How to Choose Evergreens
- 1). Determine the available space for the plants. Use the tape measure to measure the entire garden bed, front to back and side to side. Note the measurements on a piece of paper. If you intend to plant evergreens in front of your home, measure the height from the ground to the windowsill to determine the approximate maximum height for your evergreens.
- 2). Test the soil. Purchase a soil test kit at a garden center and follow the directions to determine if the soil pH is acidic or alkaline. Most evergreens prefer an acidic soil. If you do not have a soil test kit, dig up a half cup of soil and place it in a plastic container. Take it to a local garden center that performs soil tests. The technicians can advise you on any soil amendments you should add to successfully grow evergreens.
- 3). Find your gardening zone. The U.S. Department of Agriculture divides North America into 11 gardening zones based on cold hardiness and average frost free dates. The gardening zones indicates which evergreens will potentially thrive in the garden. The National Gardening Association provides a free zone finder online (see the link in the Resource section below).
- 4). Visit a garden center and choose evergreens based on their growth habits and needs. Choose plants that fit in your space and will not grow taller than the windowsill measurements taken in Step 1. Look for plants that will thrive in the light, soil and climate conditions in the area you intend to plant them.
- 5). Select only the number of evergreens that fit comfortably in the space available. Remember that plants grow out as well as up, so leave enough space between them so their branches have room to grow. Choose a variety of evergreens such as holly, yew and boxwood to add interest to the landscape with a variety of leaf colors and textures as well as plant heights.
Source...