Juniper Lime Glow

Evergreen coniferous shrubs have long won the sympathy of gardeners and landscape designers. The most unpretentious among them are junipers, which have a high degree of winter hardiness and are able to take root on any soil. The species diversity of these representatives of the Cypress family allows every gardener to find a variety that is ideal for his garden, meeting the wishes of its owner and the size of the plot. Juniper Lime Glow (Juniperus horizontalis Lime Glow) belongs to horizontal varieties and is a worthy representative of evergreen shrubs.

Due to its undemanding nature, it is suitable for cultivation in the cold and arid regions of the country. Its decorative qualities provide it with the versatility of using Lime Glow juniper in landscape design. This dwarf variety can serve as a background for other plants, form carpets and curbs, decorate rock gardens and rockeries.

Due to their ability to strengthen the soil, juniper bushes are often used to decorate slopes and slopes. This article will discuss how to properly plant horizontal Lime Glow junipers, how to care for seedlings and mature plants in order to maintain their attractive appearance.

Juniper Lime Glow: variety description

The American horizontal Lime Glow juniper variety was developed in 1984 by crossing wild representatives of this species. It got its name because of the unusual color of the needles - yellow with a lemon tint.

• Lime Glow is a dwarf juniper. It has a dense and rather spreading crown formed from creeping shoots. Due to the slow growth rate, the branches of the Lime Glow juniper grow extremely slowly.
• The Lime Glow juniper (0.4 m) reaches its maximum height only at the age of 10-15 years. In this case, the diameter of the crown of a small plant is from 1.5 to 2 m. The branches of the skeletal type are located almost parallel to the surface of the earth, drooping at the ends, thereby forming a crown in the shape of a pillow.
• Scales of yellow needles evenly cover the shoots of Lime Glow juniper bushes. Gradually, the shape of the crown changes to funnel-shaped. But at the same time, its density and attractive appearance remain the same.

Depending on the change of seasons, the color of the Lime Glow juniper needles also changes. Slightly greener in spring, it turns yellow throughout the summer. And by winter it changes its color to orange with a bronze tint. Young juniper bushes of this variety are covered with light green needles.

In the second or third year of life, the Lime Glow juniper begins to bear fruit with globular cones, which retain the dark color of the wild-growing ancestors of this variety. The bluish-black surface of the fruit is covered with a grayish bloom.

Due to its unusual color, as well as the ability to maintain the shape of the crown for a long time after pruning, the horizontal Lime Glow juniper has earned the sympathy of gardeners and landscape designers around the world.

Juniper horizontal Lime Glou. Optimal growing conditions

 

Lime Glow juniper in garden design: photo

Juniper horizontal Lime Glow has an unpretentious character and takes root well on any soil and under any weather conditions.However, the full manifestation of its decorative qualities is facilitated by the observance of certain recommendations and preferences of this variety.

The optimal place for growing Lime Glow junipers is a well-lit or slightly shaded area with light soil. Strong darkening will not harm the health of juniper bushes, but it will negatively affect the unusual color of their needles.

Due to the lack of sunlight, the needles lose their lemon-yellow color and turn green. In the wild, the horizontal juniper species prefers sandy soils and often grows along river and lake shores. Therefore, sandstone will be the best option for placing juniper plantings.

Lime Glow is drought tolerant and does not need nutritious soil. But excess moisture is destructive for him. Therefore, it is recommended to avoid areas with high groundwater levels.

Stagnant water depresses the root system of the juniper. Because of what, his seedlings and adult bushes begin to lag behind in growth and development. Their shoots look weakened, the crown loses its density, and the needles - color saturation. Often, waterlogging of the soil becomes the cause of the death of these evergreen shrubs.

Otherwise, the horizontal Lime Glow juniper does not have any special requirements. It tolerates severe frosts and drought well, and is resistant to gusty winds. Its yellow needles do not suffer from direct rays of the bright spring sun, which can burn and spoil the needles of darker colored junipers.

Winter cold is dangerous only for young juniper bushes. Therefore, it is recommended to cover their crowns with non-woven material for the winter. The soil around the bushes should be covered with a protective layer of peat, sawdust, pine needles.

Mature Lime Glow juniper bushes do not need frequent watering. But it will not be superfluous to carry out the sprinkling procedure with warm water during especially sultry periods. This should be done in the evenings, after sunset, no more than once a week.

Lime Glow juniper bushes are friendly to other cultures and happily coexist with other conifers, as well as with cereals and herbaceous plants.

Juniper Lime Glow: planting and care

Proper care of juniper plantings is no less important than choosing the right site for their placement. Thanks to timely and correctly performed procedures, the Lime Glow juniper will fully show its decorative qualities and will delight its owner with the beauty of its lemon-yellow crown for many years.

Planting Lime Glow juniper seedlings outdoors requires preparation. It is necessary to dig in advance the planting holes with a depth of at least 0.6 m. Their diameter should be twice the size of the earthen coma that protects the root system of the seedling.

The distance between the Lime Glow juniper bushes should be quite large, given its tendency to grow widely. The optimal interval is 1.5 m.If it is planned to form a green border or carpet from juniper bushes, the gap is reduced to 0.5-1 m.

To eliminate the likelihood of moisture stagnation and rotting of the juniper root system, a drainage layer of broken brick, pebbles and expanded clay is placed at the bottom of the planting pit. Its thickness should be at least 0.2 m. Further, a little nutritious soil mixture is poured into the planting hole, which you can prepare yourself.

To do this, it is enough to mix peat, turf soil and sand in a 2: 1: 1 ratio. A seedling is placed on top of the nutrient layer so that its root collar is flush with the ground or slightly above. After that, the remaining free space of the planting pit is filled with layers of the nutrient mixture, which is compacted tightly and then spilled with water.

Young juniper bushes need regular watering and sprinkling with warm water on hot summer days.Juniper horizontal Lime Glow does not require repeated fertilization. It is enough to add fertilizing rich in nitrogen and other nutrients to the soil every spring. This procedure will allow the plant, weakened after wintering, to receive a supply of necessary useful elements, quickly wake up and proceed to the phase of rapid growth.

Conclusion

Juniper horizontal Lime Glow deservedly gained wide popularity among gardeners and landscape designers. Its dense yellow crown with a lemon tint gives it a high decorative value. And its unpretentious nature makes it suitable for cultivation in the most unfavorable conditions.

This juniper variety is able to successfully withstand severe frosts, droughts and get by with a minimum amount of water and nutrients. Caring for him does not require much effort and special knowledge and skills from the gardener.

Following the necessary agrotechnical recommendations, even a novice gardener can grow spectacular Lime Glow juniper bushes on his site.