Juniper - tree or shrub: description of species and varieties

Among conifers, juniper occupies almost a leading position. Beautiful curly shrubs or tall trees have long been popular in Europe, and now they are winning the favor of landscape designers in our country.

The main advantages are unpretentiousness and frost resistance, as well as medicinal needles rich in phytoncides, emitting a pleasant aroma with a light lemon tint.

Junipers are one of the oldest plants on the planet, their fossils are found in Tertiary and Quaternary deposits in various parts of the world. Distributed throughout the Northern Hemisphere from the Arctic to the mountainous subtropics, with the exception of the East African species, whose distribution range reaches 18 degrees south latitude. Shrubs predominate among the varieties, large trees with a height of about 10-15 m grow mainly in the Mediterranean and Central Asia, as well as in Mexico and southern regions of North America. Juniper forests are rare and occupy small areas, more often shrub thickets form the undergrowth and the third layer of light coniferous or deciduous forests. Crawling species are typical inhabitants of the mountain slopes near the upper line of the forest zone. Most of the species are true centenarians, among which there are specimens up to 600 years old.

In the genus Juniperus (Juniperus) of the Cypress family (Cupressaceae), there are 75 species of trees growing up to 10-12 m, less often up to 20 m, and shrubs up to 1-3 m, and creeping on the ground - up to 0.4 m. the literature sometimes comes across the name "juniper" for many species, and the typical representative of the genus, the common juniper, is also known under the name "veres". The generic name translated from Latin is "prickly".

The horse system is powerful, pivotal with well-developed lateral branches. The stems of shrubby plants grow vertically or spread almost horizontally, forming a crown of various shapes - in the form of a neat cone, a spreading column, a mound, a thin rod or a regular pyramid. Leaves of two types - small from 0.5 to 1 cm long, narrow and subulate, they are also called young or juvenile, and scale-like, which are considered to be old or mature. Triangular greenish-blue needles sit in whorls of two or three.

Junipers are mono- or dioecious plants. Blossom, or rather, dusty in April-May. Male spikelets are yellowish with scaly stamens, female cones are berry-shaped, gray or blue with a bluish bloom, formed in the second year of plant life, each from 1 to 10 seeds.

Description of the plant

Juniper is a perennial coniferous tree belonging to the Cypress family. It is represented by small age-old cultures, up to 15 meters high. the crown of the tree is completely covered with needle-like leaves. Other names for juniper are juniper or heather. The culture is found as a shrub or tree-like type. The plant is evergreen, therefore it is widely used to decorate various areas. The average lifespan of a perennial is about 3 centuries.

The rhizome is branched, long and thick. The central roots go deep into the soil, and some remain below the surface, expanding in different directions. This structure of the root system allows the plant to get enough nutrients from the soil.The roots are light, about 10 cm in diameter, about 3-4 meters long.

A stem emerges from the base of the root collar. For the first 5 years of life, the trunk of the tree is covered with smooth brown bark. With age, the bark becomes denser and cracked, covered with a gray-brown color. The trunk is dense, about half a meter in diameter. At a distance of about a meter from the base of the soil, the main branches grow on the tree, covered with many stems and shoots. The stems branch strongly, forming a lush crown of a juniper. Young shoots are colored green, which gradually changes to brown and grayish.

The branches and stems of the tree are abundantly covered with needles pressing tightly to the base of the stem. Thin needles, green in color. The length of the needles reaches about 5 cm. There are 3 scale-like leaves in the whorls. The needles are strong, unbending, attached to the shoots with a base. On the shoots, foliage grows in a circle, perpendicular to the branch. Some species of juniper have a central vein on their foliage that is visible to the naked eye. In mature trees, needle-like foliage is replaced by scaly foliage, tightly attached to the shoots.

Male and female spikelets are formed in the leaf axils. Males are small, consisting of 3 paired stamens with 6 anthers. Female spikelets can take a variety of shapes, depending on the type of culture. Also, a bump forms on the heather in spring, which takes the form of a berry. The berry does not open, is based on tight-fitting scales, contains up to 10 seeds inside. The ripening of the cone occurs within 2 years after formation.

Root and cones

The northern hemisphere is home to the common juniper. Its needles are very fond of light nutritious soil and bright sunlight. Juniper tolerates drought well, it is necessary to water it three times in hot weather. It grows in height up to 15 m. This tree is a long-liver.

Planting methods: seeds, cuttings, layering and grafting.

A young tree has coniferous leaves. When it matures, then their appearance becomes scaly. The buds have no scales, they are naked. Sometimes, with the help of short leaves, the buds are pressed with a twig. The color of the needles is most often greenish-blue. The sharp ends of the needles are in the form of a needle, which has three edges. Male spikelets grow in the form of stamens. They are covered with scales and are arranged in pairs. An anther opens at each stamen. Female spikelets have one or two ovules. They are made up of carpels. The buds look like balls of gray or blue. The cones have very dense scales. The seeds of a common juniper are from 1 to 10, which are located separately. Cones form in the second year of the plant's life. The root system is axial. When planting in the country, it is necessary to maintain its integrity so that the tree does not hurt.

Cooking Uses:

• For making tea;
• Making tinctures;
• Ordinary kvass.

Conical, spherical, pyramidal or creeping - this can be the shape of the crown of a bush or tree. This diversity expands the possibilities for landscape design to create compositions that are expressive and impressive with their geometry.

Spread

Juniper grows wild in temperate and northern climates. The culture is found in the subtropics, as decorative representatives of conifers. Also, the northern part of Africa is considered the habitat of culture. Veres grows mainly in small areas that cover a mountainous surface. Large areas of juniper are rarely found.

Trees grow in groups, forming small forests or pine forests. Forests with a predominant habitat of juniper are found in the Primorsky Territory and Central Asia. You can also see juniper forests in the northern part of America, Mexico. Shrub types form small coppices that form the third layer of deciduous forests.

Since the juniper prefers bright places, it lives in open places with a sufficient amount of moisture.There are individuals that tolerate drought or cold well. The plant does not require special soil conditions, therefore it can be found in any soil. However, heather is characterized by good cultivation in nutritious light soils.

Where to plant junipers in the garden: choosing a place

The most important criterion to consider when choosing a location is suitable lighting. The plant grows best on well-lit areas... If you grow a cypress shrub in the shade, then the needles will be rare, and will not be able to distinguish themselves with splendor and decorativeness.

As for the choice of soil, the shrub is not picky about the soil. However best of all plant a plant on fertile soil.

Important! Juniper can be a source of rust infestation. Therefore, you cannot plant shrubs next to fruit trees such as pear, quince, apple, barberry and other pome crops.

Types and varieties

Veres has an abundance of various species and varieties, since it is easily hybridized. In the wild, there are about 80 different representatives of heather growing. Many representatives are cultivated, on the basis of their crossing, other varieties are formed.

