Juniper is a plant that has not only medicinal properties, but also a tree, which is used to decorate the garden. He, like most coniferous representatives, tolerates a haircut remarkably, and thanks to slow growth, its constant updating is not required. Such an unusual and beautiful object will decorate the site throughout the year. A variety of shapes, colors will help to realize the most unusual ideas. Pruning juniper in the spring will make it more aesthetic, but in order not to harm the plant, it is wise to do this.
Features
It is an evergreen coniferous longevity of the cypress family. Juniper tree grows up to 20 m and has a conical and pyramidal shape with scaly or needle needles. Shrubs often reach half a meter, its branches are quite sprawling and flexible, due to which they form a thick and lush carpet.
The plant blooms very beautifully: female buds have rounded light green cones, and male buds look like earrings with several stamens. Juniper is a forest resident of the northern territories, but nowadays it is grown everywhere. Very often, bushes adorn country houses, summer cottages, as well as urban areas.
Kinds
The most famous today are the following varieties.
- Common juniper . The plant has a cone-shaped crown, the highest height reaches 3 m. It tolerates winter frosts and is unpretentious in care. The leaves are small and prickly formations of 1.5–2 cm in size. It is recommended to collect cone berries closer to October. Juniper pruning occurs in early spring, until active flowering has begun.
- Virginian . One of the huge woody species, which reaches up to 20 m. The plant grows quickly enough and is resistant to pests and diseases. The needles have a dark green color and a needle-shaped or scaly shape. It is used for the production of essential oil.
- Horizontal It is also called open, since it grows to 4 m in width. Height rarely reaches half a meter, because it is a creeping plant. It withstands dry air and develops very slowly. Trimming juniper horizontal should take place carefully so as not to damage the main branches.
- Chinese This is a tree-like shrub growing up to 20 m. However, its growth is very slow. At the age of 10 years it is only 1.5 m. It is frost-resistant and difficult to tolerate dry air.
- Cossack . One of the representatives of the genus, which is poisonous, so it is forbidden to use its cones. The shrub grows to half a meter and creates a 2-meter crown. If pruning of juniper is not done on time, then the bush forms dense thickets. This plant is often used to strengthen the soil.
Plantings bring not only aesthetic pleasure, but also noticeable benefits, since they purify the air with a coniferous aroma.
Soil preparation
Before planting noble needles, it is necessary to choose a lighted and open place. If the plant is placed in the shade or near the wall, then its decorative and sophisticated appearance can not be expected. Juniper will lose its beauty and greatness, become painful and lethargic. The nature of the soil required depends on the variety and species. Most of the representatives are undemanding to the soil, grow well in lime, sand, and loam. However, there are varieties that need their own specific conditions. The optimal solution would be a mixture of coniferous land, peat and sand in equal proportions. Then it is required to mulch around the trunk using peat with the addition of wooden shavings. The pit breaks out depending on the size of the seedling, and the depth is two bayonet shovels. After completion of the procedure, the plant must be watered directly under the root.
Landing technology
Due to its decorativeness, juniper is an excellent solution for a young garden. A group of several seedlings is able to immediately fill the voids and create a nice composition.
For planting light-loving varieties, an open and high-quality illuminated area with sandy loam or loamy soil is selected , which is well nourished and moistened.
A vibrantly formed hedge of silver-blue juniper will be a bright accent of landscape design. If the earth is clayey and heavy enough, a mixture of peat, garden and coniferous soil, as well as sand, is added to it. Before landing, a pit must be drained, broken brick or stone is poured into it.
Plants of all varieties are planted very quickly so that the root system does not have time to dry out, but carefully enough so as not to damage the young shoots and the earthen lump. Then it is abundantly watered and hides from the direct rays of the sun. The density of placement depends on the landscape composition - whether it will be a hedge, group or solitary landing. After the plant takes root in the first spring, juniper pruning is performed. It must be done carefully so as not to damage the leading branches, since in the future this will affect the beauty and growth.
Growing seedlings
At the time of seed collection, time intervals must be observed. It is better to make a stock of not quite ripened at the end of summer than to finally ripen in the fall. Thanks to this, the probability of germination will be higher. Prepared planting material needs to be planted immediately, but it is necessary to prepare for the fact that, due to the hard cover, the seeds will give the first seedlings only 2-3 years after sowing. Also, if there is no desire to wait so long, you can take home a plant previously dug in the forest. Necessarily required to designate on its trunk part of the world in order to get as close as possible to its growth in the natural environment. The “native” land should be weighty, with the outer layer of humus preserved.
