By Nancy Penrose
Evergreen trees are often associated with winter landscapes, holiday greenery, and year-round color. But summer is one of the most important seasons for selecting, planting, and caring for evergreens. Whether you are adding privacy to your yard, creating a windbreak, or simply enhancing your landscape with beautiful year-round foliage, choosing the right evergreen and giving it proper summer care will help ensure healthy growth for years to come.
At the nursery, summer is an excellent time to evaluate evergreens in full growth. You can see the richness of their color, inspect their health, and compare sizes and varieties. With the right guidance, you can select trees and shrubs that thrive in your climate and fit your landscape goals perfectly.
Why Evergreens Are a Smart Landscaping Choice
Evergreens retain their foliage throughout the year, making them one of the most versatile and valuable additions to any landscape. Unlike deciduous trees that lose their leaves in autumn, evergreens provide constant structure, color, and screening.
Popular benefits of evergreens include:
- Year-round privacy
- Noise reduction
- Wind protection
- Erosion control
- Habitat for birds and beneficial wildlife
- Increased property value
- Low-maintenance beauty
Whether you choose towering conifers like Blue Spruce or compact shrubs such as Boxwood, evergreens provide dependable performance in virtually every type of landscape.
Some of the most popular evergreen choices include:
Arborvitae
A favorite for privacy hedges, arborvitae grows quickly and forms dense green walls. Varieties such as Emerald Green and Green Giant are especially popular.
Excelsa Cedar
Known for rapid growth and good screening, but tops out around 30 feet.
Blue Spruce
This striking conifer offers distinctive blue needles and a classic pyramidal shape.
Leyland Cypress
A fast-growing option for large privacy screens, especially in warmer climates.
Japanese Yew
Excellent for foundation plantings and shaded locations, yews tolerate pruning well.
Vanderwolf Pine
A dense pine with bluish tint that tops out around 30 feet.
Your local nursery can help you determine which varieties perform best in your soil, sun exposure, and USDA hardiness zone.
Summer Care Tips for Healthy Evergreens
Summer heat places added stress on newly planted evergreens. Following a few simple care practices will help them establish strong roots and maintain vibrant foliage.
Water Deeply and Consistently
Evergreens need regular watering during their first year after planting. The goal is to moisten the root zone thoroughly.
Watch for signs of drought stress, including:
- Browning needle tips
- Drooping branches
- Dry soil several inches below the surface
Apply Mulch
A two- to three-inch layer of mulch helps retain moisture, regulate soil temperature, and suppress weeds. Keep mulch a few inches away from the trunk to prevent rot.
Avoid Excess Fertilizer
Newly planted evergreens typically do not require heavy fertilization in summer. Too much fertilizer can stimulate tender growth that is more vulnerable to heat stress.
Monitor for Pests
Summer is the prime season for insects such as spider mites, bagworms, and scale. Inspect foliage regularly and consult your nursery if you notice discoloration or unusual webbing.
Choosing the Right Evergreen for Your Landscape
Before purchasing an evergreen, consider its mature height, width, and growth rate. A small container plant can eventually become a substantial tree, so planning ahead is essential.
Ask yourself:
- How much privacy do I need?
- What is the available planting space?
- How much sunlight does the area receive?
- Is the soil well-drained?
- How quickly do I want the plant to grow?
Nursery professionals can guide you toward selections that match both your design goals and maintenance preferences.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
When planting evergreens in summer, avoid these common problems:
- Planting too deeply
- Allowing roots to dry out before planting
- Overwatering poorly drained soils
- Ignoring mature size
- Skipping mulch
- Neglecting watering during hot weather
By taking a little extra care during the first growing season, you set the foundation for decades of healthy growth.
Why Buy Evergreens from a Local Nursery?
Local nurseries like Big Trees Inc. offer several advantages over big-box stores. Plants are often better cared for, more regionally adapted, and backed by knowledgeable staff who understand local growing conditions.
When you visit Big Trees Inc. in summer, you can inspect each plant for healthy color, strong branching, and vigorous growth. You also gain access to expert advice on planting, watering, and long-term maintenance.
Enjoy Year-Round Beauty
Evergreens are among the most rewarding landscape plants you can choose. They provide lasting privacy, structure, and color while requiring relatively little maintenance once established.
Summer is an ideal season to select healthy specimens and give them the attention they need to thrive. With the right evergreen varieties and proper care, your landscape will remain lush, green, and inviting in every season.
Nancy Penrose is the owner of Big Trees Inc., located in Snohomish, WA in the Seattle area. The company is one of the largest tree nurseries in the Seattle area with over 120,000 trees available in over 300 varieties. They not only deliver young trees, but also mature trees in a wide range of sizes. Some types of trees available include fall color, spring flowering, deciduous, evergreen, and privacy trees. The company also does tree transplanting, including large trees. Their blog can be seen at https://bigtreesupply.com/blog/ or http://arboristblog.com/. They can be reached at 360-563-2700.
Big Trees Inc.
10928 Springhetti Rd
Snohomish, WA 98296
360-563-2700
