adapted to demanding environmental conditions, but require targeted care in the garden to stay healthy.
Conifers care and location
Site requirements vary depending on the species, but the following basic rules apply to most conifers:
- Light: Most conifers prefer full sun or light partial shade. Shady, damp locations are less favorable (firs are an exception here).
- Soil: For most conifers, the soil should be loose, well-drained, humus-rich, or slightly acidic. Most conifer species do not like heavy, compacted, or calcareous soils.
- Wind protection: In open locations, wind protection is recommended during the juvenile phase – especially for young spruces or firs.
- Conifers usually grow in a clear-cut shape. Pruning is rarely necessary, but may be advisable for aesthetic or practical reasons.
Pruning conifers
Here are some basic guidelines for pruning of conifers:
- Prune only when necessary: Restraint is especially important with slow-growing species. Excessive pruning can leave gaps that will not heal.
- Do not cut into old wood: Many conifers (e.g. Thuja, Cypress) do not sprout again from unneedled wood.
- Best time: Late summer to early fall. Many conifers sprout vigorously in spring—pruning during this time can lead to excessive evaporation and resin loss.
If you're growing conifers as a hedge, we recommend trimming the young shoots to maintain their shape. For most species, we recommend not pruning the trees too drastically.
Do you need to fertilize conifers?
Conifers are considered undemanding, but it can still be beneficial to occasionally fertilizeHere are the most important recommendations:
- Spring: Organic conifer fertilizer or horn shavings promote the growth of shoots and roots.
- Summer: A second, light fertilization may be useful – e.g., with compost, plant manure, or a potassium fertilizer to strengthen frost resistance.
- Never overfertilize! Too much nitrogen leads to stout, disease-prone growth.
- A mulch layer This continuously releases nutrients and simultaneously improves soil life.
Water conifers properly!
Conifers are adapted to drought, and their needles evaporate little water. Nevertheless, they require targeted watering during certain life stages or climatic situations.
- Young plants (1–5 years old): They have not yet developed a deep root system and require regular watering during dry periods. These trees also benefit from occasional watering in spring and fall.
- Summer heat: Even established trees need additional water during long dry periods.
- Winter months: Evergreen conifers evaporate water even in winter. During extended dry periods, most conifers benefit from additional watering. This article provides specific information for Watering trees in winter.
For the Watering trees We have summarized the most important points for you:
- To ensure that the water can really reach the root area, you should give a lot of water at once, at least 75 – 100 liters of water in one watering.
- Make sure the water is released as slowly as possible. This is important so the soil can absorb it. If the water is added too quickly, it will run off the surface, as dry soil can only absorb a small amount of water. Therefore, we recommend using tree watering bags.
- The baumbad watering bags They release water drop by drop into the soil through small holes over a period of several hours. This ensures even soil moisture throughout the entire root zone, allowing the roots to absorb the water easily. Using the irrigation bags, the water actually reaches the tree.
- For larger trees, you can Also attach tree watering bags to a stake and place it in the root area of the tree.
- If you are not using tree watering bags, we recommend watering the tree early in the morning or late in the evening.
- casting dictionary
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- Tree watering sack
- tree care
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https://baumbad.de/blogs/giesslexikon/nadelbaeume-giessen
https://baumbad.de/blogs/giesslexikon/nadelbaeume-giessen
https://baumbad.de/blogs/giesslexikon/nadelbaeume-giessen
https://baumbad.de/blogs/giesslexikon/nadelbaeume-giessen
https://baumbad.de/blogs/giesslexikon/nadelbaeume-giessen
https://baumbad.de/blogs/giesslexikon/nadelbaeume-giessen
- Conifers
- fruit trees
- Nut trees
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https://baumbad.de/blogs/giesslexikon/nadelbaeume-giessen
https://baumbad.de/blogs/giesslexikon/nadelbaeume-giessen
https://baumbad.de/blogs/giesslexikon/nadelbaeume-giessen
https://baumbad.de/blogs/giesslexikon/nadelbaeume-giessen
How to water conifers correctly – for a rich harvest
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