Common juniper juniperus communis

It is represented by a small perennial in the form of a bush or tree, up to 10 m in height, with a lush triangular crown. The plant consists of stems covered with rich green foliage, in the form of needles. The bark is brown-red in color, as it grows, it thickens, cracks and a grayish bloom appear on it. The plant is actively cultivated in the central part of Asia and Europe. Several hybrid varieties have been developed, which are grown to decorate gardens and parks.

A distinctive feature of the species is good resistance to cold weather and dusty ecology, therefore heather is actively cultivated in cities and gas-polluted countries. In addition, the plant is unpretentious to the composition of the land and the place of growth, it is optimally cultivated in partial shade and in the sun.

Green Carpet Green Carpet

It grows as a small creeping bush, which is bred for planting, mainly in parks, along the paths. The shrub has perpendicularly growing branches that form a dense, lush crown in the shape of a ball. The height of mature shrubs is about half a meter, and the diameter of the plants is about 2 meters.

Juniper needles are dense and prickly, turquoise in color with an emerald hue. Adult bushes take on a dark green color, changing shade. The difference between the culture lies in the slow growth, as well as the ability to grow environments of other trees that shade the crop.

Gold cone gold cone

A hybrid species that emerged by mixing several shrub varieties of heather. The plant is actively cultivated throughout Europe and Asia. The difference in heres is based on the presence of a very narrow and high crown formed by vertically arranged stems that protrude slightly to the sides. This structure of the stems gives the culture a neat disheveledness.

The difference in veres lies in changing the shade of the crown several times per season. So, in spring and autumn, the needles take on a yellowish color, and in the summer the needles are saturated with a green color. In winter, the plant is covered with beige shades. Veres of this variety has good cold resistance.

Sentinel pencil point

Columnar representative of Veres. It grows mainly along park paths, or as a component of a garden composition. The appearance of this variety is compared by many to a pencil, since the crown of the bush is straight, elongated, with a pointed top.

The tree is small in length and has a quiet growth rate. The average height of the culture by the year 10 after being placed in the substrate is about one and a half meters. The width of the culture, as a rule, does not exceed half a meter. The even crown of the tree is formed by vertical stems that adhere tightly to the trunk.The needle-like leaves of the variety are bright green, darken in winter and take on a brown tint. The plant looks spectacular as a single component of the garden plot, or together with other perennials.

Cossack juniper juniperus sabina

A sturdy specimen of heres that can easily survive any climate change. The culture lives without difficulty in an unfavorable climate, poor substrate and in severe drought. This structure leads to the frequent cultivation of the plant along roads and dusty areas.

Cossack Veres is a small shrub plant with wide and lush forms. The height of adults does not exceed 1.6 m. Despite its short length, the culture is actively growing in different directions, reaching about 6 meters in diameter. The foliage is dark green. The difference from other representatives is based on a dense and coarse crown with high toxicity.

Blue donau

It is represented by low bushes, with a luxurious crown and needle-like leaves, covering all branches with an abundance of needles. The plant is quietly gaining height, but in a circle it often exceeds its length. The diameter of the bush from below often outgrows 2.5 meters, so this fact must be taken into account when cultivating heather in the garden.

Young branches of heather grow quite actively, increasing by more than 15 cm per season. Due to the needles, the crown has a blue-green color. This variety perfectly replaces many perennials and actively develops in the ground with a rocky structure, on alpine hills and in the garden.

Tamariscifolia or tamaris tamariscifolia

One of the most common types of heather, which is actively grown on the territory of Russia. The culture is dome-shaped, a little more than a meter high and about one and a half meters across. It features actively growing branches that overlap each other, like a covering material on the roof.

The needles completely cover the crown of the tree, forming an impenetrable light green canvas. This variety has good survival rate on any land, including loamy and sandy ones. When cultivating, it is necessary to take into account the excellent resistance to drought and cold.

Juniper horizontal juniperus horizontalis

A bush creeping on the ground with elastic branches that actively grow on a horizontal plane. The height of the bush does not exceed 35 cm, while branches in diameter can form a canvas up to 3-4 meters. The light green shade of the needles is formed by hard needles, which take on a burgundy hue for winter.

You can also meet the variety in the wild, where the juniper grows on sandstones or mountain slopes. The plant is actively hybridizing, more than 50 varieties of this species have already been obtained.

Golden Carpet Golden Carpet

It is a hybrid species with a bright yellow color. The ground creeping plant is formed by crossing several other varieties. In height, the culture reaches about 30 cm, while in diameter it grows several meters. The culture has small needles that darken with the season. In winter, the needles take on a green color.

Icee blue

A blue shrub that forms a dense blanket on the soil. Lodging branches, tightly pressed to the ground, rapidly increasing in size. The tight fit of the branches allows the culture to smoothly flow around all obstacles in its path, which looks very impressive. Young shoots are thin, directed upwards, covered with soft needles. The needles gradually harden and become dense and prickly. By winter, the culture becomes blue-violet in color.

Juniper medium or fitzer juniperus x pfitzeriana

A hybrid formed by mixing several varieties of heather. It is a powerful bush with strong stems and a lush shape. The height of individuals reaches about 3 meters, with a diameter of about 4 m.Juniper stems are directed obliquely upward at first, gradually bending at the top.

The needles are replaced by scaly foliage. Juniper is grown mainly as a ground cover shrub, used as a decoration for landscape design.

An American variety of heres, which is represented by a low bush, up to 1 m long and up to 3 m in a circle. The branches of the plant are located mainly horizontally, forming a fairly dense and wide crown. The foliage has a rich green tone, adheres tightly to the base of the shoot. The branches bristle strongly throughout the individual, so the culture seems fluffy and beautiful.

King of spring king of spring

A short bush with wide lush branches growing in a circle. The height of adults rarely exceeds half a meter, with a diameter of about 2 meters. Young shoots are colored in a light yellow tone, which stands out against the background of rich green foliage. Such a plant looks decorative on the territory of any site, it can be planted as a separate culture or in several pieces.

Juniper scaly juniperus squamata

Wild culture can be found in the mountains of eastern Asia. The plant is represented by a low tree or bush, with a stem of about 3 meters. Dwarf varieties of scaly heres have also been developed. The difference between the culture lies in the curved crown formed from thorny needles that grow up to 3 cm in length. The upper part of the foliage has a dark green tone, and the bottom is covered with a silvery tone.

Dream joy

A ground cover plant that grows only 50 cm up in the first 10 years of growth. At the same time, it increases to 1.5 meters in different directions. The stems are quite actively gaining in size, increasing by about 10 cm per year. Young twigs of this variety differ in color, changing to a yellowish tone, which is gradually replaced by a gray or dark green. The general tone of the culture is decorative, due to the different colors of the foliage.

Blue star blue star

A spherical bush with even shapes and irregular bluish needles will fill any space in the garden. Veres has a quiet growth rate, growing only up to 1 meter up and one and a half meters in width in adulthood. The branches are arranged horizontally, with a drooping end and an arched stem. The crown is dense, due to the abundance of branches and green needles. Young branches take on bright green tones, which gradually take on a bluish color.

The difference between this variety lies in the good tolerance of rocky growing areas and places with heavy soil, in the sun or in partial shade.

