Juniper recumbent Nana

In this article, we will focus on such a variety of recumbent juniper as Nana's juniper. How to plant and care for a plant correctly, how to use it in landscape design. How to propagate correctly, as well as fight pests.

Lying juniper Nana: variety description

Unlike other juniper varieties, this variety is distinguished by its compact size. Due to its low growth, the plant is easy to care for, and also makes it possible to create various borders, arrange tall crops, small flower beds. Also, this variety has earned its popularity for its unpretentious care and good resistance to many diseases that are characteristic of coniferous crops. The variety belongs to dwarf, creeping shrubs, in which the height is no more than 40 cm. The width of the bush can reach 1.3-1.5 m. The variety has soft and small needles. The color can be from bluish-silver to green-blue. Like many other juniper varieties, this variety boasts a long life and a slow growth rate. The Nana shrub can grow by 30 cm per year, which allows it to maintain its shape after pruning for a fairly long period of time. This is very important especially for landscape design, when you need to maintain the appearance of the crown for a sufficiently long period of time. This variety is immune to low temperatures, so it can be grown in the regions of the North. Also, the variety tolerates dry weather well. The variety has a pleasant aroma due to the release of essential oil. Therefore, it is best to plant this juniper variety close to windows to breathe in the aroma of this amazing plant.

Landscaping use of the recumbent Nana juniper

Juniper Nana: photo of use in landscape design

Horizontal juniper Nana is very often used to decorate city parks and gardens, this is also due to the fact that the plant tolerates environmental pollution well. It is common to grow Nana juniper in the following situations:
• For decoration of various kinds of slopes.
• Among the rock garden.
• For roof and balcony planting.
• As part of other conifers: spruce, pine, thuja.
• To decorate undersized curbs.
• As a homogeneous composition.
• To be placed in a container on the terrace.
• For decoration of rocky gardens.

Lying juniper Nana: planting and care

Planting and caring for this variety will not be difficult, even for a beginner. There are no special whims associated with the ground. But at the same time, there are special nuances that should be taken into account when planting a plant.
• It is best to choose acidic, well-drained soil.
• Variety Nana does not tolerate a lack of lighting. Therefore, it is best to plant in an open area.
• On the growth of the plant, it can also tell if you plant it in the lowlands. This can lead to stagnant moisture, especially after heavy rains. Stagnant moisture can cause rotting of the root system. It also thrives on rocky terrain.

We prepare seedlings and planting material

although we said that the variety is unpretentious to the soil, it is nevertheless necessary to carry out a number of actions that will help Nana to take root better. If the soil is clayey and heavy, then you can add a little sand mixture. To do this, it is necessary to mix fine-grained sand, peat and turf soil (we take equal proportions).

We land correctly

If the seedling you purchased has an open root system, then you can start planting in spring or autumn. If you decide to plant in the springtime, then you need to wait until the snow has completely melted. The sooner you plant the seedling, the better. Those seedlings that have a closed root system can be planted in autumn, spring and even winter. Here's what a rough plan of action for planting a juniper in the ground looks like.
• If you are going to plant several plants, then the planting holes should be at a distance of about 90-100 cm from each other. The hole should be 70-80 cm in diameter and 60-70 cm deep.
• At the very bottom of the pit, it is necessary to lay drainage, the layer of which should be about 10 cm, as well as a fertile mixture, which will include sand, turf and peat (proportions 1: 1: 2).
• Then the seedling must be planted in a hole, while straightening the roots.
• The roots should be lightly covered with earth and lightly tamped.
• Water the plant abundantly.
If you wish, you can mulch the soil. Well suited as mulch: sawdust, dry grass, peat, wood chips.

Water and fertilize correctly

As we said earlier, the variety tolerates dry weather well, so watering is often not recommended. An adult plant needs watering once a month. If the weather conditions are not entirely favorable, there are heavy rains, then watering should be stopped altogether. The plant can develop well without fertilization, but if you wish, you can add nitrophosphate, as well as a special mixture for coniferous crops. Spring is considered the best time for fertilization. But you don't need to fertilize too often. An excess of mineral elements can adversely affect the development of Nana.

