Rocky juniper

Rocky juniper is a plant of the cypress family. Belongs to the genus Juniper. It can often be seen in the southwest of Canada, in the west and in the northern regions of the United States. And also in Mexico closer to the north. It grows, as a rule, in rocky areas in the mountains. The cultivation of this species is not often done. Therefore, the garden will always look original with it.

Description and characteristics

Rocky juniper is presented in the form of a shrub or dioecious tree. The height of the tree can be up to 18 meters. The barrel does not exceed two meters in diameter. Junipers grown in gardens do not reach this height and diameter.

The crown has at first an incorrectly formed conical shape. And later it becomes rounded, starting near the base. The barrel is brown. Shoots have pale blue or greenish-blue hues. The leaves are opposite each other. They are in the shape of a rhombus. They are about 20 mm long and 10 mm wide. Leaves can be dark green, green-gray. And also blue with a shade of gray.

The plant is enveloped by needles that look like needles no more than one and a half centimeters long, no more than 20 mm wide. The cone-berry shape is spherical. They are dark blue in color with a slight shade of blue. They are about 60 mm long. The ripening of the cones takes place only after two years. Seeds are ribbed brown with a shade of red and 50 mm in diameter are located inside.

Growing

By purchasing a rocky juniper with a closed root system, you can plant it for 9 months. Except for the winter ones. If you buy seedlings with an open root system, then they must be planted during the period. When the earth has already warmed up, but the movement of the juices has not yet begun. Taking care of a plant is very easy if you are familiar with some of the rules and follow them.

Juniper prefers to grow in open, sunny areas, where groundwater is located underground at great depths. For dwarf varieties, as a rule, it is necessary to choose poor soil. Otherwise, they will grow larger than the sizes that are characteristic of them.

Tall varieties, on the contrary, need soil saturated with nutrients. When planting, it is important to consider that the plant loves large spaces. A hole for it needs to be made twice as much as an earthen lump on the root system. And the distance between them must be kept at 2 meters. Because after 10 years, plants begin to grow actively. Accordingly, more space will be required.

Rocky juniper. How to plant?

When planting dwarf varieties, it is necessary to observe distances of 50 centimeters, no less.

Having made a pit of the required size, rubble or broken brick must be placed on the bottom. This is necessary to create a drainage layer that will prevent excess water from stagnating. A few hours before planting the plant in open ground, the container, along with the seedling, is immersed in water. This method will allow you not to damage the roots by taking it out of the container. Keeping a clod of soil on the roots when planting will help the plant adapt faster to new conditions. And also start developing.

Before planting, the pit must be filled with soil mixture in advance, which will include peat, turf soil and sand in proportions of 2 x 1 x 1.

After the plant is planted, it is important to water it abundantly.After waiting for the water to be absorbed, you need to mulch. To do this, you can use sawdust, pine bark. And also peat. It is necessary to cover the soil around the trunk with a layer of 80 centimeters. Pay attention that the root collar remains at ground level when planting.

Rocky juniper: care rules

Rock juniper is a plant that is not demanding to care for. Therefore, this will not be difficult at all. This plant is unpretentious. And it will feel comfortable even in urban environments. It is important to remember that it will begin to grow actively only after 10 years.

Caring for mature plants includes watering. And even then, as a rule, only during periods of prolonged drought. And at the same time, no more than three times during the season. As for the young, only planted seedlings, here watering is done more often. It is also sprayed with water at room temperature in the evening.

In addition to watering, the juniper needs only one feeding. It is held at a young age in the middle or late spring. Organic fertilizers cannot be used for feeding. Nitroammofosk will be an excellent solution. It is used in proportions of 40 grams per square meter. meter.

In winter, not all varieties need attention. If the plant's crown looks like a column, then it will be necessary to shake off the snow from it in case of heavy snowfalls. Because a large layer of snow can break branches with its weight. You can also use twine to avoid injury. All branches are pulled over them, pressing them to the trunk.

Transfer

When replanting rocky juniper, it is important to follow the rules so that the plant does not die later. The reason may be severe damage to the root system during the work. Transplanting is especially difficult for adults and large bushes. Therefore, it is better to immediately choose a suitable place for them. There are several rules that allow you to do this without harming the plant. One of the most important rules for preserving the roots is digging out while preserving a complete earthen coma.

It is better to transplant from March to April. And also from June to July. Because during these months the maximum root formation occurs. However, it should be noted that experienced gardeners prefer the spring months over the summer ones. Considering that during the hot period more water evaporates from the needles. And without it, the plant weakens and the adaptation period takes place more slowly. If it was not possible to transplant in the spring, but time does not endure, then this can be done in the autumn during the leaves fall.

Before planting, prepare a landing pit of the required size in advance. The size should be taking into account the size of the earthy coma on the roots. Next, a drainage layer of 20 centimeters is laid out on the bottom. And also it is necessary to prepare the soil mixture, which will fill the planting pit. You can remove the bush from the old place of residence after everything is prepared. To do this safely, you need to dig in the bush at a distance of 50 centimeters or a little more from the trunk. Next, remove the bush along with the earthen lump. Place it on any fabric and gently move it to a new location.

Planting a bush follows the same principle as planting seedlings. After planting, mulching is carried out around the trunk. It is important to know that direct sunlight is dangerous for the transplanted plant. Therefore, it must be protected from them.

Rocky juniper: diseases

Juniper is susceptible to a disease such as rust. This is a fungal disease that occurs due to stagnant water in the soil. The disease can be identified by the growths of a bright orange color. They contain oils, the composition of which is similar to carotene. Within a short time, the bush, which this disease has not spared, loses its charm. Because its branches are rapidly drying up. He dies a few years later.

