IN THIS GUIDE
Conifers turn brown is a surprisingly common problem for gardeners in the UK .
And whenever bright evergreen plant begins to fade into a sickly brown , it is indicative of a wide of the mark event with the conditions your conifer is farm in .
At first only a few needles might change colour , but others follow suit until eventually , the healthy hue go away completely .
And it ’s unremarkably one of the same handful of job that intervene with their power to do so .
Why Your Conifer Is Turning Brown
When you guess about it , plants postulate very small to thrive .
It ’s just a case of bewilder the correct soil , the right floor of water and sun , enough space for the roots , and a heedful middle to see to it that any military issue are nipped in the bud .
Whiledifferent varieties have diverge needs , common problems with conifers incline to center around the same things , so let ’s take a look at the various issues you may encounter .
With the right care it’s possible to avoid this fate
1) Not Enough Water
These trees are used to growing in surroundings where the weather may not be particularly pleasant .
They can manage melting snowdrift and all sorting of wetness .
Sitting in the small amount of ironical soil that fits in a container then , in all probability is n’t ideal .
If you ’re grow a conifer take care to keep it very well watered .
More so than you in all likelihood gestate : sometimes they command watering double in the same day during particularly hot turn .
And if you see pee seeping out from the bottom of the pot , this can be a good denotation that the roots are taking up too much space in the soil or that you ’re using the untimely compost .
In the first instance , there ’s just not enough soil available to surcharge up the wet required to keep the industrial plant alert .
And in the 2d illustration , the stain is ineffectual to obligate enough moisture regardless of whether there ’s enough of it .
2) The Wrong Compost
Conifers want compost that retains moisture , and regular potting compost wo n’t do the trick , regrettably .
A soil - establish premix with added material like composted leafage barque or leaf cast will help to hold more wet , and to countenance aviation circulate around the roots .
Ask in your local garden centre if you call for advice on the specific compost mix for the conifer(s ) you ’re looking to grow .
Different types have dissimilar requirements , and it ’s important to get this right .
3) Not Enough Space
The reality is that conifers will do best when they ’re grown in the land .
These are proud and fearless tree that can hold their own against the element , and a life spend in a lowly great deal is n’t really ideal .
If you corrupt a potted coniferous tree , count constitute it out into the flat coat after a year or so .
This , compound with vigilant lacrimation , should give it the best shot at thriving .
If you ’re wondering why this becomes knotty , suppose about the roots of the conifer .
As the tree grows so too do its solution , and in a small pot they ’re quickly going to black market out of space .
As the ratio of roots to soil changes , it gets exponentially harder for the conifer to get the nutrient it requires .
Needles turning brown and cut down off is a desperate attempt by your plant to shepherd its resource but , unless you take natural process , this is improbable to be enough to deliver it .
4) Choose The Right Spot
If you do decide to move your coniferous tree outdoors , prove to find a sheltered spot that gets full sun or fond shade .
tax shelter is important because strong breaking wind can sear the plant , turn exposed needles brown and causing damage .
5) Make Sure There’s Drainage
Wherever you grow your plant , make trusted there ’s suited drain to allow any weewee that ’s not absorbed to ooze out .
In a pot this means drain holes , and maybe even a layer of crushed rock between the bottom of the container and the filth .
In the ground , this means suitable irrigation .
You ’ve belike find that we advise lacrimation often and using a compost that can retain wet , while also advising you to ensure there ’s plenty of drainage for surplus water .
This is because with conifers , it ’s notoriously tricky to get the right amount of water .
While they ’re stout , they ’re also bad-tempered , and once affair start up to go south it can be hard to get them back on rails .
6) Not Enough Nutrients
Nutrition is crucial in keeping plants alive and well .
We advise course your conifers in late wintertime , thenmulching the top of the soil .
“ Make certain that the bottom of the peck is ridge or the pot is lift off the background to get the hole actually drain , ” shares Master Horticulturist Peter Lickorish .
With the right care it’s possible to avoid this fate
This will top up their nutrients and hopefully encourage stronger growth .
you could grease one’s palms special feeds for conifer plant , or they ’ll respond well to 10 - 10 - 10 or 16 - 8 - 8 mixture .
Applying provender once a class will be enough to keep these tree fittingly aliment : reject the temptation to over - provender as this can disrupt their soft balance .
“ In potful , feed in more on a regular basis is important ; nettle afternoon tea can be water onto the compost every few week between outpouring and tardy summer , ” Peter bestow .
7) Don’t Prune Too Hard!
Many gardeners get a small over - enthusiastic when pruning their coniferous tree , out of a desire to keep them looking straight and trimmed .
unluckily however , pruning too aggressively can shock the plant and cause damage .
And because few coniferous tree regrow from former forest , it can take a lasting cost , as Peter shares .
“ Most coniferous tree do not have dormant buds , so cut back past the green increment leaves no buds to re - sprout . Hence , the infamous stagnant spell in a conifer .
“ There is an elision – yew is particularly good at regenerating from a gruelling prune if carried out in summer . That ’s one reason why I see yew , Taxus baccata , to be among the just coniferous tree for dodge .
“ Pruning too early can cause new increase to get frosted and , you approximate it , grow brown . ”
When it ’s metre to prune , be gentle . Only take off a small amount , and do this only in April through August .
It ’s far preferred to take off too small then rectify after on with another patrician prune , rather than to hack off so much that you cause irreversible scathe to the plant !
Enjoying Your Evergreens
produce with the forethought and attention they require , conifers are beautiful and rewarding plants to have in your garden .
They ’re freehanded , bluff , and vivacious , sustain their colour year - daily round and provide a admonisher in the skimpy month that Mother Naturewillhold motor lodge again in brief .
While it can feel like a bit of a balancing act getting the conditions right for your fledgeling conifer , once you get a spirit for it and your plant begins to get shew , you should discover thing easier .
Just remember that they ’re thirstier than you might await , that good moisture retention and near drainage are both required , and the over - zealous pruning will get way more harm than good .
And whether you decide to keep a coniferous tree in a modest container on your desk , a large container on your patio , or encircled in your lawn , the steps in this templet should hopefully aid you to keep it animated and well for a long time to come .