Fertilizers
If you choose the right varieties that are resistant to domestic climatic conditions, then care for young plants will be minimal. They practically do not get sick and are not damaged by pests. Active care for juniper in the spring is required: pruning, spraying and top dressing. Complex and nitrogen fertilizers are used for it. In no case can you put a cow or bird humus under the plant, since it will burn out and die. And it is also not recommended to loosen the soil around, since the root system belongs to the surface type, because of this, the nutrition of the trunk worsens, and the juniper simply begins to wither. It is sufficient for him to mulch the soil with the help of coniferous land, harvested directly in the forest.
Actions after landing
A huge plus juniper are the minimum requirements for care. The active period begins only at the time of rooting. Once a week, you need to water and spray the branches with water, thanks to this, the plant will better strengthen in the ground. During active sunny days it is recommended to darken it. And also do not forget about cleaning weeds from the surrounding area.
In winter, young growth is covered with mulch. After the onset of spring, it is removed so that the trunk does not rot and the juniper does not die. Pruning and care in the future should be done carefully, since during this period the tree will gain its main strength. Watering is carried out only in the hot summer, when dry days actively prevail. Then enough once a month to pour water under the roots. If you constantly spray the plant, then it will have a more delicate look. Often you do not need to fertilize, this is done only with very slow growth.
Every year, an extension of the trunk circle is made, it must correspond to the diameter of the crown. And you also need to mulch the outer area of the earth to protect the plant from weeds. Due to the fact that it grows very slowly, frequent pruning of juniper is not required. It is only necessary sometimes to remove dried branches or those that grow inharmoniously.
Important aspects
Such a coniferous plant, even without a haircut, can give the site a beautiful and rich appearance. It is necessary only for some of its varieties, the branches of which are scattered randomly and randomly. Juniper is trimmed when they want to give the plant a unique shape or when creating hedges, then this is done several times a season. Thanks to this, gardeners are trying to restrain growth and make bushes more compact. Such conditions are characteristic of creeping varieties, such as Sky Rocket or Blue Arrow.
In this process, you need to be careful so as not to damage the young shoots of juniper. Pruning and shaping is done only after a serious examination of the plant for the presence of large branches that are either knocked out of the crown or fall due to their weight. It is necessary to cut so that they tend to the side, but do not leave the plant bald. Some varieties, such as the “blue chip,” cannot be made into a beautiful shape, and they only need this procedure to remove old and dried branches that look diseased.
Pruning
Mowing rules are universal for many conifers. To do this, you need to select those plants that are already a year after planting in open ground. It is better not to touch instances that feel bad during the adaptation period. Ideal for trimming will be varieties that are native to the local fauna, as they are acclimatized and well tolerate artificial changes in their shape.
To decorate the territory, it is not always necessary to choose unusual shapes, it is recommended to adhere to the natural crown and only emphasize it, removing unnecessary branches.
Spring pruning of junipers is always a stress for a plant that can harm it. Therefore, it is necessary to remove only 1/3 of the total green mass. You can not leave bare branches, since the plant has sleeping buds, and the knots in the future will not be able to cover with needles again, but simply wilted.
Tools and protective equipment
Conifers have interesting and unique properties, one of which is poisonous. Juniper is just that plant, the essential oil of which can negatively affect the human body. If you have to cut the Cossack variety, you must use gloves so as not to harm the skin. It is necessary to remember that the resin is not washed from it, which means that a protective suit or replaceable clothing is simply necessary. Juniper pruning in spring is done with a well-ground pruner. In the process, you need to regularly wipe it from the resin so that it works properly.
Advice
- The correct haircut practically does not change the appearance of the plant.
- The main tools are sharp scissors, pruners, saws and knives.
- Even before the moment of shaping, it is necessary to decide what will be the ultimate goal - rejuvenation, thinning or landscape figures.
- Juniper pruning is quite limited; these procedures are performed only in spring.
- A haircut is required to be carried out only a couple of millimeters above the eye. Moreover, it must be a kidney that grows outward.
- It is better to make the incision not very deep so as not to touch the bearing branches, but at the same time there should not be sticking out “stumps”.
- To ensure good growth, you must remove:
- wild shoots that grow directly from the roots and have a completely different leaf shape;
- dying, diseased and damaged branches and twigs;
- large forked crowns that grow in the form of a fork when they grow one next to the other, because one day they can break.