Juniper is a rather attractive plant belonging to the genus cypress, which appeared on the earth many millions of years ago. In nature, about 70 species of such plants are known. Junior's favorite habitats are mountain slopes, along which low-growing varieties of this shrub spread. There are 15-meter juniper bushes, and tree junipers. Juniper lying Nana belongs to ground cover plants. Let us dwell on this variety.
Grade description
Juniper lying Nana has a spreading crown of a pillow-shaped form with green-blue needles. This dwarf shrub is characterized by slow growth. It grows in height up to 30-40 cm, in width up to 150 cm. It gives an annual growth of 15 cm.
Loves the light, can grow in sunny places or in light shade. If you are unfamiliar with the juniper Nana, the photo in the article will demonstrate it.
The plant is not demanding on the composition of the soil, can take root on any land. Preference is given to fertile soils with good drainage and a sufficient level of moisture. It grows well in rocky areas, it uses stones as a reliable basis for a branched root system.
This is a brief description of Juniper lying Nana.
Plant benefits
Juniper has recently become a very popular shrub. This is due to the advantages of the plant, which include:
- appearance appeal;
- insensitivity to drought;
- easily tolerates pruning;
- non-susceptibility to diseases and parasites;
- perfectly groups with other plants.
Such advantages of the bush make it a fairly common plant among landscape design lovers.
Landing
You need to plant juniper bushes at a distance of 0.5-4 meters from each other. Before landing, carefully choose a place, it should be well lit.
A pit of 70 by 70 cm in size is prepared. Two weeks before this, it must be filled with a fertile mixture of peat, turf and sand in a ratio of 2: 1: 1.
Saplings with open roots are planted in spring or autumn. If spring is chosen, it is possible to plant after immediately melting snow. The sooner the shrub is planted, the better. Seedlings with closed roots are also planted in spring, autumn, even winter is suitable.
The shrub prefers light fertile land, although it can grow on any soil. If the land on the site is too heavy, it is necessary to add nutritious soil and a peat-sand mixture to it. It is also important to make good drainage so that excess moisture can go away. Juniper lying Nana will not be able to grow in stagnant waterlogged territories.
When planting a bush, its roots are placed horizontally. After planting, the plant is abundantly watered and covered with peat mixture, wood chips or sawdust. In the future, watering and fertilizing the bush is not necessary.
Care
If you planted Juniper Nana on your site, planting and caring for the bush will not cause much trouble.
The plant tolerates life well without supervision and care. But if you fertilize the bush with a nitrophosic, he will not mind. Fertilize better in the spring. Young plantings are fertilized with slow-acting mineral compounds. It is better to purchase mixtures prepared specifically for conifers. Adult plants do not need fertilizers.
Usually, the shrub survives periods of drought. In a dry summer, the bush needs to be watered monthly in the evening. The crown is moistened by spraying, juniper does not like dry air.
The bush can be cut, giving the crown the desired shape. This should be done no more than 2-3 times during the spring-summer season: in late April and mid-July. If necessary, weed the soil under the shrubbery. Do this very carefully so as not to damage the roots located in the upper layers of the earth. After winter, the juniper needs to be cleaned of yellow needles and branches. The shrub is also freed from fallen leaves.
Young plantings for the winter are covered, it is possible with snow, spruce branches, non-woven or cotton material. The film is not recommended for use, the shrub will sprinkle. Adult plants do not need shelter from frost. But the scorching sun is dangerous for them, so you can cover it to protect it from sunlight.
This is the basic information about Juniper lying Nana, planting and care with a photo. But it is equally useful to know about possible problems during cultivation.
Disease
Juniper Juniper Nana, like many other varieties of this plant, is considered a problem-free shrub in terms of disease. But occasionally some problems are possible.
Junipers are susceptible to fungal diseases that cause the death of the bark or the appearance of rot. As a result, the crown turns yellow and dries. To combat the fungus, the affected branches are completely cut out. Wounds are treated with copper sulfate or Bordeaux fluid. Sick branches must be destroyed. To prevent fungal pathologies in the spring and autumn, it is useful to treat the bushes with a Bordeaux mixture.
Appointment
The plant survives well in urban environments. It is used to create landscape design compositions as a ground cover shrub. It looks great on the slopes, in rock gardens.
Shrub planted in landscaping parks. Originally it looks on the roofs. Juniper mixes well with other conifers. They can supplement it:
- ate;
- Red tree;
- pine bonsai;
- peonies;
- lilies for borders.
Juniper also looks no less attractive in single-component compositions. Wherever this wonderful shrub grows, it will be able to decorate the surrounding space everywhere.