Chinese juniper juniperus chinensis

In its natural environment, this variety is found mainly in the central part of Asia. The plant has an even crown with a narrowed base. A narrow cone formed by a plant of this species reaches up to about 10 m, with a width at the base of only 1-1.5 meters. The culture is formed by a large number of vertical branches covered with dense, needle-like, tough, rich green foliage.

For the cultivation of this representative, soil areas with a sufficient amount of moisture are selected. The culture is not very resistant to frost, therefore it is cultivated mainly in warm climatic conditions.

Stricta stricta

A crop that forms a narrow conical shape with a pointed top, obtained by Dutch breeders. The tree grows slowly in the company, not exceeding in size by more than 8 cm per year. The maximum length of a tree is about 3 meters, with a diameter of about 1 meter at the base.

The tree is covered with a dense greenish crown and an abundance of hard needles. The branches are arranged upward, arched. The needles have a bluish hue, which looks spectacular among the green representatives of gardens and parks.

Plumose plumose

A hybrid that lives mainly as a culture for decorating garden and park plots. It has sprawling shoots that form an arch.This structure of the crown determines the crown-like shape of the bush. The bush itself is low, slightly higher than a meter in length. Scaly needles cover the lateral and young twigs abundantly, making the tree appear fluffy and unusual.

Juniper virginiana juniperus virginiana

A wild growing culture that lives mainly on the slopes of the northern part of America. The species is represented by large trees, up to 20 meters long, with a dense fluffy crown. The crown is constantly increasing in diameter. Even after the tree stops growing in length, the branches continue to grow, increasing the diameter of the crown. The crown is formed by dense dark green foliage, consisting of many needles.

Gray owl gray owl

A shrub formed by many branches and stems. The difference lies in the non-standard shape of the crown, which is formed by skeletal stems. The branches grow perpendicular to the trunk, while their ends are bent upward, and the protruding lateral branches bent downward. Differs in quiet growth and gradual increase in diameter.

The plant is covered with dense, scaly, light green foliage that adheres tightly to the branches and stems. The needles are bluish in color, in young shoots they have a silvery tone, which gives the bush an unusual look. This structure of the crown gives the culture fluffiness and lightness.

Canaerti canaertii

A fairly large tree formed by a narrow and elongated crown shape. Unlike many representatives, these trees are fast growing. By the age of 10, the trunk of the tree grows up to 5 meters up. The crown, as the tree grows, thins. By winter, the needles change their color from light green to yellowish. The difference between the culture lies in the formation of bluish cones, which are covered with a small white bloom. This structure gives the plant an unusual look and goes well with many crops in the garden.

Rocky juniper juniperus scopulorum

It is represented by a tree, about 15 meters long, with a luxurious, strong crown. Wild individuals live on the slopes of the mountains of North America and Mexico. Juniper branches grow obliquely upward, covering the trunk of the tree from the base of the root collar. This structure of the bush makes it thick, with practically no gaps. The needles adhere tightly to the base of the shoot. In young individuals, the foliage is represented by needle-like needles, and in adults, it is scaly.

The difference is the fragility of the stems and new branches. The plant requires high-quality care during the period of dormancy and cold weather, so that the branches do not sag and crack from the severity of the snowdrifts. In addition, juniper does not tolerate sunny areas, the optimal place for its cultivation is partial shade.

Moonglow moonglow

Young individuals of this variety are formed by a rounded crown shape. Gradually, the tree stretches in length, forming a narrow pyramidal base. A fairly large representative, whose height is about 6 meters, with a diameter of about 3 meters. the needles are tough, grayish in color. The plant is grown as an individual or as a planting group.

Skyrocket skyrocket

Columnar tree, with a powerful trunk and a sharp end. Veres is characterized by a fairly rapid growth. The height of the culture by the end of the decade is about 3 meters, with a diameter of about half a meter. The crown is formed by vertical branches and dense scaly foliage that fit tightly to the trunk. The needles are small, no more than a centimeter in length, light green in color. The culture has a good ability to survive cold and unpretentiousness to negative cultivation factors.

Dahurian juniper juniperus davurica

It is represented by a low bush that grows in the Eastern part of Russia and Asian countries. Veres of this species grows mainly in breadth, forming a dense blanket.The height of the culture in adult form is about one and a half meters, in different directions it increases by 2-3 meters. The needles are light green, have light stripes at the base of the needles. By the dormant period, the needles become brown in color. Juniper easily tolerates a dormant period in cold conditions, therefore it is actively cultivated in conditions of a long winter.

Juniper firm juniperus rigida

Wild-growing individuals of this type live, as a rule, in China and Japan. It is considered a rare species, which is represented by a tree up to 10 meters long, with a luxurious crown and an abundance of stems covered with green scales. The difference between females and males lies in the density of the crown - the female representative of this species has a loose, translucent crown. The side branches of the juniper hang down above the surface, so the tree looks like weeping. In many areas, heather is grown alongside other weeping species.

Siberian juniper juniperus sibirica

It grows in Russia, in mountainous areas, tundra and forest-tundra. The external characteristics of this variety are compared with ordinary heres, with the exception of the color of the needles and the height, which does not exceed one and a half meters. The needles have a white strip, densely cover the plant.

The cones are lilac in color, they give the juniper a great decorative effect, since they abundantly cover the culture. Juniper of this species is cultivated as single individuals, and in several pieces.

Juniper recumbent juniperus procumbens

Luxurious bush, ground cover type. The upward length is less than 30 cm, with a diameter of about 5 meters. Found wild in Japan. The culture is made up of dense, abundant lateral branches, which are not large in size. The branches are covered with light green needle-like, tough needles. Despite its frequent occurrence in Japan, the culture is actively grown in temperate and subtropical climates.

General description and types of plants

Juniper is a very beautiful plant. The best use for it is landscaping. The variety of its species is amazing. There is a vertical, horizontal, tree-like bush. This evergreen plant blooms with a branch system. You can propagate it from seeds.

Juniper is a vibrant, coniferous, green plant in the Cypress family.

This plant appeared on earth a long time ago. It often acts as a flavoring agent for compotes, juices and fruit drinks. In cooking, its fruits are added to meat, which gives it aroma and piquant taste. In pickles, berries enrich the taste of vegetables. Juniper grows in the form of trees that look like fluffy shoots or spreading shrubs. They can cover the ground with a dense carpet. You always want to draw such beauty. The branches of the plant are decorated with needles that look like scales or needles. All juniper species are dioecious: male plants are pollinators, and female plants are rich in harvest of a cone of berries.

The best varieties:

• Virginsky and its Blue Gold variety;
• Strikta is a narrow, tall, dense shrub with a blue cone berry;
• Horizontal or Skyrocket is a beautiful, creeping shrub with blue-green needles;
• Cossack or Horstmann - monoecious shrub or dioecious;
• Chinese or Old Gold - low trees, have a pyramidal appearance;
• Rocky or Green Munglou - a beautiful pyramidal crown of a plant, etc.;
• Scaly and its popular varieties: Blue Star, Blue Carpet, Meyeri, Holger and Asiatic.

