Blue spruce tree care involves a few requirements and slight maintenance to keep it healthy and vigorous. These coniferous evergreens are a favorite on the landscape because of their numerous uses. This can be a problem for all juniper varieties, but it is especially problematic for horizontal growing varieties. Wait until new growth has begun to sprout in the spring before doing any pruning. Select a 16-4-8 or 12-4-8 fertilizer. The pH of the soil does not matter much for most varieties. You may freely link Crucial Instructions to Take Care of the Hollywood Juniper Tree. Junipers are ideal to use as screens, windbreaks and privacy hedges. home improvement and repair website. Blue Point Juniper Spiral Topiary Trees for Sale. Zones: 4-9. The first is that it is perfect for beginners. Gardenerdy tells you how to care for your Hollywood Juniper tree… There is a wide variety of Junipers, broken down into four groups: Ground Cover Junipers - They grow up to 1 1/2 feet tall.They are good for ground cover, border edging, rock gardens, and in containers on the balcony or deck. Once you have created the desired shape, only trim your slow-growing juniper once a year. References. Several common cultivars include: Sea Green, which has arching dark green foliage that spreads out as far as 8 feet (2.4 m), Saybrook Gold, which spreads to 6 feet (1.8 m) and has bright gold needle-like foliage, Holbert, which has blue-tinted foliage that can spread as wide as 9 feet (2.7 m). unlocking this staff-researched answer. The Sooner Guarantee: For details, click here! It is best to prune your juniper in late winter or early spring. The scale-like leaves are highly ornamental and remain bluish-green throughout the winter. Soil. http://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.cfm?number=C956, http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/GARDEN/PLANTS/juniper.html, http://www.junipertrees.com/how-to-grow-junipers.html, http://www.clemson.edu/extension/hgic/plants/landscape/groundcovers/hgic1107.html, http://www.canadiangardening.com/plants/trees-and-shrubs/junipers-revisited/a/28070/3, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. The only difference would be in the maintenance of the spiral. It is a variation of the species, J. chinensis, a tree that can reach sixty feet tall in its native mountain ranges of northern and central China, which illustrates why it is so naturally cold hardy. Cut the protruding branches to a junction where the branch splits into 2 branches to encourage new growth. The juniper is an adaptable tree … Not sure where you are from or what your climate is like but, Juniper are trees that are built for temperature extremes in the heat and the cold. Exposure: Full sun. Do not do any heavy pruning, however. Can juniper grow well on a 45 degree slope? Beginner Trees, Bonsai Trees, Indoor Bonsai Trees, Outdoor Bonsai Trees. If the hole is too shallow, remove the plant and dig the hole deeper before returning it. If the plant is not in a disposable plastic container, you may need to loosen the soil around the sides of the container by gliding your shovel around the inner perimeter. Feel the soil in the container before you do this. Mar 30, 2014 - How to Care for a Decorative Juniper Spiral. Note that a 10-10-10 fertilizer refers to a blend containing equal parts nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. These coniferous evergreens are a favorite on the landscape because of their numerous uses. Spiral Blue Point Juniper Care. Varieties of Junipers. All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. Once all of the visibly dead branches have been cut, shape the tree by pruning protruding branches at the top of the tree and on the sides. Densely-branched upright shrub produces blue-green foliage that is trained into a beautiful spiral form for a unique look. Twig and tip blight can be avoided with proper air circulation, but if you notice it, you should quickly remove any infected branches. Areas that are mostly shaded should be avoided. Please consider making a contribution to wikiHow today. Juniper Tree Care in the Winter. Avoid watering the leaves as the moist conditions may encourage development of fungal infections. Be sure to wear a long-sleeved garment and gloves when pruning to protect yourself from the prickly leaves. Blue Point Spiral Juniper has attractive bluish-green foliage. The next part is best done with two people; set the tree in the hole so it stands vertically. Pat down the soil with your hands or feet to settle it and remove any air pockets. In this way, you can get a ball or pillow shape. During the winter it is best to apply mulch after the ground has frozen so that rodents do not find a nesting spot. Heavy, frequent watering can drench the soil too severely for your juniper plant. The juniper is an evergreen conifer of the Cypress family. Juniper Trees, Facts and Info about the Juniper Tree. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. cut into a spiral topiary adds both a formal and whimsical appeal to a garden, whether you display the spiral topiary in containers on your patio or in a garden bed. The Spartan cultivar is also known as Chinese Spartan juniper. 15 years ago. To create this article, volunteer authors worked to edit and improve it over time. Here is some detailed information on the juniper tree. Use 1/2 lb (225 g) of fertilizer per 100 square feet (9.23 square meters). A few example include: Aureo-Pfitzerana, which has yellow-tinted light green foliage that spreads as far as 10 feet (3 m), Pfitzeriana, which has bright green foliage that spreads out to 10 feet (3 m), Blue vase, which has steel blue foliage that grows out to 5 feet (1.5 m). This article has been viewed 49,040 times. No herbicides or insecticides have been used around the trees. The first cut is to shape it into a spiral. The tree has to be pruned lightly along its spiral, during spring or early summer, each year. Anyone interested in providing habitat for wildlife should consider growing junipers. This animation shows a ‘Mint Julip’ Juniper going through all of the stages to become a spiral topiary. Do not lay the fertilizer directly inside the planting