| Just purchased couple of austrian pine at Home Depot for planting in my lakewood, Colorado back yard. I believe I have made an inappropriate choice due to their average size attainment. Intend to return them in exchange for trees better suited to my yard space and location. I prefer conifers but need something that will only grow to aproximately one-half the size of the austrian pines. What do you reccomend? |
| You might prefer growing the Bristlecone pine (Pinus aristata). This is a slow-growing evergreen, eventually reaching a height of 8 to 20? and a width of 10 to 15?. Or, perhaps one of the following dwarf conifers will work in your garden: Norway spruce 'Little Gem' maintains a dense bun shape and has short needles. It loves full sun and is great in a rock garden. Canadian hemlock 'Stewart's Gem' is bun-shaped and reaches a height of two feet. This shade-loving, graceful conifer is also slow growing. Mugo pine 'Sherwood Compact' has dark green, dense foliage. It is slow growing and reaches a height of less than two feet. Dwarf bird's nest spruce 'Nidiformis' grows wider than it is tall. This adaptable tree is hardy to 35 degrees F below zero. Japanese garden juniper 'Nana' is a good ground cover that grows out about three feet. Weeping European larch 'Pendula' with its cascading green foliage makes an excellent plant for entrances or centerpieces in the garden. Nootka falsecypress 'Glauca Pendula' has branches that cascade down along its trunk. The deep green foliage has a blue cast. This weeping tree grows six to seven feet in 10 years. Weeping white spruce transplants easily and does well in moist soil. It is one of the most tolerant spruces and can withstand heat, wind, cold and overcrowding. |
