Upright Juniper Pruning Pruning An Upright Juniper Shrub

Upright juniper pruning can help a shrub that is losing its shape. You'll need to start selectively pruning a juniper bush by trimming back each branch's terminal tip. This will reduce the length and weight of the branch, making it less likely to pull out from the trunk.

How do you shape a juniper shrub?

Junipers (Juniperus)

To correct the shape, prune before new growth starts in the spring; lightly prune side branches to reduce their size and to bring the plant back into scale.
Prune spreading and creeping junipers by selectively cutting back to vigorous, lateral side branches.

When should you trim juniper bushes?

Answer: The best time to prune junipers is late winter and early spring just before growth begins. However, because junipers are usually very vigorous, they can be pruned almost any time. You can prune them now with little harmful effect on the tree.

How far back can you cut junipers?

Damaged or diseased branches should be cut back to a point beyond the break or disease. Make your cut 1 inch beyond a bud or healthy leaf. If you have to cut past where there is no needle growth you might as well remove the entire branch because it will not produce new growth.

Do juniper bushes have deep roots?

The root system of a Juniper tree might grow 2 to 3 feet deep but the majority of the feeder roots responsible for absorbing nutrients are in the top 12 to 18 inches of soil.

How big do juniper shrubs get?

With shapes ranging from ground-hugging juniper bushes just 6 inches high to towering juniper trees 130 feet tall, and colors from steely blue to shimmering gold, there's a juniper that suits nearly every landscape need.

How do you keep junipers small?

You'll need to start selectively pruning a juniper bush by trimming back each branch's terminal tip. This will reduce the length and weight of the branch, making it less likely to pull out from the trunk. You can also use an arbor tie to attach sagging branches to the central trunk.

Is a Juniper a tree or a bush?

Juniper, (genus Juniperus), genus of about 60 to 70 species of aromatic evergreen trees or shrubs of the cypress family (Cupressaceae), distributed throughout the Northern Hemisphere. A number of species are cultivated as ornamentals and are useful for their timber.

Will junipers 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.

Can you cut the top off of a juniper tree?

All junipers have dead zones at their center so severe pruning, including topping, is never a good idea. Instead, prune lightly and regularly, just before new growth begins in spring. The key to pruning juniper is to leave areas with dormant bud on each branch you trim.

How do you get rid of overgrown junipers?

Use a Chainsaw to Cut the Bush Down

Cut the bush down to ground level using a chain saw or ax. This helps kill the bush and facilitates its removal. Wait at least a few days before removing the roots; if cutting down the bush kills the plant and the roots, the dry roots are easier to extract from the soil.

How long do juniper trees live?

Junipers typically live from 350 to 700 years, with some even passing the millennium mark. Despite their longevity, junipers rarely exceed 30 feet in height or three feet in diameter.

How do you prune overgrown evergreen shrubs?

One method is to prune them back over a 3-year period. Begin by removing one-third of the large, old stems at ground level in late winter/early spring (March or early April). The following year (again in March or early April), prune out one-half of the remaining old stems. Also, thin out some of the new growth.

How far apart do you plant Skyrocket junipers?

Hereof, how far apart do you plant Skyrocket junipers? --Recommended Spacing : Spacing of approx 2 1/2 feet apart is recommended for most privacy screen or border plantings.

Can you trim blue star juniper?

Once established, "Blue Star" requires little water or care. Because of its slow growth and evergreen foliage, this juniper only requires maintenance pruning or corrective pruning. But never prune it during fall because the resulting new and tender growth will be vulnerable to the cold bite of winter.

Do junipers have invasive roots?

2. Skyrocket Juniper. An extremely tall, skinny tree, the roots under the ground resemble the tree itself – they go deeper, but they aren't invasive and won't spread out.

What can I substitute for juniper bushes?

Once the junipers are removed, what should you replace them with? Herbaceous plants, such as lawn, annual and perennial flowers and bulbs, that are kept green during fire season via irrigation. Deciduous shrubs, preferably less than two feet in height and under irrigation.

What kind of root system does a juniper have?

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.

Do junipers attract bugs?

Don't avoid planting juniper (Juniperus spp.) because you noticed bees or flies on a neighbor's tree or shrub. The annoying insects aren't attracted to the evergreen itself, but to the sticky sweet honeydew excreted by even smaller pests that feed commonly on junipers.

Do junipers grow fast?

are a large group of plants notable for their evergreen, needle-like foliage, hardy nature and moderate to fast growth rate. In general, if it is cared for properly, a juniper tree will grow at least a foot per year, according to Empire National Nursery, but this can vary widely depending on species and cultivar.

What should I feed my juniper bush?

Incorporate fertilizer into the soil or spread it around the plant, but avoid directly placing fertilizer into the planting hole. Established junipers will benefit from a complete fertilizer such as 16-4-8 or 12-4-8 applied at a rate of 1/2 lb. per 100 square feet in early spring and again in late summer.