We carry out the procedure for mulching and loosening the soil

It is imperative to perform the procedure for loosening the trunk circle so that the air can better get to the root system of the plant. But it is not necessary to carry out loosening to a great depth, so as not to touch the thin roots. Mulching for Nana Juniper is optional, but it can help to retain moisture in the soil, and also serves as a good protection against hypothermia in the winter. In the summertime, mulch has a depressing effect on the growth of weeds.

Correctly pruning and shaping the bush

It is necessary to trim the creeping Nana juniper more than 2 times within 1 year. Nana pruning can be done in April and July. Dry, diseased and old branches are the first to be pruned, after which you can already begin to form the crown. You need to cut in the direction - from the bottom up.

Preparing for the winter period

As we mentioned earlier, the variety can easily tolerate the lowest temperatures, which is why there is no need to cover the plant for the winter. Only those plants that have not reached the age of 3 years are subject to shelter. A garden fabric that is good at letting air through is a good hiding place. The trunk circle can be covered with spruce branches. It is not recommended to use the film as a shelter for the winter.

Correctly propagate the creeping Nana juniper

Reproduction can be done using the cuttings method or layering. The grafting method is considered more preferable. Cuttings can be harvested at any time.But spring is better, so the plant can better endure winter in open soil. the root system will have time to get accustomed to new conditions, before the first frosts come. Those cuttings that you cut in August must be taken to a closed place, otherwise they may freeze.

The procurement procedure might look like this:
• Since the Nana juniper is classified as a creeping variety, any branches that grow in a vertical direction are suitable for planting material.
• The selected branches should be carefully handled using a sharpened knife or garden shears. A blunt tool can leave torn cuts, which can significantly damage and weaken the plant. Also, before starting treatment, the blade must be treated with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.
• Cuttings should be cut along with a piece of old wood, which is most often located at the point where the branch is attached to the main shoot.
• The planting material that you receive must be protected from below, removing needles from the surface of the shoot about 4-5 cm. This is very important for the plant to develop well.
• Do not delay planting cuttings. The cuttings that you cut should be planted in open soil on the same day, and do not need to be tightened for more than 3 hours. It is best to do all the actions as quickly as possible, if it is not possible, then keep the plant in water for about 1-2 hours.
• It is necessary to plant the plant in loose, permeable soil. It is best to plant junipers in soil that has a high acidity level. For this reason, before planting a plant, you do not need to use wood ash or eggshells as fertilizer.

To avoid sunburn, it is best to cut the cuttings in the evening and in cloudy weather. The breeding process using cuttings is not as common, but it will also not be a very time-consuming process. If you need to get a layering, you need to bend the young shoot to the ground and sprinkle it a little with earth. It is very important to do everything very carefully so as not to break or harm the plant. When you notice that the cutter has its own root system, you can separate the cutter from the main plant and plant it separately.

Diseases and Insect Pests of Nana Horizontal Juniper

Juniper variety Nana does not attract pests. sometimes a plant can be attacked by aphids, moths, sawflies. Insecticides can help you fight these insects. The variety rarely suffers from any disease. The plant can become sick if the plant is poorly looked after, or it often rains when high humidity is formed in a significant way. Under such conditions, the appearance of a fungus is possible, which will lead to the rapid death of the bark, which will provoke the appearance of rot. To get rid of the disease, you can carry out the spraying procedure using Bordeaux liquid or copper sulfate. Preventive measures should be carried out 2 times in 1 year - in spring or autumn.

Even a novice summer resident can take up the cultivation of lying Nana juniper. After all, this variety does not require special care for itself, it can develop well, even with a minimum of care. The variety is distinguished by its compact forms, attractive appearance, and the undemanding care of the Nana juniper and many other advantages have helped this variety become one of the most popular among summer residents. If you want, then you can do squeezing the essential oil from the shoots, which has a surprisingly pleasant aroma.