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Conifers

I don't call these evergreens, since the larch family (Larix) shed their needles every fall. And there are leaf trees that don't shed.

I've taken one more liberty, in that I've lumped douglas fir into the other firs. Many of the readily visible features are similar, and there's only the one I can grow here.

Firs and spruces have classic Christmas tree shapes. In an open space they remain more or less a cone all their life. Branching is dense. They basically block out most of that cone shape. Shade underneath is dark to the point that very little will grow unless lower branches are pruned away.

Pines and larches are more open. There is more twig, less needle. The shade underneath is open enough to support a lawn with a bit of help. Both groups tend to shed lower branches as they get older. Both are symmetrical in youth but get a bit more irregular as they get older.

Pines

Pines are characterized by an open structure. Needles stay on for 3 to 6 years. Meanwhile the twigs get longer. The effect is a bouquet of bottle brushes. Most pines are open enough that other plants can grow in their shade. However the decomposing needles tend to make the soil acidic. If you want a lawn underneath, apply a light dose of lime or bonemeal every year or so. Most pines prefer a well drained soil.

Most pines are an loose cone when young. As they get older, they get a little sloppy. (I can relate to that...) Some just get a bit rounder, with branches that aren't as straight. Others go all over the place, and develop lots of character. Specific characteristics are noted by species.

Pines tend to drop their lower branches as they mature. In the larger pines this lends them an air of majesty.

Spruces

Spruces have short needles, and the branches subdivide more closely together than the pines. The net effect is that a spruce is more solid looking. You don't see the bare twigs where previous needles have fallen.

Spruce needles are stiff with very sharp tips.
Think of them as the porcupine of the conifer world.

The underside of a large spruce is dim. Even if you prune the lower branches away, very little will grow under a spruce. This is partly due to the dim light, partly due to the very dry conditions. Spruce tend to be water pigs. Their shape directs rain and snow away from the trunk.

Spruce are tolerant of heavy soils.

Firs

Firs are noted for having soft needles. The true firs have needles that are flat, and come on on either side of the twig. Some firs needles that curl upward, giving the illusion that the needles are spread around the twig.

Douglas fir shares the true fir's soft needles, but is actually a completely different genus. It's needles circle the twig. Needles tend to be finer than the true firs.

Firs are just barely hardy here on the prairies. The only fir that is native here, Balsam Fir, can be found only where it is protected and gets extra moisture. I've found it on north running ravines draining into the North Saskatchewan River.

They are beautiful trees, but require some extra protection and extra water.

Larches

Larches are unique. Nobody seems to be ambivalent about them. They either love them or hate them. For half the year they look like a dead Christmas Tree.
Then they go through the routine of bud break, leafing (needling?) out, and in fall turning color, and shedding.

Most of the conifers show relatively little change through the year. Oh, some have pale green buds. Others have interesting cones, but the larch goes through a whole range of changes much as leaf trees do.