Greenmount horticulture students promote UK Conifer Week

Horticulture students Reece McKay, Dromara and Peter Boyd, Newtownabbey along with fellow classmates on the Foundation Degree in Horticulture planting Picea glauca ‘Conica’ at Greenmount Campus.

It’s National Conifer Week and October is the best time to plant them.

CAFRE horticulture students are currently learning about conifers including the fact that most of them are evergreen and provide great structure in a garden.

Foundation Degree student Reece McKay from Dromara said: “We have been transplanting conifers such as the Monkey Puzzle into permanent locations at Greenmount Campus. It’s important when planting to select a good site to ensure the ideal placement and growing conditions for the species.”

Horticulture students Peter Boyd, Newtownabbey; Myles McConnell, Carrickfergus and Jill Woolsey, Portadown transplanting an Araucaria arucana (Monkey Puzzle).

Carrickfergus student Myles McConnell planted a Blue Conical Spruce and praised its benefits. “It provides a great focal point due to its neat shape and attractive foliage and they are also very low maintenance plants to grow.”

The Horticulture Trades Association (HTA) has designated this week 30 September to 7 October as National Conifer Week.

So why not plant a conifer this October in your own garden.

You can get more details on CAFRE courses on the CAFRE website https://www.cafre.ac.uk. Visit the HTA website for more information on planting conifers – https://hta.org.uk/news/national-conifer-week-2017.html

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