If you grow up and try to propagate any kind of juniper in your summer cottage, then how much useful it will bring you. Your garden plot will improve its decorative characteristics, and the drug will cure many diseases.

Juniper planting

In order for the juniper to take root and grow actively, to decorate the garden plot, it is necessary to prepare in advance for planting the plant.Depending on the variety, it is necessary to choose the optimal planting time, as well as take care of the quality of the seedling, adherence to the rules of cultivation.

What time to plant

Junipers are recommended to be planted in open ground in early spring, immediately after the snow melts. In addition, mid-October is suitable for planting. Depending on the time of cultivation, heather begins to actively gain growth a year or two after being placed in the ground. It is necessary to plant heather in a bright place with enough sunlight and warmth.

Juniper seedlings

Young seedlings that have not reached the age of 5 years are placed in the open ground. Such shoots quickly and easily take root, adapt to the growing environment. When buying seedlings, attention is paid to the volume of the rhizome and the container in which the plant is placed. For a normal habitat, young bushes need a soil volume of at least 5 liters. In cases where the plant has been in a small container for a long time, the roots do not have time to grow, therefore, after being placed in open ground, the probability of the death of the juniper is high.

Larger and older individuals selected for planting do not take root well and adapt to the growing environment, since, due to the cramped conditions, the root system of such seedlings is depleted.

In the nursery, you should not choose seedlings that have obvious signs of pathologies. After purchase, you cannot immediately expose the rhizome of the juniper, as this will lead to injury to the rhizome.

How to plant

Young individuals bought in nurseries are placed in open ground in spring or autumn. If the plant was actively growing in the container in the nursery, planting can be carried out at any time, in dry weather. Cultivation is performed in a prepared soil. The soil near the planting pit must be dug up and excess debris removed. At the planting site, a pit is formed, the depth of which is 40 cm greater than the volume of the roots. A small layer of drainage and peat bog, humus and sand is placed at the bottom of the landing pit for young individuals. Then they put the seedling together with an earthen lump and add a layer of nutritious soil to it.

When planting a juniper, you should pay attention to the fact that the root collar should be about 15 cm above the ground. After cultivation, the seedling is watered abundantly with water and organic fertilizer. After watering, a layer of peat or dry foliage mulch is created around the heather.

Juniper groups by appearance and growth rate

Juniper Cossack grade Rockery Gem

Numerous types of junipers differ in appearance and in the rate of growth of the crown. Often, within the same species, both creeping and tall plants can be found, depending on the growing conditions, belonging to a subspecies or hybrid form.

Thanks to the efforts of breeders, the typically tall species can be medium-sized or dwarf varieties. Some common types and varieties of junipers are grouped below, depending on the height of the plants, the direction of growth of the branches, the rate of development and the color of the needles.

Horizontal:

• M. horizontal,
• M. daursky,
• M. Cossack,
• M. average,
• M. Sargent,
• M. ordinary (Depressa, Greenmantl, Vase).

Vertical:

• M. virginsky,
• M. Chinese,
• M. rocky,
• M. solid,
• M. prickly,
• M. tall,
• M. ordinary (Gold Cone, Arnold, Sentinel).

Tall (height of species plants):

• M. virginsky (up to 20 m),
• Rocky M. (up to 10-12 m),
• M. hard (up to 8-10 m),
• M. prickly (up to 5-10 m),
• M. Chinese (up to 10-15 m),
• M. ordinary (up to 8-12 m),
• M. is high (up to 10-15 m).

Creeping:

• M. horizontal,
• M. recumbent,
• M. crowded or coastal,
• M. scaly,
• M. Sargent,
• M. ordinary (Green Carpet, Repanda).

Dwarf:

• M. virginsky (Globosa, Golden Spring),
• M. Chinese (Expansa and its forms),
• M. recumbent (Nana),
• M.ordinary (Compressa, Constans Franklin),
• M. medium (King of Spring),
• M. horizontal (Andorra Variegata, Andorra Compact),
• M. scaly (Blue Star, Dream Joy),
• M. siberian.

Columnar:

• M. virginsky (Glauca),
• M. Chinese (Obelisk, Keteleeri),
• M. ordinary (Constans Franklin, Columnaris, Sentinel),
• M. rocky (Sky Rocket, Blue Arrow).

Fast growing:

• M. virginsky (Glauca, Canaertii, Hetz),
• M. medium (Mint Julep),
• M. Cossack (Rockery Gem, Hicksii, Blaue Donau),
• M. Chinese (Obelisk, Spartan),
• M. horizontal (Bar Harbor),
• M. ordinary (Gold Cone),
• M. rocky (Moonglow, Skyrocket).

Blue:

• M. scaly (Blue Star, Blue Carpet),
• M. crowded (Blue Pacific),
• M. rocky (Blue Heaven, Moonglow, Blue Arrow),
• M. ordinary (Sterling Silver),
• M. horizontal (Blue Chip, Blue Forest, Icee Blue),
• M. Chinese (Blue Alps),
• M. medium (Hetzii),
• M. Cossack (Blue Donau).

Care

For optimal growth and preservation of decorative qualities, young juniper bushes must be regularly cared for. Despite the fact that the tree is unpretentious, its growth cannot be completely thrown away.

Transfer

Situations arise when the juniper has to be moved from one place to another. As long as the culture is small, this is not so difficult to do. When transplanting adults, it is important not to damage the plant and leave the roots intact. Preparation for transplantation is carried out in the spring. To do this, they pass around the culture with a bayonet shovel, chopping off part of the rhizome in a circle, at a distance of about half a meter from the trunk. In the fall, the plant is completely removed from the ground and, together with an earthen lump, is delivered to a new habitat, prepared in advance.

Watering

Juniper watering is carried out only when necessary, during prolonged drought. Adults independently cope with obtaining nutrients from the soil, however, to prevent diseases, 1-2 buckets of water are introduced under the roots twice a year. To maintain soil moisture, mulch should always be present around the tree, which will retain moisture for a long time. Despite its large size, the juniper loves watering and moisturizing the needles, which is carried out at least once a week.

Fertilizer

Once a year, in spring, the juniper should be fed with nitroammophos. For this, the liquid mixture is applied under the roots of the plant along with water for irrigation. If the juniper is grown in heavy, poor soil, nitrogenous fertilizers and organic matter are added to the soil at least once a month.

Soil mixture

For active growth and development, heather is placed in a light substrate, saturated with nutrients and having a sufficient drainage layer. Most species adapt easily to any soil composition, so many gardeners do not think about this problem.

How to choose a quality seedling

Any gardener who at least once planted trees or shrubs on his site knows that the successful survival of the plant, adaptation in a new place and normal growth in the next season largely depend on the quality of the planting material.

The main rule when choosing a juniper seedling is to buy it in garden centers or nurseries. In addition to quality, you can also, if you wish, get advice from the seller and ask him various questions regarding the product you are interested in.