hole. FREE with every plant purchased:. Something about a juniper shrub (Juniperus spp.) When you first plant and during the early growth period, it is important to give the tree water regularly. Watering the soil reduces the amount of air in the container and makes it easier to remove the root ball. This juniper can grow up to 15 feet tall, so place it somewhere that height won't become an issue. As it gets larger, the roots can become affected and even dislodged by the angle. Mulch will help conserve the soil moisture so that less water is lost through evaporation. Low growing varieties grow 2 feet (61 cm) high or less. They should grow well in Michigan. During the winter protect the tree once temperatures drop below 15 °F (-10 °C). Periods of prolonged hot weather or drought also necessitate supplemental watering. The Chinese have grown the species for centuries and produced a number of their own garden cultivars before the plant was "discovered" by the west. 2. Cut back new growth about half-way. It’s totally effortless, so hassle-free care is synonymous with this go-to. Since the needles can be painful, you should wear gloves and long sleeves while pruning the plant. How To Care For A Juniper Bonsai Tree. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Both acidic and alkaline soils can support healthy growing junipers, with soil acidity ideally ranging from 5.0 to 7.5. The trees have been in the ground for about 4 or 5 years. Either material should help improve drainage conditions. Will low growing junipers grow well in gravel soil? By using our site, you agree to our. Juniper are one of the most commonly used species in bonsai for a variety of reasons. Twig borers can be detected when branch tips brown and die. You can also add some organic matter during this time, but that is strictly optional. Although most junipers (Juniperus spp.) Wait until you see a problem, then purchase a pesticide labeled for use against that pest and apply as directed on the label. Consider how far the shrub spreads and space the plants wide enough apart to prevent them from spreading into each other. Junipers occur both as trees and shrubs with small needle-shaped or scale-like leaves. This will help the roots spread into the surrounding soil as you plant the shrub. Some examples are: Sargentii, which has green foliage and spreads to 7 feet (2.1 m), Plumosa Compacta, which spreads to 8 feet (2.4 m) and has gray-green foliage in the summer and bronze-purple foliage in the winter, Wiltoni or Blue Rug, which spreads to 8 feet (2.4 m) and has silver-blue foliage, Shore juniper, which has yellow-green foliage and spreads to 8 feet (2.4 m). submitted to our "DoItYourself.com Community Forums". Unlock staff-researched answers by supporting wikiHow. Chemical intervention is almost always necessary. Amid the current public health and economic crises, when the world is shifting dramatically and we are all learning and adapting to changes in daily life, people need wikiHow more than ever. Junipers occur both as trees and shrubs with small needle-shaped or scale-like leaves. The juniper is commonly used for landscaping, as ground cover and as privacy screens. A relative's Japanese Maple planted 2yr ago has a strange look to it this s... identify hedge/suggestions for re-planting section. Apply about 4 inches of mulch onto the ground and be careful not to pack it close to the stems as it may encourage rodents which will feed on the tender stems. When it reaches the standard height of 42 inches it then gets four cuts to shape it in that year. This should be a careful process, taking care not to do damage to the roots. Even better? Care and pruning of juniper. If it already seems very moist and very compact, you should skip this step. They require plenty of sunlight; otherwise growth is affected and they become spindly. Hollywood Juniper is a large shrub or a small tree that is known for its rustic and artistic appearance and unusually twisted and upright branches. With the exception of topiary, which is the method of frequent trimming to a formal shape: spiral, poodle tier or pompom, prune Juniper trees according to their growth habits. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. They also need well-drained soils such as sandy soils but will also thrive in coarse soils provided drainage is good. Creating and maintaining the shape of the many slow growing junipers is as simple as shearing the overall shape with a pair of pruning shears. Once it has acclimated to your landscape, reduce your frequency of watering. If you see it, remove the infected portions of the plant immediately. On one of the Pom Pom trees the bottom is turning yellow and it looks to be working its way up the tree. It is a good idea to apply mulch to the young trees. A spiral Blue Point juniper needs the same care as a regular one. Will junipers grow back? If you make a hole that is just barely big enough, the roots may not settle and establish themselves well. The bottom right quadrant on one of the spiral junipers is completely dead, no green at all. Junipers are known to be drought tolerant and easy to care for. Continue to water the plant twice a week for the first month to help it establish itself. This juniper was first introduced in the 1940s in Pennsylvania. Fewer weeds will sprout when mulch is consistently applied. They used t... Bad landscapers and "Free Mulch" Juniper bush train wreck. You should also avoid sites that are directly next to lawn sprinklers or similar sources of irrigation. If using mulch, begin mulching with 3 to 4 inches of mulch around the base of the tree. This will facilitate healthy growth. If you allow a topiary to grow too much before giving it a trim, such as a spiral form, the plant will revert back to its natural form, which is a solid column or cone shape. The juniper tree belongs to the cypress family and is widely found across the world. The care of juniper shrubbery is easy because they never need pruning to maintain their attractive shape and tolerate adverse conditions without complaint. We welcome your comments and Junipers can actually weaken if you water them too often. Dig it into the planting site shortly