How Much Water Do Junipers Need

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Water newly planted junipers twice a week when there is no rainfall for the first two months. Junipers need weekly watering for the first summer to develop an extensive root system. After the first summer, most junipers can rely on natural rainfall and fog for moisture.

Do juniper trees need a lot of water?

Juniper trees are drought tolerant and prefer to dry out a little in between being watered. Be sure to plant them somewhere with well-draining soil. During the first couple years of growth, your juniper may need to be watered during periods of low rainfall.

Can you overwater a juniper?

Junipers may suffer from overwatering; branches might even die and turn brown. If drought is severe, a deep watering of about 1 inch will help plants retain their healthy green growth, but water should never stand under their low-growing branches.

Why are junipers turning brown?

There are many reasons a juniper might turn brown. Fungal tip blights, cankers, mechanical damage, and salt injury are some of the most common causes. Several juniper samples with tip blight were submitted to the Plant Disease Clinic this spring. Phomopsis and Kabatina tip blights are two common diseases of juniper.

How much water does a juniper tree drink?

How often should I water my juniper?

Water the planting site once every seven days during the first 12 months after placing your juniper shrub into the ground. Soak the area well, using enough water to moisten the soil to a depth of 18 to 20 inches.

How do you know if your juniper is overwatered?

Juniper leaves tend to discolor when the plant is overwatered, with the color turning from green to brown or yellow. Other signs of overwatering include shrinking of the branches, softening of the trunk, and an unhealthy appearance.

How do you keep junipers healthy?

Junipers need air flow to avoid fungal disorders, so cleaning up around the shrubs and pruning out any dead wood is important. It is also important to keep branches dry during warmer weather, so avoid overhead water or watering too often during the summer.

How do you save an overwatered juniper?

This is usually caused by over-watering the plant. If juniper roots are continually exposed to standing water, they begin to rot. Mix a solution of two-thirds denatured alcohol and one-third water. Wipe or dip the blades of a pair of garden shears into the solution to sterilize the blades.

How do you know when a juniper is dying?

However, you can test them by bending the smaller branches. If the branches are flexible and full of sap, they’re still alive. If they’re brittle and dry, they’re dead and won’t come back. Some of the “brown” junipers that are still alive will put out new growth in the spring, but it will be from the tips of branches.

How do you fertilize junipers?

Fertilize the juniper annually in early spring with a complete, slow-release fertilizer with a formulation such as 12-4-8 or 16-4-8. Spread the fertilizer evenly around the juniper at a rate of 1/2 pound per 100 square feet just before it rains or water it thoroughly after applying the fertilizer.

Do junipers need a lot of sun?

Plant juniper shrubs in a location with full sun or light shade. When they get too much shade, the branches spread apart in an effort to let more sunlight in, and the damage to their shape can’t be repaired. Junipers grow in any type of soil as long as it is well-drained.

Does juniper absorb water?

I would love to see outdoor columnist Jack Elbert (April 6 column) prove a juniper tree can soak up 50 gallons of water every day. Springs dry up naturally and come back at times with a wet season.

How long does it take for juniper to spread?

Creeping junipers usually expand their width by one to two feet each year.

How do you green up junipers?

Fertilize juniper plants in late winter or early spring before new growth begins to flush with a slow-release shrub & tree food. Alternatively, you can feed with a natural or organic plant food, preferably one that contains iron for deep greening.

How do you water a juniper tree?

Watering: Spray the foliage with water often during the summer months. Water when the soil is moderately dry (to a depth of 1/2 to 1 inch) but do not let the soil dry out completely. Feeding: Feed junipers from early spring to autumn every 20-30 days using a slow-acting organic fertilizer.

How can I make my junipers grow faster?

After establishing, junipers are drought tolerant, but a deep watering during periods of extended drought will help your plants grow faster and be healthier. We recommend applying a layer of mulch after planting. Fertilize your plants with a slow release fertilizer in spring.