Juniper seedling is sold with closed root system (ZKS), i.e. its root system is in the ground in a pot or some other container (example in the illustration below). Another such option is called a container-type seedling. It is very easy to handle and plant it! You can also find a seedling with an open root system (i.e., the roots are bare). But this option is unlikely, because such a cypress crop can rarely be found on sale without a container.

By the way, there are standard secrets for choosing a good seedling:

• It is optimal to choose instances with age three to four years.
• The general condition of the planting material must be satisfactory, there should be no signs of disease, damage any parts of the plant (needles or trunk).
• Examine the needles: it should be of a normal green shade (or a color that corresponds to a specific variety and type), should not crumble. Avoid specimens with brownish, dry needles.You can check its condition using a simple manipulation: squeeze the needles with your hand for 3 seconds and release, if it immediately takes its former shape, it means that it is in good condition.

Juniper pruning and shaping

Juniper pruning is rarely done, only to form a hedge. As a rule, the crown of a tree is leveled independently, based on the type and variety of the crop. When pruning, it is important not to damage the skeletal shoots, since the heather is difficult to tolerate all changes. The tree takes a long time to recover and gains strength, so pruning is carried out carefully.

In spring and autumn, some gardeners recommend sanitary pruning, removing dry and dead branches from the bushes and shoots sticking out in different directions, violating the general background of the culture.

Care and cultivation of juniper

These plants are quite easy to grow - any soil is suitable for them: stony, acidic, calcareous, but dry and not swampy. In addition, they are quite frost-resistant and are not afraid of cold winds in an open space. Junipers are much more drought-resistant than other conifers, and do not really need watering, except for young transplanted bushes in hot weather. They prefer sunny places more than shaded ones, they grow very slowly in the shade. Shrubs tolerate pruning well, which is done in summer for plants in hedges and creepers. However, it should be remembered that junipers grow slowly, so they should not be drastically pruned.

For the winter, shrubs are mulched with chips, and immediately after planting with peat. In the spring, the mulch is removed so that the root collar does not rot. Further care measures are to loosen the soil and remove weeds, spraying has a beneficial effect on the condition of the needles.

Juniper wintering

Juniper is a perennial plant that can easily withstand frost and cold. Despite this property, many gardeners recommend preparing the heather for wintering in advance.

Fall

Preparation of juniper for winter begins immediately after the ripening and falling of the cones. At the same time, they carry out sanitary pruning of the culture. it is also necessary to prophylactically treat heather with a fungicidal liquid in order to keep the plant from pests and diseases.

Winter

In winter, the juniper does not require additional shelter, since it easily tolerates the cold, and also adapts to the conditions. During the dormant period, some varieties require tightening of the crown so that the branches do not break under the weight of snow in winter. Young seedlings for the winter are covered with a layer of spruce branches or a film.

How and where is juniper wood used

The wood of the described plant has found wide application in various spheres of human activity. High-quality pencils are made from it. Dried juniper wood does not crack and has a high density, which allows it to be finely carved.

Find out more about the application of cherry wood.

Also, the material has a beautiful structure: it does not have deep resin passages, therefore it lends itself well to staining. Juniper resin, which is extracted from wood, is no less valuable. It is used in the paint and varnish industry to produce high quality white lacquer coatings.

Video: cutaway juniper

Reproduction of juniper

Veres can be propagated in several ways, which depend on the form of growth of the culture. So, shrubs are grown from seeds, and trees are propagated using cuttings and cuttings.

Seeds

It is quite difficult to propagate a juniper by seed. Sowing is carried out in open ground in spring. Previously, the seeds are placed in sand and refrigerated for 4 months. Sowing is carried out at the end of spring, when the seed is spread over the soil surface. Under normal conditions, the sowing sprout only after a year.

Cuttings

For propagation of hybrids, the cuttings method is used. Cuttings are cut at the beginning of bud budding. Young twigs grow best of all, so they are cut off. The twigs must be at least 10 cm in size, with several live buds. It is important that a heel forms on the branch, so the material is not cut off with a knife, but cut off with a sharp movement of the hand. After cutting, the cuttings are treated with a rooting agent and planted in sandy-peat soil. The cuttings are visited in separate containers, after which they are covered with a film or glass jar. Closer to autumn, new roots will appear on the plant, however, the culture is planted in the open ground only 2 years after cultivation.

Layers

Creeping juniper types can be bred by layering. To do this, choose a recumbent, leaning to the ground shoot. The middle of the branch is cleared of foliage and covered with earth so that the plant cannot bend back. As a rule, the cuttings take root after about 2-4 months. After that, the young seedling is separated from the mother bush, and in the spring it is transplanted to a permanent place of growth.

Ornamental shrub juniper Cossack: description of appearance

Juniper Cossack in the photo

Juniper Cossack - a low, creeping shrub with recumbent or ascending branches covered with dense needles with a silvery shade.

Unlike ordinary juniper, the Cossack pine berries are poisonous. They are small, spherical, brown-black in color with a bluish bloom and a very unpleasant odor.

By touching the ground, the branches of the plant can take root. Growing, the juniper forms large clumps up to 3-4 m in diameter. This species is very drought-resistant, photophilous and winter-hardy, loves calcareous soil, but grows on all types of soil. Due to its unusual appearance, this juniper is indispensable in landscaping, when strengthening rocky slopes, in decorative groups on lawns.

When this type of juniper is propagated by green cuttings, the standard planting material will be obtained 2-3 years earlier than from seeds, and the signs of the mother plant will be completely preserved. Reproduction by layering is the fastest and easiest way of vegetative propagation of Cossack juniper, but very unproductive.

Such garden varieties of this type of juniper are known as

Juniper "columnar"

Juniper "upright",

"Columnar", "erect",

Juniper form "cypress-leaved"

Juniper form "variegated"

"Cypress", "variegated"

Juniper form "tamariksolistnaya"

and "Tamarix-leaved".

The most interesting is "white-bordered" with almost white needles at the ends of the branches. Each is decorative in its own way and differs in the shade and shape of the needles.

Juniper Cossack comb-leaved in the photo

Juniper Cossack comb-leaved - dioecious, low, almost creeping shrub with smooth, reddish-gray bark. Cones up to 7 mm in diameter, brown-black, with a bluish bloom, contain 2-6 pcs. seeds. Frost-resistant, drought-resistant.

Diseases

Juniper is often affected by diseases and pests. In this regard, the bush requires constant care and examination of individuals. Depending on the disease, various signs can be noticed on the bush, which characterize the pathology. For the prevention of diseases, the culture is processed several times a year.

Physiological drying out of needles

As a rule, pathology can be noticed in the spring. The reason is the drying out of the needles from the sunny side, due to the insufficient process of photosynthesis in the winter. In order to prevent drying out, some varieties of heather are covered with material for the winter.

Rust

It is characterized by the appearance of yellow or brown growths on foliage and stems. To eliminate the pathology, diseased branches and needles must be cut and burned, and the tree must be treated with a fungicidal solution.

Schütte

The cause of the lesion is a fungus that appears due to rotting of old needles. At the same time, black spots appear on the foliage. To prevent the development of pathology, sanitary pruning is carried out in the spring, all damaged parts of the plant are removed. Also, a two-time treatment of the culture with a fungicidal agent is recommended.

