Everyone has one, an awesome teacher that inspires, challenges and makes learning fun. For me it was my tenth grade math teacher. We never knew what crazy story or antic she was going to come in with each day. One day we each got a wintergreen lifesaver and took turns going into a dark closet to watch one another chew our lifesaver with our mouths open. In that total darkness we saw tiny sparks exploding in each other's mouths. If you haven't tried this yet, go try it, better yet, try it with your children or your grandchildren.

Evergreens sparkle in your winter garden the same way those wintergreen Lifesavers spark in your mouth. Their beautiful green, blue and yellow hues poke through a blanket of white snow like nothing else can. They are a gentle reminder of summer greens; a traditional setting for the holiday adornments, a shelter for the winter birds, and they provide year round privacy.

CREATING AN EVERGREEN PLAN:

Evergreens are especially well suited to lake homes. They can help frame the view, create contrast to the natural blue of the water and encourage wildlife visitors. Of course, if your lake home is near the boundary waters, you probably enjoy the benefits of one of America's largest evergreen forests and the planning was already taken care of for you. For the rest of us, a little forethought can make a big difference.

Evergreens can be divided into two categories. The first category is that of broadleaf evergreens which go dormant in cold weather such as hollies, box, and rhododendrons. The second is narrow leaf (needled) such as pines, yews, and junipers, which maintain their green color all year long. Because of our cooler climate, the narrow leaf variety is the most versatile and yearlong landscape specimen. There are over 100 types of narrow leaf evergreens.

Winter is an excellent time to plan your evergreen display. With most of your trees and bushes leafless, you can better assess where you may want a bit of privacy year round. Because of the great privacy they provide, evergreens are often used as a border. In addition to the beautiful color they bring to your yard, they also create a natural fence. Find out where you would like a bit of color in the cold, and often gray, winter months or a place where you would like a snow and wind block. This provides a much prettier block than a snow fence and doesn't need to be put up and taken down seasonally. Tall, fast growing varieties are great for screening an eyesore or providing a backdrop. Those of you that decorate for the holidays may want to place a single pine tree or fir tree centrally and string it with lights each winter. Seeing this in the dark of winter can really boost your spirits. People often use spruce tips for winter decorating, but a live evergreen can be replanted in your yard come spring.

While often used as borders or to create privacy walls, experts encourage the use of evergreens as stand alone gardens. A variety of colors and heights can help create balance and interest. For example, a Table Top Pine that will be slightly taller as it is a slow growing dwarf can offset a Prince of Wales Juniper, which is very low growing. Add a pencil shaped fir to your garden to draw the eye upward. If the effect you are trying to create is a sense of calmness (like in many Japanese gardens), you should stay within one color scheme. With the help of a landscape architect you are sure to find the colors and shapes you like.

KNOW YOUR ZONE:

When choosing an evergreen,you should take into consideration our climate zone. Both Minnesota and Wisconsin fall primarily into two zones, zone 4 in the southern half of the states and zone 3 in the northern half of the states. In addition, there are microclimates within these zones. If you are planting in an area with southern or western exposures it will be sunnier and warmer than areas with northern or eastern exposure. Also, low areas create pockets for cold air to rest and will have a generally cooler climate.

CARE AND PRUNING:

Evergreens are relatively fast growing and need pruning. Aside from topiaries, which require continual sculpting, most evergreens only need occasional trimming and can easily be handled by the novice gardener. Diseased and broken wood can be removed at any time, but late winter and early spring are the best time for general pruning. If necessary, they can be pruned a second time in late June before new growth hardens. Make your cuts just above the needle whorls on your pines. Spruces and Firs should be cut anywhere along the younger portions of the branches. This will help maintain the natural shape of the plant.

Junipers and Arborvitae can withstand heavier pruning. They are especially resilient and can be formed and trained by shearing (conforming a plant to a certain shape by uniform removal of new growth).Yews and Hemlocks can be left in their natural form, or can handle heavy pruning and shearing. Evergreen shrubs should have excess branches removed so you can see some daylight through them. This will improve the health of your plants by allowing light and air to get to the center of the plant. Pruning last year's foliage growth by one half or more depending on the size you desire can reduce the overall size of the shrub.

Fertilize your evergreens in the spring and summer only. Fertilizing will encourage new growth, which is fragile and not able to tolerate our cold winter months. It is best to use a spike or granular fertilizer. However, a good soaking with water is recommended each fall. Don't be alarmed if your evergreen loses some needles at this time of year, this is normal.

The large variety of evergreens allows for a unique garden or landscape display, one that fits your personality and displays your creativity. The beautiful green they provide year round is something we see little of here in the north. They are large, fast growing plants so you will want to be sure of your decisions before purchasing and planting. Consulting a gardener or landscape architect is always a good investment.

Good luck coloring your winter green!

By Nancy Henke