ONLINE COURSE CONIFERS
Be a Conifer Expert
Eight lessons provide you with a systematic understanding of the way conifers are classified, show you how to identify the differences between types and develop your understanding of cultural requirements common to the whole group and differences in cultural techniques needed for specific types of conifers. Sections of this course look in detail at trees (e.g. Pines, Cedrus, Spruce), small shrubs, medium shrubs, native conifers and rarer varieties.
Learn how to Grow and Use Conifer Plants: A correspondence course for the enthusiast or commercial grower.
Lesson Structure
There are 9 lessons in this course:
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Introduction
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Review the system of plant identification, general characteristics of the conifer plant group, information contacts you can use (ie: nurseries, seed, clubs, etc).
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Culture
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Planting, staking, mulching, watering, pest & disease, feeding, pruning, protection from wind, salt air, propagation, etc.
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Trees
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Conifers that reach tree proportions, their characteristics and requirements, how to grow conifers by seed propagation and grafting techniques.
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Common Medium Size Shrubs
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Many conifers fall into this height category. Some of the popular conifers are Chamaecyparis, Juniperus and Thuja. How to prune conifers.
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Small Shrubs
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How to choose small and prostrate conifers and their care. How to care for seedlings up to planting out stage.
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Australian Native Conifers
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Araucaria, Callitris, Podocarpus are three good conifers for use. The importance of environmental zones in Australia and how it can effect plant growth.
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Rarer Conifers
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Hemlocks, Podocarpus, Larches and leaf characteristcs of Cephalataxus.
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Using Conifers
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As timber, oils, edible seed, christmas trees, etc.
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Landscaping with Conifers
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Developed in conjunction with the Rural Industries Industry Training Board in Queensland and accredited from 1995-2000 as an Advanced Diploma Module. Notes are continually upgraded to maintain relevance to current and future needs.
Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.
Aims
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Distinguish between different types of conifers in cultivation, including twenty-five different genera and fifty different varieties.
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Specify the general cultural requirements of different conifer genera.
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Determine specific cultural requirements for some commonly cultivated conifer species.
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Specify specific cultural requirements for some lesser grown conifers, including Australian native and uncommon species.
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Determine different commercial applications for conifers in horticulture.
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Prepare a planting design using conifers.
Gardening Tips with Conifers
Conifers can provide us with a huge range of shapes, from tall, narrow trees, to conical shaped trees or shrubs, to prostrate, low growing types, to broad, domed shaped types and much more. They offer a huge range of colour variations, and a wide variety of foliage textures.
Whether you live in cool climates like Scandinavia or Alaska, or even warmer sub tropic or tropical climates (or anything in between), there are conifers that you can grow.
Traditionally conifers have been used for oils (skin care products), timber and even edible nuts. These days, however they are seen as offering many varied and exciting landscaping possibilities . Conifers can make excellent long living, screening plants, hedges or contrast plants. A huge range of dwarf, and low growing types are available, many of which make excellent groundcovers or tub plants. Their ease of care makes them a favourite amongst designers and home gardeners.
Conifers do not require excessive care in terms of maintenance and pest control. Most simply require the following: do not over water, provide plenty of compost/mulch to maintain a cool root system, and trim lightly only, if at all, to maintain a neat appearance, unless you are using them for hedges, mazes, bonsai or topiary.
When grown in the cool parts, plants may be placed very close together. If planted in warmer districts, especially where humidity can be a problem, then plants should be spaced out to allow plenty of air movement between them, which helps in reducing plant diseases.
A small selection of recommended conifers include:
Aromatic foliage
Abies amabilis, A. balsamea
Cedrus spp.
Chamaecyparis thyoides 'Andelyensis'
Juniperus spp.
Conifers good for large containers
Araucaria spp.
Actinostrobus spp.
Athrotaxus spp.
Agathis spp.
Conifers for regularly trimmed hedges under 2m
Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Plumosa'
Picea abies
Taxus baccata
T. x media
Conifers for hedges between 1m - 2m
Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Ellwoodii', 'Fletcheri'
C. obtusa 'Crippsii', 'Tetragona Aurea'
C. thyoides 'Andelyensis', 'Ericoides'
Juniperus communis 'Hibernica'
J. squamata 'Meyeri'
J. virginiana 'Burkii'
Taxus baccata 'Fastigiata'
T. cuspidata 'Densa'
Thuja orientalis
Conifers for hedges between 2m - 4m
Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Alumni'
C. pisifera 'Plumosa', 'Squarrosa'
Juniperus chinensis
Picea abies
Pinus mugo
Taxus baccata
T. X media 'Hicksii'
Thuja occidentalis
T. orientalis 'Shirls Supreme'
Conifers between 3m - 10m
Actinostrobus pyramidalis
Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Alumni', 'Monumentalis', 'Silver Queen',
'Triomf van Boskoop'
C. pisifera 'Plumosa', 'Squarrosa'
Larix decidua
L. kaempferi
Picea abies
P. glauca
P. omorika
Pinus nigra
P. strobus
P. sylvestris
Pseudotsuga menziesii
Taxus baccata
T. cuspidata
Thuja occidentalis
T. plicata
Tsuga canadensis
T. heterophylla
Conifers as groundcovers
Juniperus communis 'Depressa', 'Hornbrookii', 'Repanda'
J. conferta 'Blue Pacific'
J. horizontalis 'Douglasii', 'Bar Harbor', 'Blue Forest', 'Plumosa'
J. procumbens 'Nana'
J. sabina 'Broadmore', 'Tamariscifolia'
J. virginiana 'Reptans'
Taxus baccata 'Repandens'
T. X media 'Wardii'
Bird attracting conifers
Juniperus spp.
Larix spp.
Picea spp.
Taxus spp.
Thuja spp.
Tsuga spp.
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