When you are planning to grow evergreens, a few pointers will guide you on your way to maximum success. They are about the most undemanding plants you can grow, but it pays to give them the conditions that are best suited to their welfare. This includes providing congenial soil, feeding, watering, and covering them with a friendly mulch to help conserve moisture and hold down the soil temperature.

SOIL

Let us consider the cone-bearing trees (conifers), such as Pines, Hemlocks, Spruces, Firs, Junipers and Cedars. These evergreens, as well as many others belonging to the coniferous group, show a preference for ground that is moderately light, friable, and well drained. The soil should be neither too heavy nor too sandy. Heavy clay ground is undesirable because it is more difficult for the roots to penetrate it, and the soil aeration is inadequate.

This kind of land can be ameliorated by incorporating into it generous quantities of sand and peat moss. On the other hand, a soil that is overly sandy is not satisfactory, since it is not sufficiently retentive of moisture or minerals. Soil of this type can be improved with the addition of clay, or a combination of well-rotted cow manure and peat moss. This will increase the water-holding capacity of the ground and will help to keep the evergreens from drying out.

PLANTING

The best seasons for planting evergreens are either the early spring or the fall. Spring planting should be done as soon as the ground is in a workable condition. The least propitious time for moving evergreens is later in spring when the plants are clothed with their tender, succulent new growth.

At that season wilting is difficult to avoid, and there is risk of breaking the young shoots. Furthermore, the plants are dislodged from the ground at a time when they are drawing heavily on the nutrients and moisture in the soil for sustenance. In the autumn, September and October are ideal planting months in the vicinity of Philadelphia.

The time naturally varies with climatic conditions. A good rule to follow is to put the trees in the ground 6 or more weeks before real winter begins. In mild climates the planting season commences in the fall and continues until the excessive heat of spring arrives. Some growers contend that evergreens can be planted every month of the year. Provided the weather is not too hot and dry, and if every care is taken in the planting procedure, this can sometimes be done successfully.

WATERING

After the evergreens have been set out and have had their first soaking, future waterings will depend on various factors. The amount of rainfall is obviously an important consideration, also the temperature. Frequent watering is needed in the spring because the warmth of the sun dries out the soil unbelievably fast.

Less watering is required in fall since the ground is cool and damp. The kind of soil is another factor to take into account. Soil that is heavy is naturally more retentive of moisture than ground that is porous and light in texture; the latter, of course, drains more rapidly and more frequent watering is needed.

MULCHING

A mulch is a loose covering which is placed over the surface of the soil. This is especially important for newly transplanted stock, and in most instances it is a decided advantage to maintain a year round mulch. A 2-inch covering is the usual depth to use during the summer; whereas in northern winters a deeper mulch is advisable. Acid-loving plants react well to a mulch with an acid content, such as peat moss.

In selecting the kind of mulch to use, an important concern of home gardeners is to use one which does not detract from the appearance of the garden. The soft brown color of buckwheat hulls are preferred by many since they are light, easy to handle, and efficacious. These check the evaporation of moisture from the soil, and do not prevent the water from penetrating into the ground.

Look after your evergreens and they will reward you by looking attractive for many years.