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Juniper is ideally planted in fall to ensure root growth and thus proper settling in in spring. However, you can also plant in spring and water a bit more at the beginning. Note that juniper tolerates virtually all types of soil, and behaves exactly the same whether conditions are moist or during a full-blown drought.
When should you plant juniper trees?
Plant container-grown junipers any time of year. Shrubs with balled and burlaped roots are best planted in fall. Dig the planting hole as deep as the root ball and two to three times wider. Set the shrub in the hole so the soil line on the stem is even with the surrounding soil.
How late can you plant junipers?
Because creeping juniper is such a tough little plant, you could get away with planting it any time from early spring to late fall. But if you want to have the healthiest plant, it’s best to plant it in the spring, once temperatures are consistently high enough to ward off frost.
How do you plant juniper bushes?
Junipers are usually planted from nursery-grown containers, although larger specimens may be available as ball-and-burlap plants. Dig a hole roughly 1.5 times the width and the same depth as the pot. Gently remove the plant from its pot. Check the outside and bottom of the root ball for circling roots.
When should I plant creeping juniper?
This low-growing evergreen ground cover is a tough perennial that you can grow at any time between early spring and late fall. However, the best time to plant is in the spring when the temperature is rising. Spring is the ideal season, as it allows the roots to get set before hot and dry weather takes over.
How long does it take for juniper to spread?
Creeping junipers usually expand their width by one to two feet each year.
Are junipers easy to grow?
Juniper is low maintenance and easy to grow. The plants need full sun and a well drained soil. These drought tolerant plants do not like wet soil. They can suffer, if over watered.
Is juniper A good ground cover?
If you’re looking for a low-growing ground cover that thrives on neglect, give creeping juniper (Juniperus horizontalis) a try. These graceful, aromatic shrubs spread to fill sunny areas and they can be used as foundation plants or accents in flower borders.
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.
Will juniper grow back?
Junipers (Juniperus spp.) can be used in nearly every part of your landscape. The long-lived evergreens can become scraggly and overgrown, however. Although a juniper won’t grow back from a branch that has no green growth, careful pruning can revive the shrub.
How far apart should I plant junipers?
Space ground cover varieties at least 5 to 6 feet apart. Hedge cultivars should be spaced 2 to 4 feet apart depending on the desired appearance. Plant larger juniper cultivars away from buildings, allowing enough room for the tree to grow to its maximum mature width without interference.
What type of soil do junipers prefer?
Junipers prefer open, sunny locations in well-drained soils. They will tolerate a wide range of pH levels. They are very tolerant of dry, clay soils and many varieties will grow in sand. Some types, such as Sargent juniper and Shore juniper have shown good salt tolerance.
How fast does juniper bush grow?
Most shrub and groundcover junipers grow 4 to 8 inches per year. For creeping or spreading junipers this means growth by width and for other bushes it means height. The Blue Rug can grow up to 12 inches per year. Juniper trees, like the Blue Point, grow about 1 foot per year.
How do you plant a creeping juniper?
Growing creeping juniper: Plant junipers in full sun in well-drained, dry soil. They are tolerant of heavy and slightly alkaline soil. Fertilize in early spring with a well-balanced, complete fertilizer. Propagating creeping juniper: Start plants from stem cuttings in late spring.
Will creeping juniper grow in shade?
Creeping juniper (Juniperus horizontalis), which grows in USDA zones 3 through 10, also tolerates partial shade, although its feathery needles won’t be as lush or full and the plant will grow more slowly.
What grows well with creeping juniper?
Plants with blue flowers, berries or leaves make good companion plants for juniper. When you are looking for juniper plant companions, think about bamboo. Bamboo species, particularly dwarf bamboo plants, are also good choices for juniper companion plants.
How fast does Blue Rug juniper spread?
Blue rug juniper creates a flat ground cover. It grows 6 to 12 inches per year and bears ovoid dark blue fruit.
Is creeping juniper toxic to dogs?
ANSWER: The University of California – Davis list Juniperus (Junipers) in their Safe and Poisonous Garden Plants list as having a minor toxicity (class 2) for pets and children. This rating means ingestion of these plants may cause minor illnesses such as vomiting or diarrhea.
How often should you water a creeping juniper?
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 junipers have invasive roots?
The creeping juniper plant has an extensive and shallow root system, with larger roots coming from the plant’s center and many smaller roots developing as the plant grows. As the branches spread, new roots appear on the branches about 6 inches from the branch tips, helping anchor the plant to the ground.
Does juniper attract bugs?
Junipers (Juniperus spp.) belong to the cypress plant family (Cupressaceae), and many varieties grow well as multibranched shrubs. Tolerant of various environmental conditions, these hardy bushes still occasionally attract various bugs.
Can you grow juniper in the UK?
Common juniper is native to the UK, Europe and much of the northern hemisphere. It thrives on chalk lowland, moorland, in rocky areas and old native-pine woodland. It is most often found as a low-growing, spreading shrub or small tree.
