How to properly plant juniper in the fall: features of autumn planting

Trees

Juniper (heather, archa) is a coniferous shrub that belongs to the genus of evergreens, the cypress family. An ancient plant. Its modern Russian name derives from the Proto-Slavic root "juniper" (meaning "to knit or weave"). In the wild, it is found primarily in the Northern Hemisphere, wherever there are forest-steppes: western and eastern Siberia, European Russia, other European countries, and North America.

Description and characteristics of the plant

The lifespan is 400-500 years. It can reach a height of 30 meters, but there are different varieties: low, medium, and tall. In the Russian climate, the low-growing variety, up to 1 meter, is more common. It is well suited for decorating a garden plot, like thuja.

Juniper buds are almost scaleless, sometimes enveloped in leaves. The whorl of needles has a longitudinal groove. In young plants, the leaves are needles, but with age they become scale-like. The needles are the same as those of all cypresses: green-blue, triangular, and pointed.

Spikelets have two sexes. Male spikelets are paired stamens covered with scales bearing easily detached anthers. Female spikelets consist of a single whorl or 4-6 whorls of carpels with 2 buds.

This is interesting!

The cones are round or cone-shaped, ash-gray or blue. They never fully open. They ripen the following year after planting. The root system is taproot.

Varieties of juniper

There are many species of this shrub in nature. Let's look at the main ones.

Tall varieties

Virginia creeper. Grows up to 25-30 m tall. Small in diameter – 1.3-1.5 meters, with short green needles. Cones are blue.
Common. Excellent for hedges. Height up to 3 meters, strong pine scent. Branches grow a bit unevenly, tending to overhang.
Chinese. Grows in a cone shape, 20-25 meters long. It has long, thin, bright green needles. The fruits are dark shades of brown. It tolerates frost well.
Hard-seeded is a rare specimen. It is listed in the Red Book. It is moisture-resistant and rot-resistant. It grows 5-10 m tall. The needles are 3 mm long and green with a blue tint.
Hardy. Possesses the most lush crown. Emerald green with a yellowish tint. In nature, it grows in rocky areas.

Short stature

Golden Carpet (15-30 cm) creates a beautiful yellow carpet of needles on a trailing plant up to 2 meters in diameter. If planted in shade rather than full sun, the needles take on their classic green hue.
Lemon (up to 40 cm). The branches appear to be upturned and bristling. It has a lime-yellow hue if grown in a well-lit location.
Nana (up to 50 cm). With soft, fresh-green needles. Does not tolerate excessive shade. Extremely low-maintenance. Tolerates low temperatures well.
Prince of Wales is a fabulously beautiful glaucous flower with scaly needles.
Tamariscifolia – blue needles with a silver tint.

Planting material

Select seedlings in late summer or early fall. This is the most favorable time for planting junipers. There should be no frosts or, conversely, excessive heat. It's best to purchase them from a specialized chain of gardening stores. Purchase three-year-old plants and inspect them for diseases.

Important!

When planting directly into the ground, do not shake off the soil on the roots to avoid damaging them. Soak them in water for a couple of days before planting.

Warning signs when purchasing: wilted branches, yellowish tint of needles (unless this is typical for a given variety, such as "Golden Carpet"), damage, soil lump crumbling and not holding its shape, broken roots.

Where to plant a shrub

The location for juniper depends on the plant species. Generally, it should be in a well-lit area or in partial shade. There are no other requirements.

What the soil should be like: preparing the ground

The first rule for planting junipers in the fall is to fertilize the soil beforehand. For varieties such as common, Asian, and Cossack junipers, the soil pH should be above 7. This is achieved by adding slaked lime or dolomite flour.

All other species grow better in acidic soil, which is achieved by fertilizing it with organic matter: manure, compost, and mulching.

Planting juniper in autumn

It's best to plant in spring or fall, following proper planting practices. Determine the soil's acidity. This can be done using a pH meter or by checking for the presence of weeds of certain varieties.

pH indicator	Weeds	Juniper varieties that are suitable for soil with this pH
3-4 highly acidic	Horsetail, sorrel, plantain, horsetail	Chinese
4-5 sour	Clover, bindweed	All the rest
6-7 neutral	Nettle	All the rest
Above 7 alkaline	White slumber, poppy	Common, Cossack, Central Asian.

Following these step-by-step instructions will help you plant a juniper correctly:

fertilize;
watering is carried out;
prepare holes 15 cm deep;
small pebbles or broken bricks are poured into the bottom of the hole;
pour in a mixture of sand, clay soil, and peat and leave for 14 days;
place the seedling, trying not to damage it, and the stem should be 5 cm above the soil level;
covered with earth.

Note!

If you plant several pieces, the distance between them should be at least 50 cm.

Propagation by cuttings

This method is the most commonly used. Planting material is prepared in March. Select shoots with several nodes. The branches are torn off, leaving a piece of bark. Apply a special root-promoting solution and plant in humus or a mixture (1 part sand, 1 part soil, 1 part peat). Sprinkle sand on top. The root system will appear within 6 months. Repotting is possible after 18 months.

Planting by seeds

Juniper seeds are taken from mature, fruit-bearing plants. When the berries begin to darken, they undergo heat and mechanical treatment. They are then kept in a freezer for several months. This is done to allow the bush to withstand low temperatures. Only then can they be planted outdoors. This process is called stratification.

To do it yourself, take about 10 liters of a mixture of peat, moss, and sand. Divide it into two parts. First, place one part in a box, sow the seeds, and completely fill the second part with water. Place the box outside for the winter, allowing it to be covered with snow. In May, you can plant them in a garden bed. Weed, loosen the soil, and water regularly until the seedlings grow to full size.

How to care properly

The plant is hardy. It easily survives severe frosts and scorching heat. When planting, juniper should be watered generously. Water once a week during the first year. After that, you can avoid watering altogether.

There are special rules for care immediately after planting:

Mulch with peat and sawdust. The protective layer should be 4 cm thick.
Apply nitroammophoska as a top dressing (50 grams diluted in a bucket of water and watered under the roots).
Regular irrigation is not necessary, except during dry weather.
In the morning and evening, spray the crown with a shower nozzle or spray bottle.
Cut off dry, wilted branches.

Cold period for juniper

To help this beautiful conifer survive the winter, create a special protective cover before the first frost. This is essential for a young plant, during its first year after planting. Parchment paper, spunbond (a synthetic non-woven fabric), and cotton fabric are used for this cover. Wrap the entire thing in two layers and tie it with string, leaving a 10 cm gap at the bottom. A screen is not necessary for a young seedling; this covering is sufficient.

Why culture doesn't take root

A juniper can die if an old plant was used as a seedling. Its roots are inevitably damaged, and they take a long time to heal. This is especially true for a common variety. Dwarf varieties are easier to grow.

Important!

Problems arise if you buy a seedling that isn't in a container. It needs to have a good, solid root ball to ensure the root system retains sufficient moisture.

If the plant variety's recommendations are not followed, juniper will not thrive. Some heat-loving varieties cannot tolerate frost, acidic soil, etc.

Tips for a Florist

Branches damaged by extreme heat or prolonged frosts are cut back to the healthy level. Clay is added to sandy or very dry soil. Spraying the needles with plain water will help them retain their elasticity and freshness longer.

Planting an evergreen conifer in your garden is a very wise decision. Besides its pleasant aroma, it also provides health benefits—it has antibacterial properties (kills bacteria). Branches are cut and placed in the room where someone with bronchial asthma or acute respiratory viral infections lives. With a wide variety of juniper bush varieties, it's easy to choose one that suits a specific idea or concept.