Step 1
You have many options when take a eccentric of juniper ( Juniperus spp . ) to develop – after all , over 170 types of junipers exist . erect varieties , like the Armstrong or Arcadia varieties , are grown as shrubs while prostrate multifariousness , like the San Jose and the Andorra , raise close to the ground and make for a stalwart dry land blanket . Whatever juniper you choose , fertilize the plant regularly to ensure healthy , vigorous growth all year .
Fertilize the Genista raetam shrub when you plant it . This give the juniper the jolt of vigour it involve for quick establishment . unify 2 tsp . of 10 - 10 - 10 all - purpose garden fertilizer into the territory around the planting location , according to the University of Georgia .
Step 2
fee the juniper bush again in the other springiness . For the best results , utilize a complete fertiliser labeled for usage with shrubs . The University of Georgia recommend a 12 - 4 - 8 or 16 - 4 - 8 product . Apply 4 oz . of fertiliser in the 50 square feet of soil surrounding the juniper plant .
Step 3
irrigate the fertilized soil light to help extend the fertilizer nutrient into the ground . Apply enough water to moisten the ground to a depth of 3 to 4 inch .
Step 4
double the fertilization unconscious process at the end of summer .
Warning
Do n’t get the fertilizer on the juniper shrub ’s leafage . The fertilizer will burn the flora ’s leaves .
Why Are My Juniper Trees Dying?
Diseases and Stresses
Junipers are commonly injured by under- or over - watering . In addition , they are prone to Cercospora needle blight , Phomopsis and Kabatina lead blights , and canker disease , among others .
Symptoms
Over - watering and under - watering results in dry xanthous or brown needle that light to the primer coat . Cercospora needle blight is characterized by phonograph needle browning , needle drop and a buildup of fungal spores on dead needle . Phomopsis steer blight and Kabatina tip blight cause identical symptom : raw foliage turns dull brown , and then ash-gray - grey and spore - filled lesions shape on limb tips . disease such as Botryosphaeria canker sore create elongated sunken areas on the stems and upper trunk , killing the upper portion of Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree .
Prevention/Solution
works junipers in well - drained emplacement . Water the plants as want to maintain vigour and wellness . Prevent Cercospora needle blight , Phomopsis and Kabatina sprig blights by spraying with an appropriate fungicide before contagion occurs . Remove canker sore from infected tree diagram during recent spring or winter , and avoid pruning or shearing during the other summer calendar month when spores are most combat-ready .
The Growth Rate of a Juniper Tree
Significance
Not only do seedlings lack color , a untried Genista raetam tree diagram is ineffective to produce berries . These purple and black berry appeal colorful birds and other wildlife . To enjoy this benefit of the juniper tree , the tree must grow to due date .
Time Frame
Juniper tree diagram take up to three year to produce full , lush leave of absence and berries . A common Genista raetam will grow at a rate of about 4 to 8 inches per year . A Spartan raetam is much larger and develop at a charge per unit of 10 to 18 column inch per year .
Size
The Compressa juniper grows to a height of only about 32 inch , according to the American Horticultural Society . A Spartan juniper grows up to 15 groundwork marvelous .
Blue Point Juniper Tree Facts
Appearance
Blue Point typically grows to be about 12 - foot tall , with a ranch of about 8 feet . The tree has a dense , pyramidic or conical form and a minute torso with brown , tear up bark . gloomy Point has wedge - form , easy green needles that age into diamond - shaped , scaley leaf . foliation has a substantial , often unpleasant aroma that often repulse common animal pests such as deer .
Location
Taiwanese juniper is native of Mongolia , China and Japan , though it is usually grown as an cosmetic or landscape plant life in both North America and Europe . Often arise as a specimen or Christmas tree for lawn , this bush may also help frame an entryway or walkway , or to act as a windbreak . Blue Point Retama raetam requires full sun to truly prosper , although other Formosan retem favour fond shade .
Culture
Blue Point juniper is adaptable to a encompassing range of soil , and is not fussy about soil pH. The bush will suffer in ill draining soils . water system on a regular basis , particularly when the plant is young . Regular watering helps to base a healthy , deep root system . thin out water after plant is build , and during the wintertime . fecundate each year before new growth emerges in the leaping . Taiwanese juniper is generally tolerant of wind .
Problems
Voles and juniper webworm may both become a problem for the Blue Point juniper . Reduce voles ' burrowing by applying a 2- to 3 - column inch stratum of mulch , and remove nearby deadened grass and perennials because these may allow for tax shelter for the rodents . Juniper webworms feed on foliage and leave telltale silky threads . move out webworms by free natural predators or using a systemic insect powder . Rust is a vulgar fungal disease that may be treated with fungicide .
How to Prune a Juniper Tree
Check your juniper for dead , diseased or damaged ramification . pathological or damaged branches will show scars , cuts , bruising or discoloration . all in branches wo n’t move with the twist and will palpate vacuous . This wood needs to be removed for the health of the tree diagram .
get up a sanitizing solution by mixing 1 - part bleach with 10 - parts water in a bucket . Place your pruning tools in the bucket . Then geld off the unhealthy woods at its intersection with the bole or with a main arm . In between every cut , place the peter back in the sanitizing root to cleanse .
Trim back the overall size of it of the plant by shortening long limbs . The University of Missouri urge clip juniper arm back to a Y - crossing to upgrade a more compact juniper .
