“I’d rather regret the things I’ve done than regret the things I haven’t done.” Lucille Ball said this in an interview during the peak of her fame in the 1950s. More than half a century later, the quote came to mind as I was walking around my property, thinking about my garden regrets. 

I regret not amending my soil as well as I should. 

I regret not having a landscape plan before putting plants in the ground.

I regret not having more conifers.

As we move into late fall and early winter, that last one is hitting especially hard. Why, oh why, didn’t I plant more conifers? I can make a laundry list of excuses: conifers are expensive; conifers grow slowly; conifers don’t flower. But really, there’s no good reason. Since I garden in New England, where much of the landscape dies back after the first frost, I should have more conifers so there is something to look at in November, December, January, and February. These evergreens are truly backbone plants, and when you select and plant colorful options like those recommended by Darren Heimbecker in “Go Beyond Basic Green with Colorful Conifers”, they sparkle like precious gemstones year-round. If a conifer shines as brightly as ‘Pusch’ Norway spruce, who cares if it doesn’t bloom? Its bright red cones are better than any blossom a lowly perennial can produce.

 I imagine I was in a similar boat to many of you when I first started my garden, with big aspirations but a limited budget. If I could go to the nursery and purchase a dozen fast-filling perennials for the price of one conifer, I was going for volume over substance. Now I regret that choice. 

Over the years I’ve slowly added more conifers to my beds and borders. The change has been gradual but incredibly rewarding, especially as I look outside right now and the dwarf blue noble fir along my front steps is the only thing glowing amid the brown, decaying foliage surrounding it. If I had planted more conifers 12 years ago, I don’t think I would regret it today (although I might have regretted the lower balance in my bank account that week). So, moving forward, I’ll follow Ms. Ball’s advice. I’ll take the trip, eat the cake, and buy the shoes.

And plant the conifers. 

Danielle Sherry, executive editor

See Issue #220 of Fine Gardening now

Fine Gardening Recommended Products

Corona® Multi-Purpose Metal Mini Garden Shovel

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

Longer Service Life: The blade of this round small shovel is made of carbon steel, which can effectively improve the hardness by high temperature quenching, and the surface has anti-rust coating to avoid rusting. In the process of use when encountering hard objects will not bend and deformation. Sturdy Structure: The small garden shovel with D-handle, ergonomically designed grip can increase the grip of the hand when using, the handle is made of strong fiberglass, will not bend and break under heavy pressure. Quick Digging: Well-made digging shovel has a sharp blade, and the round shovel head is designed to easily penetrate the soil and cut quickly while digging to enhance your work efficiency.

Buy at Amazon

The New Organic Grower, 3rd Edition: A Master's Manual of Tools and Techniques for the Home and Market Gardener, 30th Anniversary Edition

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

Since its original publication in 1989, The New Organic Grower has been one of the most important farming books available, with pioneer Eliot Coleman leading the charge in the organic movement in the United States. Now fully illustrated and updated, this 30th Anniversary Edition is a must-have for any agricultural library.

Buy at Amazon

Gardener's Log Book from NYBG

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

This weatherproof five-year log book includes the following features: · Sturdy waterproof cover to protect pages from rain and muddy soil · Lined pages and gridded paper for plotting beds · Five years of 12-month bloom and harvest grids for recording what you planted and when · Authoritative appendices on composting, pruning, pest and disease control, and container gardening · Useful reminders by season on fertilizing, mulching, and transplanting · Space for listing your favorite sources and suppliers.

Buy at Amazon