before you intend to plant the juniper. The exact amount of space you need to leave in between juniper plants will vary based on the type and size of the variety you choose. You can add compost while planting. Juniper plants can be grown from seed or propagated through cuttings, but the process is time-consuming and difficult, so it is not recommended for the average gardener. It helps keep soil temperatures more balanced during extreme weather fluctuations. If you discover that the planting hole is too deep, take the plant out and add more soil before putting it back in. You should either mix the fertilizer into the soil at the bottom of the hole or spread it around the outside of the hole. Caring for juniper is very easy because it requires practically no care. A few planting and care requirements are consistent throughout the species, however. ‘Spartan’, Chinese Juniper Juniperus chinensis. Some can even grow in sand or notably salty soils. DoItYourself.com®, founded in 1995, is the leading independent The original tree is native to northeast Asia, including China. Phytophthora root rot results in the sudden death of the entire plant and cannot be treated after it develops. We have these hedges running around the perimeter of our house. This article has been viewed 49,040 times. About Spartan Juniper Trees. to this site, and use it for non-commercial use subject to our terms of use. To ensure our content is always up-to-date with current information, best practices, and professional advice, articles are routinely reviewed by industry experts with years of hands-on experience. suggestions. These two types have a large amount of nitrogen (represented by the "16" and "12"), which helps the juniper produce more chlorophyll to grow faster. Color: Dark green . Water your junipers frequently to encourage healthy growth and abundant foliage. All rights reserved. Last Updated: April 2, 2020 This durable fast-growing tree with an elongated, tapered form is especially valuable when planted in a … Questions of a Do It Yourself nature should be Placement : Place the tree outside, year-round, in a bright location with lots of sunlight.The Juniper cannot live indoors. Caring for it can be a real challenge. Your support helps wikiHow to create more in-depth illustrated articles and videos and to share our trusted brand of instructional content with millions of people all over the world. The flowers are not ornamentally significant. While it is not necessary, if you want to make the soil more nutrient-dense, you may also wish to add a bucket of organic material, like leaf mold, rotted manure, or compost. Large growing varieties tend to reach heights between 5 and 12 feet (1.5 and 3.7 m). Learn more... Junipers are coniferous plants with green, needle-like leaves. Specific Bonsai care guidelines for the Juniper Bonsai. It also helps in shaping the tree so that it is compact and looks attractive. Perhaps, you could provide them with some organic mulch like mulched up maple, apple, beech or oak leaves but, this is not totally necessary. View our Privacy Policy here. If the plant becomes too bushy or dense, you can thin out some of the older wood, as well. Type: Tree. ? They may also face more problems with pests and diseases. Apple cedar rust can develop when apples or crabapples are planted near junipers. Spiral juniper--maintenance Qs. Be sure to work some of the Juniper Trees roots into the soil as its backfilled, as this will quicken its rooting. I need resources on how to care for a spiral juniper tree please help! However, it is vital that you give mature trees supplemental water in the late fall before the ground freezes for winter. To create this article, volunteer authors worked to edit and improve it over time. Once the trees are established you can cut back on watering. So, generally speaking you don't need to do much for winter. If the soil is heavy and drains poorly, you should dig several buckets of gravel or grit into the intended planting area prior to the planting period. This is especially true with spiral form topiary and other more complex shapes and forms. Something about a juniper shrub (Juniperus spp.) Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 49,040 times. Yes, juniper will grow after pruning, and it will happen soon enough. Most of these pests can be controlled with pesticide. The soil level should be about the same as it was in the pot. How do you shape a juniper bush? Use organic soil mix, place your tree, and put your potted tree in a sunny location on your porch or patio. Pruning isn’t really recommended, especially since much of the appeal of a juniper bush is its distinctive natural bearing, sometimes spiking up in a column, sometimes spreading along the ground. 1995-2018 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Every day at wikiHow, we work hard to give you access to instructions and information that will help you live a better life, whether it's keeping you safer, healthier, or improving your well-being. To maintain its spiral shape, shear it annually. The phosphorus ("4") is minimal since phosphorus primarily helps with flowering ability. For best results, apply the fertilizer immediately before an anticipated rainfall. It is also more difficult to find seeds and cuttings than it is to find a young established plant. Chopped leaves, dried grass or wood chips are ideal to use as organic compost. Junipers Trees are coniferous plants in the genus Juniperus of the cypress family Cupressaceae. If you see carrot-shaped bags forming on the needles of your juniper, you likely have a bagworm problem. tracey_b. Water immediately after planting and gently compact the soil around the plant with feet and hands. A pre-measured amount of Polyon® Best-Paks time release fertilizer that keeps your plant well nourished for one year. ... taking care not to do damage to the roots. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/9d\/Plant-Juniper-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Plant-Juniper-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/9d\/Plant-Juniper-Step-1.jpg\/aid5140610-v4-728px-Plant-Juniper-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"