Shrinking branches

The gradual drying of the branches is detected in the spring. Pathology does not spare young and old branches, so it is necessary to deal with it quickly enough. The cause of the pathology is a fungus arising from a poorly selected planting site and crop care. It is impossible to save a heavily damaged plant, so it is dug up and burned so as not to transfer the disease to other individuals. As a preventive measure, fungicides are used.

Other names for common juniper

The considered vegetation in ancient times had several different names. They differed depending on the region of growth.

Did you know? Thickets of juniper bushes are often formed where there are coal deposits, which geologists are actively using for their own purposes. For example, it was thanks to this feature that the Moscow Region coal basin was opened.

The most commonly used names are:

• heather;
• yalovets;
• walrus;
• bruzewelnik;
• juniper.

The most popular of all the names that have survived to this day is juniper. According to some reports, it comes from the combination of the words "between spruces", since this vegetation was most often found as undergrowth in spruce tracts.

According to another version, the name originates from the Old Slavic word "mozhzha", which means "knot" in translation. This is due to the external data of the plant - on the branches of old specimens, seals resembling knots are visible in the places of shoot growth.

Medicinal properties

The medicinal properties of juniper are due to its wide chemical composition, which contains substances useful for the human body. The chemical composition of the culture contains essential oils, tannins and carbohydrates, as well as other medicinal properties. Roots, young shoots, heather berries are used as medicinal raw materials. Among the most active beneficial properties of veres are noted:

• expectorant action;
• elimination of pain in the tooth, swelling of soft tissues;
• removal of inflammation;
• optimization of the work of the heart and blood vessels, normalization of blood pressure;
• elimination of an allergic reaction, skin rash;
• needles are used as an antiseptic for treating wounds and skin;
• choleretic agent;
• diuretic action.

In addition, the composition of the berries and shoots of juniper contains vitamins and minerals that improve appetite, normalize the body's immune response to pathogenic factors.

Diseases and pests

Junipers are attacked by many pests - aphids, scale insects, gall midges, spider mites, pine sawflies, pine moth caterpillars and moths. Treatment with various insecticides is used against them.

Among the most common diseases affecting many varieties of junipers, rust and shute are found, manifested in yellowing of the needles and the appearance of swollen formations on the shoots. Diseased areas of shrubs are cut off and destroyed by burning, and the whole plant is treated with special chemicals.

The use of juniper in traditional medicine

Veres is actively used in traditional medicine recipes, to eliminate pathologies such as indigestion, kidney and urinary tract pathology, elimination of respiratory diseases, as well as external use. Decoctions, infusions and tinctures are made from parts of the plant, as well as essential oils, which are used as medicines.

Decoction

To prepare the broth, you need to mix a teaspoon of dried juniper fruits and a glass of boiling water. Then the resulting mixture is boiled for 5 minutes.The cooled and strained broth is taken orally for the treatment of lung pathologies, 2 tablespoons three times a day.

Infusion

For infusion, 2 teaspoons of the dry mixture are used, which are poured with a glass of boiling water and insisted for 2-3 hours. After that, the mixture is filtered and taken orally 1 spoon three times a day. indications for admission are edema and inflammation of the tissues of the urinary tract.

Tincture

For external use prepare a tincture of juniper. 50 g of dry medicinal mixture is poured into half a liter of alcohol or vodka. The bottle is closed and placed in a cool dark place for two weeks. Used for external treatment for rheumatism, gout and neuralgia. It is also possible to take 15 drops internally in the morning and evening before meals.

Juniper - shrub or tree

Juniper is both a shrub and a tree at the same time. What type of plant it belongs to depends on its appearance. A plant is called a creeping shrub if it reaches 40-50 cm.If the height is 1-3 m, it is a shrub. If more than 3 m - a tree.

Juniper can be both a tree and a shrub

Origin and appearance of junipers

The answer to the question whether a juniper is a coniferous or deciduous tree will be this: it is a coniferous tree of the cypress family. The appearance depends on what type of plant the juniper belongs to. It can be either a tree or a shrub. Trees have a conical crown. Shrubs are usually spherical in shape. The needles are dark green in color, but there are varieties with a yellow color.

Additional Information! Juniper has been known to mankind since ancient times. It is used in folk medicine, and furniture is made from wood.

The appearance depends on the variety. Bushes and trees can vary in height and color of needles, as well as in the shape of the crown.

Junipers in landscape design

Juniper is often used to decorate garden and park areas. Plants retain their spectacular appearance all year round, therefore they are able to fill the empty space of the territory and bring an unusual look to the landscape design of the room. Crops look equally luxurious with other perennials, as well as lonely plantings. The trees are suitable for growing on open sides, with other perennials or annuals such as primrose, lily, thuja. Veres is also widely used to decorate garden paths and alpine slides.

Juniper varieties

A fairly large number of juniper varieties have been identified. All of them are distinguished by interesting external characteristics and unpretentious care.

The most popular varieties of common juniper:

1. Pyramidal - the cultivated form of the species in question. It is a tree with a narrow crown. The branches begin their growth almost from the ground itself. Pressed against the trunk. The needles are soft, dark green. The culture tolerates light shading well, is frost-resistant, and is completely undemanding to the quality of the soil. Looks good in group plantings. Suitable for area zoning, creation of alpine slides and rockeries. Pine berries are actively used in the alcoholic beverage industry (they make gin, vodka), and in brewing. Also, the fruit extract is used as a spicy additive in sweets, sauces.

   

2. Cossack - a dioecious bush that grows rapidly in width. Its height does not exceed 1.5 m. The bark is red-brown, rough. The leaf plates are scale-like. When cultivating for the purpose of landscaping areas, it should be borne in mind that the variety is not very resistant to such a disease as rust. The essential oil is used to make topical medicines.

   

3. Horizontal - a dioecious creeping bush no more than 0.3 m high. Its wood is resistant to decay. The plant is cultivated specifically to create unique landscape compositions.It will look very impressive in combination with shrub and woody forms. Thanks to the creeping shoots, it seems that a green carpet is spread on the ground.

   

4. Daursky Is another creeping form. Plant height does not exceed 0.5 m. It grows in breadth due to the formation of roots on shoots, almost lying on the ground. It is used in landscape compositions, as well as for strengthening the soil in mountainous areas. Needles are used in alcoholic beverage production.

   

5. Coastal - a creeping representative of the considered species. It is planted on depleted or saline soils. Forms a beautiful gray-green carpet.

   

Dangers of the plant

You cannot use juniper during pregnancy. This is due to the ability of heres to cause uterine contractions and lead to miscarriage. The plant is dangerous for ingestion and for people suffering from chronic pathologies of the kidneys and liver. The constant and thoughtless use of medications with heather leads to the development of bleeding or impaired kidney function.

It is important to understand that only an ordinary juniper variety is used for medicinal purposes. The rest of the species are poisonous and can cause severe poisoning. Therefore, before using the plant, it is necessary to consult a doctor about the effect of the drugs. In addition, it is important not to cancel the main therapy prescribed by the doctor.

