Siberian juniper

You can rarely find references to Siberian juniper in any literature. There is no mention of this variety among many eminent gardeners. The thing is that many gardeners cannot agree on whether it is worth bringing the Siberian juniper into a separate species. But at its core, this is not particularly important for ordinary gardeners. Due to the fact that there is not much information, therefore, everyone who wants to grow Siberian juniper on their site should clearly understand how he will have to care for the plant.

Siberian juniper: description of the variety

Siberian juniper: photo of the variety

The Siberian juniper is classified as a coniferous plant. The variety belongs to the Cypress family, the Juniper genus, as well as the form or type of common juniper. But also there is no consensus among biologists yet. This plant is highly resilient, able to withstand both low and high temperatures. The change in the appearance of the juniper, depending on the environment where it grows and the climatic zone, is insignificant. The plant belongs to a fairly frost-resistant coniferous species. The Siberian juniper has an open, creeping crown. Quite rarely, it can be in the form of a short tree. The height of a 10 year old plant can be about 50 cm. An adult plant can reach a height of 1 m, but this is only if the branches grow partially upwards.

The Siberian juniper is characterized by habitat in very difficult conditions for survival. It will not be difficult for Siberian juniper to take root through agrofibre or reach the ground through a layer of mulch. Triangular shoots have shortened internodes. They can be located both horizontally and vertically. The bark of young branches has a light brown tint, and of old ones it is grayish. The saber-shaped foliage is green in color, there is a clearly visible strip of grayish-white color on top. In winter, the color does not change. The needles are densely arranged, prickly and tough. Live for about 2 years. The berries are round, with a diameter of 8 mm. Ripening occurs 2 years after pollination, in June-August. When the berries are fully ripe, they become dark blue, almost black, with a bloom of a bluish tint.

Under unfavorable conditions, the root of the Siberian juniper can sink to a depth of about 2 m. The juniper has maximum winter hardiness. A plant can grow in conditions where another plant can simply die. Lives for a long period of time. There are junipers up to 500 years old. Among the varieties of Siberian juniper are: Viridis, Glauka, Compact.

Siberian juniper: photo of the variety

One should not think that Siberian juniper can grow only in Siberian regions. The plant can grow in arctic zones, in regions with a temperate and warm climate, and in mountainous regions, at an altitude of about 4000 m above sea level. Plant found: Siberia

• Crimea.
• Inner Mongolia.
• Himalayas.
• Far East.
• Mountains of Central and Asia Minor.
• Ural.
• Caucasus.
• Kurile Islands.
• Mountains of Central Europe.
• Eastern regions of North America.

In the northern regions, plants grow in extremely cold natural conditions. In regions with a temperate and warm climate - highlands, mountain slopes, barren meadows, placers. It can form a clean planting, grow in deciduous woodlands, often together with dwarf cedar and Middendorf birch.

Siberian juniper: planting and care

The Siberian juniper variety has exceptional hardiness. can grow in peat soil, on stones and rocks, where there are minor inclusions of soil. Requires little maintenance. When you plant this plant, it is important to remember that it grows in width. It is necessary to select a place in such a way that there is enough light for both the seedling and the adult plant.

How to properly prepare planting material and seedling.

Siberian juniper: photo of the variety

Saplings of Siberian juniper must be planted in an open place. The most important condition for the soil will be that it does not have a high density and a high degree of fertility. To correct the situation, it is possible to add sand. the plant will not be able to grow on the enclosing soil, especially if there is a close standing of groundwater. A way out of the situation can be the addition of a thick drainage layer, the construction of a bulk slide or terrace. The planting pit must be prepared in such a way that drainage and an earthen lump or root system can be safely accommodated there. A large amount of sand must be added to rich and dense soil. It will be very good if the site has gravel or screenings - these must be mixed with the soil before planting.

Despite the fact that the Siberian juniper is distinguished by its unpretentiousness, you need to be very careful in choosing a seedling. You do not need to purchase a plant that has an open root system. The plant can be dug up in a mountainous area, brought to your home, the roots can be immersed in water for 12 hours, and then planted in the soil. There won't be any problems. Those. You will know that the juniper was removed from the ground recently, and not, for example, 10 days ago. Only local plants should be purchased. If you bring a plant from Crimea and plant it in the tundra, it will simply die from cold temperatures. Northern seedlings, on the other hand, do not tolerate hot weather conditions. You should not move the plant from one climatic conditions to others, without a long period of adaptation. This is not such a rare variety, so it is better to purchase local plants.

How to land correctly.

If the soil is loose, moderately fertile or poor, then there is no need to prepare the planting hole in advance. You just need to dig a hole of the size required, add drainage, fill in the root and water the plant. If everything is done correctly, then you need to follow the following sequence:

• Pit preparation should be started 14-15 days before planting. The depth of the pit should be equal to the sum of the height of the earthen ball and drainage (15-20 cm). fill a hole on 2/3 of the earth either with the help of a prepared substrate and water well with water.
• Just before planting, you need to dig up some of the soil and set it aside.
• place the plant in the center. In this case, you need to ensure that the root collar is located at soil level.
• Fill up the hole and compact the soil.
• Water and mulch the trunk circle.

