{"id":6768,"date":"2022-11-30T22:00:45","date_gmt":"2022-11-30T22:00:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bartlett.com\/blog\/?p=6768"},"modified":"2025-10-27T20:48:25","modified_gmt":"2025-10-27T20:48:25","slug":"conifer-care","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bartlett.com\/blog\/conifer-care\/","title":{"rendered":"Care for conifers"},"content":{"rendered":"

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It’s the time of year for conifers to shine! Most trees have lost their leaves by now so there’s nothing like a conifer for landscape color in late autumn and winter. Conifers are a favorite for the many benefits they provide. These trees are great for year-round screening, act as windbreaks and serve as ideal focal trees. Proper conifer care can help prevent decline in these majestic trees.<\/p>\n

What is a Conifer?<\/h2>\n

Trees of this classification have needle-like or scale-like foliage. Common examples include spruce, pine, fir, cedar and hemlock. There are a few species that lose their leaves (needles) such as larch and dawn redwood. However, most do retain foliage. With that in mind, conifers are not scientifically classed by needle retention or being “evergreen,” but rather by how they fruit. Conifer means “cone bearer” and these trees reproduce by forming a cone that contains seeds. That means all conifers have cones. This includes some surprises. For example, the small blue ‘berries’ on junipers are actually reproductive cones.<\/p>\n

Conifer cones come in many different forms and colors.<\/em><\/h5>\n