Other types of junipers for the garden

Here you can find photos, names and descriptions of other varieties of juniper suitable for growing in the garden.

Siberian juniper in the photo

Siberian juniper - undersized (up to 1 m) creeping shrub with short sharp dark green prickly needles. Differs in winter hardiness and unpretentiousness to growing conditions.

Juniper virginsky in the photo

Red cedar - monoecious evergreen tree. This juniper looks like a real giant - its height reaches 20 m. Its homeland is North America. Crohn - narrow ovate, needles are long (up to 13 mm) and prickly. Cones ripen in the fall, already in the first year. They are dark blue, with a waxy coating, up to 5 mm in diameter, sweet in taste, contain 1-2 seeds. Grows quickly, especially with sufficient moisture. Less hardy than Siberian and common. Easily propagated by seeds when sown in autumn or stratified in spring. It tolerates pruning well, but transplanting is bad.

Among the common garden forms of the Virginia juniper are plants with columnar and pyramidal crowns; with drooping and spreading branches with gray needles, with a rounded spherical crown and bright green needles.

Long-coniferous juniper in the photo

Long-coniferous juniper - tree or shrub. Young shoots are greenish, later brown, round, glabrous. The bark is scaly-scaly, dark gray in color. The needles are pointed, three in whorls, 15-20 mm long, dark green or bluish, tough, prickly, shiny.

In this species of juniper plant, cones are single and in groups, spherical or oval 5-10 mm in diameter, mature - black, with a weak bluish bloom. Seeds are triangular in shape.

This type of juniper is suitable for group and single plantings, for decorating slopes and rocky places, because it is not picky about soil and moisture. Propagated by seeds.

Known forms with a spherical crown and a compact pyramidal bush.

Juniper stunted in the photo

Juniper undersized - basically it is a shrub up to 1 m in height. Stems are recumbent, rooting. Young shoots are green, glabrous. The bark of branches and trunks is brown, on old ones it is scaly-flaky. This variety of juniper has needles in whorls of three, prickly, tough, up to 1 cm long, gray-green.

Cones are single or in groups, almost spherical, 5-10 mm in diameter, mature - black with a bluish bloom, 2-3 seeds, wrinkled, tetrahedral.

In the design of the garden, it is suitable for single plantings on lawns, ridges, rocky hills, for landscaping slopes. It is undemanding to soils.

Among the natural forms of the undersized species, the most popular are "Glauka" with recumbent branches and bluish-gray needles, as well as the "Renta" form with obliquely upward directed arcuate branches with weak-gray needles. Propagated by seeds, cuttings and layering.

Reddish juniper in the photo

Juniper reddish - tree or shrub. Young shoots and needles are green, and later become yellowish in color. The bark is brown-gray, scaly. On top of the needles are two original white stripes. The needles are grooved, prickly and shiny in shape.

The cones are spherical, 10 mm in diameter, mature - reddish-brown, shiny, without a bluish bloom.

The species is decorative with yellow needles and reddish cones. It differs from other species in insufficient cold resistance. Propagated by seeds, of which there are 2-3 pieces in a pineapple. They are brownish and slightly triangular.

Juniper high in the photo

Juniper high - tree up to 15 m high. Young shoots are glaucous-dark green, compressed tetrahedral, glabrous. The bark of branches and trunks is brownish-red, exfoliating with age. The needles are opposite opposite, 2-5 mm long, pointed, ovate-lanceolate in shape, rarely acicular, gray-green.

Cones are single, spherical, 10-12 mm in diameter, mature - black with a bluish bloom, brown seeds.

Pay attention to the photo of this variety of juniper - it is very decorative, has a beautiful, dense, wide-pyramidal or ovoid crown. Suitable for single and group plantings, grows well on dry rocky slopes.

Like most other types of juniper, it is winter-hardy, drought-resistant, undemanding to the soil, tolerates pruning well, therefore it can be used in curbs. Propagated by seeds.

Juniper scaly in the photo

Juniper scaly - slow growing shrub with an oval crown. At a young age - the crown is rounded, the twigs are raised, bluish green. The needles are needle-like, prickly, gray-gray, short, dense, collected in whorls. Fruits are red-brown cones; when ripe in the second year, they become almost black.

Various forms of this juniper are grown, among which there are plants with a spherical, vase-shaped, spread-out crown.

In our gardens, this type of juniper is most often found in the form:

Juniper "Blue Star" in the photo

"Blue Star" Is a shrub 40-45 cm high and a crown diameter of 50 cm with silvery blue and very thorny needles. It looks good on alpine slides as well as in containers.

It is quite hardy, but often suffers from the spring sun.

Juniper home care. Basic recommendations for planting junipers in the room

When planting and growing a juniper at home in a pot, you must remember the following recommendations:

• For a plant, it is better to choose a free pot. Junipers grow well when there is plenty of room for the root system.
• At the bottom of the pot, there must be a drainage layer (broken brick, gravel, sand or expanded clay).
• Try not to let the soil dry out, and be sure to drain excess water from the pan.
• In indoor conditions, dry and hot air becomes the greatest danger to junipers.

How to choose lighting for your juniper at home

If the juniper grows in a pot, then caring for the plant begins with choosing the right lighting. In terms of lighting, maintenance must be observed at all times. Juniper loves light, but needs protection from direct sunlight. The plant may die if in the summer it is in the shade all the time, and in the winter - in the sun. It is advisable to expose the plant to the sunny side, where direct sunlight will fall on it only in winter.
Did you know? In ancient Rome, remedies for snake bites were made from juniper. The Romans also added crushed juniper berries to wine and drank it as a diuretic.

Climatic conditions for growing

Juniper grows in a pot, but how to care for it in terms of the selection of climatic conditions? Surely a similar question is asked by most flower growers. In summer, it is necessary to monitor the temperature regime to avoid overheating of the air. The most suitable temperature for growing should not exceed 25 degrees in summer and fall below 13 degrees in winter. In summer, the juniper pot can be taken outside or on the balcony. Do not forget that the plant loves fresh air, but does not tolerate drafts.

Choosing a container for growing

As mentioned above, a large pot is best suited for a juniper, which will not constrain the root system of the plant. In a large pot, the soil will be slightly porous, which will help to distribute moisture evenly and greatly facilitate the maintenance of the juniper. Growing juniper at home is best done in containers made from natural materials: ceramics, clay or porcelain. Also, the shape and pattern on the container can laconically harmonize with the shape that you will give to the juniper.

Did you know? Craftsmen of Ancient Rus made dishes from juniper bark. The milk stored in such a container did not turn sour even in hot weather.

Chinese juniper

This is a shrub or tree that combines both types of leaves in the crown - needle and scaly. A very hardy and frost-resistant plant with a deep branched root system, capable of withstanding abnormally high temperatures. Initially, the scaly leaves of Chinese juniper planted in the shade or underwent radical pruning are transformed into needles. This species develops well exclusively in sunny areas, in the shade it loses its attractiveness, shedding foliage, but it quickly adapts to any drained soils. Visually similar to cypress, Chinese heather successfully replaces it in mid-latitude plantings.