Siberian juniper: video about the variety

Water and fertilize correctly.

Only a young plant of Siberian juniper needs watering and only until it takes root. When you notice that the plant has begun to grow, then the watering should be moderate. After 3-4 years, when the plant is completely comfortable, it is no longer necessary to water the plant. Watering should only be done if the summer is dry.With the end of the season, it is necessary to carry out a good moisture charge. Sprinkler irrigation can be carried out, which has a very good effect on the development of the crown. Can be carried out once a week, in the evening.

The plant needs fertilization within 2-3 years after planting. In the springtime, you need to apply complex fertilizers, which contain a large amount of nitrogen. In autumn and at the end of summer, phosphorus-potassium fertilizer should be applied. Then, if the juniper develops well, then reaching 10 years, the juniper can be fed only in the spring. After that, fertilization is not necessary at all. If the plant often gets sick and is attacked by various pests, then fertilizer must be applied 2 times per season. Foliar dressing has a good effect on both the health of the plant and its decorative appearance. They provide those important micronutrients that are not well absorbed by the root system.

We carry out the procedure of loosening and mulching.

Loosening can be carried out only during the first 1-2 years after planting, in order to break up the crust that may have formed after watering or rains. After 2 years, it becomes difficult to carry out such a procedure due to the fact that the branches lie on top of the ground, and there is no strong need for it. But mulching using pine bark, peat or rotted sawdust is very useful for this plant. In order to add covering material, the branches of the plant need to be lifted slightly and neatly.

Cut and shape the plant.

Sanitary pruning is an obligatory procedure for Siberian juniper. Due to the fact that the branches of the plant lie directly on the ground, the wood that has died out during decomposition can become a kind of breeding ground for various diseases and bait for pests, which in turn can move to the healthy part of the plant. As for the shaping haircut, the juniper does not need it. But this applies to the area where there is no specific style. If you need to give a specific shape and cut the branches so that they do not stick out in different directions, then you can do the pruning as you like. Such pruning can be done in spring or autumn.

We prepare the Siberian juniper for the winter period.

It is necessary to cover the Siberian juniper only in the 1st year after planting. It is better to choose spruce branches for shelter. But in fact, this is a formal procedure, since the juniper is a very frost-resistant plant. Therefore, even in regions with a temperate climate, as well as in the southern regions, it is not worth mulching the soil. How to propagate the plant correctly.

It is possible to grow Siberian juniper with the help of seeds, with the help of cuttings, special rooting of cuttings, or separate branches that have grown to the ground. The plant reproduces very easily. It will not be difficult, even for beginners. You just need to make sure that the planting does not dry out, protect it from trampling, loosen the soil and clean the weeds. Seeds require long-term stratification. If you are new to this business, then it is better not to start this business. Cuttings can be harvested throughout the season. Rooting takes place without problems, after about 30-40 days, roots may appear. Then you can transplant the plant into a separate container, and after another year, plant it in its permanent place.

Siberian juniper: photo of the variety

Potential diseases and insect pests.

Pests can attack a juniper, as well as be exposed to various diseases... The point is that the branches lie on the ground. this is precisely the problem.But at the same time, you need to pay attention to the following nuances: If the soil gets wet or the juniper is next to a crop that requires frequent watering, then rot may appear.

It is necessary to adjust the amount and quality of watering. If this is not possible, then it is necessary to add a thick layer of pine bark under the branches, which has been processed so that there is an interlayer between the shoot and the soil. Any other type of mulch will not work; if the air is dry it can cause spider mites to appear. But it is necessary to carry out the procedure for sprinkling the crown. If the summer is hot and dry, then the procedure must be performed once a week.

Sprinkling is best done in the morning or evening. But it must be borne in mind that if the soil does not have time to dry before nightfall, then there is a likelihood of rot, and if it is hot, then damping out may occur.In spring, when all the snow has melted, a disease specific to the juniper may appear - shute, its spores are able to survive even at low temperatures; in warm weather conditions, mealybugs may develop. But it is quite difficult to deal with this pest, so it would be good to carry out preventive spraying, which must be carried out very carefully, lifting the branches of the plant that are located directly on the ground.

Siberian juniper: photo of the variety

The fight against various pests is carried out with the help of various acaricides and insecticides, fungicides are well suited in the fight against diseases. It is also necessary to conduct an external examination of the plant as often as possible in order to notice the changes in time.

The Siberian juniper is a plant that can become an ideal decoration for any summer cottage, especially for the regions of the North. It is easy to care for, it tolerates both frost and dry weather well. The plant is decorative, because even in winter, the Siberian juniper retains its green color, which has a silvery tint, there is no change to brown, grayish or yellowish color.