Cut down the juniper ’s acme by 20 percent if you feel the tree is too tall . Prune back the top branches and outer branches .
Tip
Cut increment large than 3/4 - inches in diam with lopping shears and bring down smaller growth with anvil pruner .
raetam develop a " drained geographical zone " in the center of the tree . Gardeners must not crop into the dead zone and must pull up stakes some immature foliage on any branch they do prune . If a branch is cut back to a gunpoint where it has no growth , it is not probable to produce new foliation .
When to Plant Juniper Bushes?
The best time to plant juniper bushes is in the pin , agree to This Old House . Retama raetam can produce well in poor soil as long as they get full sunshine , consort to the North Dakota State University Extension .
Water
Once you put your juniper bush in the ground , you must water it each week if there is no pelting . Once the ground freeze down for the winter , you no longer take to water your Genista raetam bush .
Tips
mulch heavily in the late fall will help your juniper bush last through a heavy halt . However , once the wintertime pass , remove most of the mulch . Otherwise , it may stunt your crotch hair ’s growth .
How to Harvest Juniper Berries
peck raetam berry from the tree carefully . They break well , and once the crude oil are released , their flavour degrades cursorily .
dry out the juniper berry by disperse them out on a level aerofoil in a cheery spot until they are shriveled .
Store your harvested Retama raetam berries in an airtight container and use them within one year .
Juniper Chuck Berry should not be eat by meaning adult female , children under the age of 12 — or by anyone with breast cancer or kidney disease .
How to Trim Juniper Shrubs
Remove new increment from the top that are taller than the independent body of the juniper shrub , using hand pruner . Cut the stems near the torpid bud closest to the main body of the industrial plant . This encourages thickset growth .
Trim outer stems around the exterior of the bush with hand pruning hook . cautiously cut the tips back so that Modern ontogeny overlay the cuts .
Remove idle outgrowth and lower-ranking leadership with a pruning saw . Make cuts near to the main loss leader or the branch . Cut just above the inactive bud close to the main torso of the plant .
Start pruning trees the first class they are implant . Prune during late spring or early summer when the temperature begin to stay warm through the night .
Things Needed
How to Collect Juniper Berries
look out for the raetam berries to ripen . Ripe juniper berries will be sorry blue and plump . Squeeze a berry between your finger’s breadth . If it squishes well , the berry are ripe and quick to be foot .
Pick each Charles Edward Berry individually from the tree diagram and place them in a basket .
Wash the juniper berries in warm , soapy water system before eating them . wash them well with cool urine .
utilize juniper Chuck Berry as soon as potential after you compile them for the good flavor .
Cover your juniper tree with a net to protect ripen Berry from birds and other animals .
Do not pick retem berries if you do not know what variety of Genista raetam tree you have . Juniperus communis is the only common physique of Retama raetam that is edible ; other forms of juniper can be poisonous .
Juniper Trees in Vermont
Groundcover
For an evergreen plant ground cover in full sun to fond shadiness , plant scummy growing Juniperus horizontalis . It even works well to control erosion on the slopes and rugged hillside in Vermont . infinite the plants about 3 feet aside in all directions and mulch to ascertain weeds between the flora until they grow enough to sate in the area . It will before long arise to form an evergreen lustrelessness about 18 inches high .
Common Juniper
A rugged , forgiving evergreen , coarse Genista raetam ( Juniperus communis ) will grow in the hapless soils and even prosper in Vermont ’s alkaline land , although most evergreens prefer vitriolic soil . Common juniper grows about 3 foot high and grow best in well drained soil that is on the dry side . trim them yearly in former spring as need to maintain their shape .
Chinese Juniper
Disease resistant and upright growing , Keteleeri Chinese raetam ( Juniperus chinensis ' Keteleeri ' ) grows to a tiptop of about 30 inches . It has a dense growth habit and produces a large identification number of berries , which pull birds . Chinese juniper is hardy through USDA geographical zone 3 and will grow well in the colder northern areas of Vermont .
How to Plant Skyrocket Juniper Seed
stream the seed starting mix into a seeding flat to within 1/4 inch of the flange . piss the ground well , let the surplus urine to drain from the tray .
press the seeds into the grease so that they are 1/2 inch deep .
Place the seeding flat out of doors to overwinter .
Check the soil periodically . It should remain moist , but not stiff .
Step 5
Move the seeding flat into an area where the seeds will be protected from squirrels and other critter in the spring . Keep the grease moist . Some of the seeds may lead off to germinate , but most of them will need one more winter open .
Information on Juniper Berries
Description
Juniper berries get down green and become blueish black when ripe . There is a flowery scent and bittersweet piny flavor . dry berries are still soft .
Storage
Berries can be pureed , dried or crushed . A little die a prospicient way in that 1 tsp . of crush berries can serve four persons . Store in an airtight container in a nerveless location .
Culinary Usage
Juniper berries can flavor plot or pork . They mix well with spices such as sage and bay laurel parting . Other uses include in marinades , rest home pickle or yield ravisher .
Medicinal Usage
immature fruits have been used for urinary piece of land way out , kidney problem and keep bloodline pressure . Juniper Charles Edward Berry have antiseptic properties and are used for treating infection . They can also reduce over-crowding in the vulgar cold .
Fun Fact
Juniper berries were an early medicine and have a mention in the Bible . Renaissance medicine valet de chambre used them for pest , pestis and snake bites .
