Surely every gardener thinks about how to decorate a personal plot. And if you want to do something special, take a closer look at the eastern style of landscape design, and then, walking through your garden, you will not only enjoy the beauty, but also recharge your batteries with energy, restoring strength.
It is based on five elements that create an amazing atmosphere. These are earth, water, air, stones and plants.
That's about the plants and let's talk first of all. If you want to feel the charm of the East - plant juniper on your site . There are a lot of species , but one of the most popular, which has long appealed to landscape designers, is the juniper Chinese "blue alps".
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Evergreen coniferous shrub or a small tree with a very compact beautiful crown of unusual green color with a blue tint - this is blue alps juniper. Its needles, rather coarse and prickly, are colored silver-blue below, branches are strong and powerful, and their graceful tips are slightly lowered down. Shrubs, as a rule, are no more than 2.5 m high, and trees can reach a height of 4 m, growing in diameter by 2 meters.
Its fruits are small cones, which the plant is simply strewn with. They are black in color and covered with a wax coating.
Juniper in landscape design
The planting of trees and shrubs with different colors of foliage juniper Chinese "blue alps" gives completeness and a peculiar beauty. He looks great and alone on the lawn. And it can be the main emphasis around which the entire composition of undersized plants and stones is formed. Not a single rockery or rock garden is complete without this magnificent plant.
Having made a hedge out of this plant and regularly cutting it, over time you will receive not only an amazingly beautiful, but also an absolutely impenetrable fence.
If you have juniper "blue alps" on your site, then, having made an effort and caring for it with a pruner and scissors, you have the opportunity to create a unique garden bonsai.
Growing conditions
Outdoor well-ventilated areas are suitable for growing juniper. Despite the fact that he loves sunlight, it is desirable that during the day the place where he grows falls in shadow.
The soil should be fertile, slightly acidic or neutral, and well-drained.
Juniper "blue alps" does not tolerate dry air and is demanding on watering.
Selection of seedlings
Before you buy a seedling, conduct a thorough inspection. Seedlings are sold in containers, so pay attention to the fact that the roots completely fill their volume and are not damaged. Twigs should be fresh and resilient.
Be sure to ask the seller if the seedling was grown from the very beginning in this container or transplanted into it just before the sale. This is of great importance, since in the first case, the juniper can take root well in a new place, and in the second there will be problems, since it is difficult to tolerate transplants. But in general, juniper "blue alps", planting and care for which are not difficult, will not cause you much trouble.
Landing and care
After making sure that you have got a strong and healthy seedling, proceed to planting.
- dig a hole, the depth of which should exceed twice the root system;
- prepare a nutrient mixture of peat (2 parts), sand (1 part) and earth (1 part);
- in the presence of moist loamy soil at the bottom of the pit, it is recommended to drain to a depth of not less than 20 cm from broken brick and sand;
- the root lump should be positioned so that it is 10 cm higher than the ground level (over time, the earth will settle, the roots will level out);
- then sprinkle the seedling with the prepared nutrient mixture, water well, but do not tamp;
- the final stage of planting is mulching of the trunk circle (for this you can use humus from leaves, garden compost, wet peat or mowed grass).
It should be borne in mind that in summer the plant can burn, so it must not only be regularly watered, but also sprayed. This should be done in the early morning or evening, when there is no direct sunlight.
In order for the juniper "blue alps" to constantly have an attractive appearance, it is necessary to periodically trim the lateral branches and those that extend beyond the boundaries of the formed crown, and remove all dried branches in the spring.
Juniper usually tolerates winters well, but in severe frosts it must be covered, and young plants, especially in the first winter after planting, need to be protected.
Those who are not familiar with this amazing shrubbery can inquire the opinion of experienced gardeners, as well as those who still decided to plant juniper "blue alps" on their site. Reviews about him are usually the most enthusiastic and positive. Most lovers of the beautiful landscape recognize that the plant gives it a twist.
Try and don't be afraid to experiment, creating the garden of your dreams!