Bulbs
Flower Basics
Flower Beds & Specialty Gardens
Flower Garden
Garden Furniture
Garden Gnomes
Garden Seeds
Garden Sheds
Garden Statues
Garden Tools & Supplies
Gardening Basics
Green & Organic
Groundcovers & Vines
Growing Annuals
Growing Basil
Growing Beans
Growing Berries
Growing Blueberries
Growing Cactus
Growing Corn
Growing Cotton
Growing Edibles
Growing Flowers
Growing Garlic
Growing Grapes
Growing Grass
Growing Herbs
Growing Jasmine
Growing Mint
Growing Mushrooms
Orchids
Growing Peanuts
Growing Perennials
Growing Plants
Growing Rosemary
Growing Roses
Growing Strawberries
Growing Sunflowers
Growing Thyme
Growing Tomatoes
Growing Tulips
Growing Vegetables
Herb Basics
Herb Garden
Indoor Growing
Landscaping Basics
Landscaping Patios
Landscaping Plants
Landscaping Shrubs
Landscaping Trees
Landscaping Walks & Pathways
Lawn Basics
Lawn Maintenance
Lawn Mowers
Lawn Ornaments
Lawn Planting
Lawn Tools
Outdoor Growing
Overall Landscape Planning
Pests, Weeds & Problems
Plant Basics
Rock Garden
Rose Garden
Shrubs
Soil
Specialty Gardens
Trees
Vegetable Garden
Yard Maintenance
How to Care for Evergreen Shrubs
How to Care for Evergreen Shrubs. Evergreens add year-round interest and beauty to both country and urban landscapes. Drought tolerant, disease resistant and adaptable to many soil conditions, evergreens flourish in United States Hardiness Zones 2 through 9.Often referred to as green, evergreens actually come in many shades of yellow-green,...
Evergreens add year-round interest and beauty to both country and urban landscapes. Drought tolerant, disease resistant and adaptable to many soil conditions, evergreens flourish in United States Hardiness Zones 2 through 9.
Often referred to as green, evergreens actually come in many shades of yellow-green, brownish green and blue shades. They are attractive as specimen plantings, in hedges or as foundation plantings.
Hardy evergreens will thrive with adequate light, water and just a little tender loving care.
Things You'll Need
Shovel
Garden gloves
Organic compost
Organic mulch
Bone meal
Pruning shears
Pine bark or decorative rock chips
Test the soil. Take a sample to your local county extension office or landscape center to test the soil's nutrient content. Soil lacking in iron will benefit from an application of bone meal. Sprinkle bone meal around the base of the tree, following label instructions.
Prune dead branches to retain shape and conformity. Dead branches leach nutrients from the tree and are unattractive. Use well-sharpened pruning shears to make clean cuts.
Evergreen shrubs and trees come in a variety of shapes: round, columnar, pyramidal, vase, weeping, upright and prostrate. Choose varieties that naturally grow to the height and shape you desire.
Water regularly. Although drought tolerant, evergreens will flourish in moist, well-drained soil. Soak the base of tree during periods of extended drought.
Fertilize the soil. Spread a 3 to 4 inch layer of organic compost around the bottom of the tree. Cover with a 2 to 4 inch layer of organic mulch. Straw, aged non-treated sawdust, shredded newspaper or torn strips of cardboard can be used. The compost will slowly decompose to add nutrients to the soil.
Top dress the mulch layer with a 2 to 4 inch layer of pine bark or decorative rock chips to retain moisture and control weeds.
Protect evergreen shrubs from ice buildup and fierce winter winds by mulching in winter. Evergreens grow best if located on protected north or east exposures.