Features of the genus

In the genus of cypress junipers, there are almost 60 plant species that differ significantly from each other. Is a juniper a shrub or a tree? The official form is a coniferous shrub, the forms of which can be very different. Their height varies from 0.2 to 5-8 m, sometimes the juniper grows up to 8-10 m. It all depends on the species, place and growing conditions. It is this height that prompts us to ask the question: is a juniper a tree or a shrub?

Like many members of the cypress family, the juniper, or heather, as it is also called, lives surprisingly long. 200, 600 and even 800 years are considered normal for different species. Even older plants have been recorded in the southern regions.

A juniper is a tree or shrub with evergreen foliage. Its leaves can be scaly or resemble triangular needles. They have a persistent pleasant aroma, which is noticeably intensified after rain or in the sun. The flowers of heather are inconspicuous, and the ripening fruits, blue-gray cones, are attractive and interesting because they ripen in the 2nd year after flowering.

Popular types

Indoor trees - laurel, nolina or bottle tree, juniper

Thuja and juniper are often confused. Both of these plants belong to the Cypress family and are similar in appearance. However, they are different from each other. Unlike juniper, thuja grows quickly and reaches 70 m in height and 6 m in diameter. Its wood is gray in color and has a longitudinal fibrous bark. The scales of the needles fit tightly to each other. After flowering, cones with two seeds grow on the branches.

Differences and varieties of thuja and juniper

Now breeders have bred a large number of plants with different colors of needles, but blue thuja does not exist. Whereas juniper can have the desired color. In addition, heather can be with a multi-colored crown, for example, the Blue and Gold variety has blue and yellow needles.

To decorate their backyard plots, gardeners purchase proven varieties of heres.

Creeping juniper

It is a small bush that grows only 10 cm in height. It easily takes root both on ordinary soil and on rocky ground. But, despite being unpretentious in cultivation, creeping heather prefers to grow in areas illuminated by the sun. Before replanting a creeping juniper, it should be borne in mind that over time it grows like a carpet like grass. Therefore, you need to plant the plants at a considerable distance from each other.

Horizontal Juniper Lemon Glow

This variety of heres grows in height from 10 cm to half a meter. The crown spreads with a diameter of two and a half meters. The shrub tolerates wind, frost and drought well. This juniper variety is used for decoration:

• alpine slides;
• rockeries;
• slopes;
• flower beds;
• discount.

Juniper Lemon glow looks beautiful among green foliage

Juniper cypress

This shrub is also called Cossack, and it belongs to the scaly species. It grows in height up to one and a half meters. It easily tolerates severe frosts, therefore it is adapted for growing in Central Russia. Due to the fact that this shrub is unpretentious to the external environment and growing conditions, it is excellent for decorating personal plots and public places that require landscaping. You can surround them with city flower beds.

Juniper breeding methods and growing conditions (with photo)

The method of reproduction of the juniper is chosen depending on the species - seeds, green cuttings, layering.

The seeds ripen in cones a year or two after flowering. The buds are left hanging on the tree until sowing. Sowing is best done in the fall (November) in the sowing furrows, into which it is imperative to add soil from under an adult juniper plant, meaning the introduction of mycorrhiza into the new soil. If sowing is done in spring, then preliminary stratification of seeds in wet sand is needed, in the first month at a temperature of + 20 ... + 30 °, and then for 4 months - at + 14 ... + 15 °. Sowing substrate - 1 part of sifted sod land and 1 part of coniferous sawdust.

As shown in the photo, when reproducing juniper, planting with green cuttings in greenhouses gives good results, and in summer in greenhouses:

Reproduction of juniper

Reproduction of juniper

Green cuttings are indispensable for the propagation of garden forms. Cuttings are taken with a "heel" only from young plants.

The substrate - 1 part of peat, 1 part of a juniper needle - is placed on a layer of compost, covered with a layer of sod soil taken from under a juniper plant. The cuttings are sprayed 4-5 times a day. The most suitable date for cutting cuttings is April. For better rooting, cuttings should be treated with a growth stimulant by immersing them for 24 hours in a solution of "Epin", "Zircon", "Root", "Kornevin", "Kornerost" or another drug.

One of the main conditions for growing junipers is compliance with the temperature regime. The optimum air temperature for cuttings should be + 23 ... + 24 ° with a relative humidity of 80-83%.

After 1-1.5 months, a thickening called callus appears on the cuttings of juniper. Immediately after that, they are transferred to the ridges, where they hibernate.

Care and cultivation of junipers is easy, since all types of these plants are unpretentious, thriving on a wide variety of soils, up to sands and wetlands, however, preference is given to light nutritious substrates.

Most species are photophilous, resistant to drought, sudden temperature fluctuations and disease and pests.

Given the peculiarities of growing junipers, it is impossible to dig up the soil under these plants in autumn in order to avoid damage to the roots. The trunk circle should be covered with a layer of fallen needles.

Transfer after purchase

Most often, in order to plant junipers in their garden, people go to special stores or nurseries, where they buy ready-made seedlings. The planting material must be at least 2-3 years old. It is recommended to transplant in April or May.

What is needed for landing

How to propagate a Money Tree at home

Before planting a creeping juniper, you need to choose a place where the heather will feel great, grow and develop. Planting material is planted in curtains. When decorating the alley, young seedlings are planted in a trench. It is recommended to choose a location as far away from fruit trees as possible. Thanks to this, it is possible to prevent the disease of the shrub with common diseases.

Note! It is better to plant junipers away from buildings, since in winter snow lingers in such places, which can break the plant. The area where the shrub is to be transplanted must be open and fully illuminated by the sun's rays.

Choosing the best soil

Veres takes root well on any soil, but clay and loamy types of soil are difficult to tolerate. It is recommended to dig the hole twice as much as the root ball of the planting material. This is done so that the roots of the juniper are covered with soft soil. It is imperative to add peat, sand, rotten needles to the ground that will cover the root system. Drainage is recommended when planting in clay soil.

Step by step process

Instructions on how to transplant:

1. Planting material is planted in a hole, which in size exceeds the root system of a seedling with an earthen clod.
2. The roots are covered with earth, watered and mulched. For mulch, you can use peat, rotten leaves, newspapers, or old cloth. Mulch should be laid out in a layer of 10 cm.
3. The crown of a young seedling needs to be sprayed with water from time to time.
4. In the process of transplanting, it is recommended to make the fertile composition of the soil. To do this, take two parts of sod land and one part of peat and sand.
5. The soil must be fertilized with nitroammophos. It will be enough 300 g for one bush.
6. Juniper drainage is made from gravel, broken brick or coarse sand.
7. The distance between the seedlings is 1.5-4 m.

Everything you need for a juniper transplant has been prepared

Important! Many types of heather in nature prefer to grow on soil that contains coal. Therefore, it is recommended to put some of this rock at the bottom of the hole.