You can save the plant. The main thing is to detect the disease in time. And also immediately start treatment.First of all, it is necessary to cut off and burn all areas that have been affected by the disease. Next, the bush is treated with fungicides. You can choose drugs in any specialized store. And also in the nursery, after consulting the seller.

Often, juniper also affects such a disease as fusarium. This fungal disease occurs due to excessively dense soil. As well as increased moisture in it. The disease affects the roots. As a result, nutrients are no longer transferred to the entire plant. This is due to the fact that the fungi settle in the vascular system of the juniper. The presence of the disease can be determined by the drying apical shoots. The needles change color to pale red.

Further, the disease spreads throughout the plant. It is very difficult to notice the defeat of Fusarium at the first stage. But if you still see the tops begin to change color, cut them off as quickly as possible. And treat the entire bush, including the surface of the ground around it, with a fungicide. It is best to replace the surface layer of the soil with a new soil mixture saturated with fungicide.

How to deal with diseases?

As a preventive measure, the acquired planting material. As well as an earthen lump, it must be treated with fungicidal preparations. The root system of small seedlings should be placed in a solution for 2-3 hours.

Another disease that can kill a juniper is shrinkage. It is possible to determine that the plant is struck by this type of fungal disease in the spring. The bush begins to turn yellow and gradually dies off. As the disease progresses, small fungi can be seen on the bark. If this disease is detected, treatment should be started immediately. First of all, branches with yellowed needles are cut off. And then the plant is completely treated with a fungicide. If it was not possible to detect the disease in time and the plant turned yellow, then the bush should be removed and burned. As a preventive measure, it is necessary to spray the bushes in the middle of spring and in the middle of autumn with special solutions for this.

Brown schütte is another disease that can be encountered when growing juniper. You can recognize it by the falling needles, painted yellow. As a rule, signs of the disease begin to appear at the beginning of the first summer month. By the end of the last summer month, the plant is covered with black mushrooms. By choosing the right place for planting, watering and caring correctly, this disease can be completely avoided. If this could not be avoided, then when the first signs appear, the yellow needles are cut off. And also all the fallen needles are collected and burned. Then the whole plant is treated with a fungicide. Prevention is carried out with these solutions in the second spring month. And also before the start of frost.

Insect pests

Among the harmful insects that attack the juniper, one can encounter aphids, scale insects, spider mites. And also a miner moth. Fitoverm solution will help to cope with aphids. With it, the entire bush is sprayed. When using, you must follow the instructions on the package.

Moths can be dealt with using Decis solution in the proportions indicated in the instructions. To get rid of scale insects, dilute 70 grams of Karbofos in one bucket of water. And work it on the bush and the ground around.

Spider mites can be treated with acaricidal agents.

Pruning

Juniper does not need formative pruning. Because the shape of its crown is naturally very effective. It only needs sanitary pruning. Pruning is done in the spring. Before the start of sap flow. It must be produced on rainy or cloudy days. Sanitary pruning involves removing all dried, injured, disease-damaged or pest-damaged stems and branches. And it is also necessary to remove those that grow incorrectly.

If you have a need to trim the crown, then it should be remembered that within a year the bush grows by no more than 10 centimeters.Therefore, the pruning of branches should not exceed 20 mm.

How to propagate rocky juniper?

Reproduction of rocky juniper occurs with the help of layering, cuttings. And also through vaccinations. If you decide to propagate the plant through cuttings, then in the spring you need to prepare cuttings. For this, not fully lignified branches with a small piece of wood are cut off. The cuttings are planted in the greenhouse until they are fully rooted. Then they are temporarily planted in a small garden bed. The terms during which rooting takes place can be from one and a half to six months. It depends on the age and variety. Growing up takes place from 3 to 6 years in a specially designated place.

It is possible to propagate with the help of layering only those varieties that have creeping forms. In this case, the young stem is cleared of needles, bends to the ground and fixed. The soil where the young shoot will be directed must be cleared of debris and weeds in advance. Rooting of cuttings occurs in the interval from 6 months to 1 year. Further, they must be separated from their parent. And transplant to a temporary bed, which should be located in the shade.

To propagate rocky juniper by grafting, you need knowledge. As well as the skills of a professional. It will be extremely difficult for an amateur gardener to do this.

The origin of the rocky juniper and its varieties

American breeders have done a great job, thanks to which at the moment there are many different varieties of rock juniper in the world. All of them are very popular with gardeners in all corners of the earth, where they can only be grown.

Rocky juniper: varieties for middle latitudes

• Blue Arrow - The height of the bushes of this variety reaches 2.5 meters. Its crown is in the form of a column 50 centimeters wide. The branches are covered with scaly needles that resemble needles. And also has a greenish-blue color with a tint of steel.
• Blue Haven - The plant can grow up to 2 meters tall. The crown is in the form of a pyramid, no more than 1 meter wide. The needles of a light blue color have a steel shade.
• Skyrocket - This variety is capable of reaching 6 meters in height. Possesses high resistance to winter cold. The stems are covered with needles, like green scales. They adhere tightly to the trunk, which makes the plant very narrow and graceful. The variety has a low resistance to fungal diseases.
• Moffat Blue - This variety is capable of reaching 6 meters in height. Possesses high resistance to winter cold. Its dense crown resembles a pyramid about 1.3 meters wide. The needles are colored green with a blue tint. Not suitable for growing in humid regions.
• Moonglow - Characteristics of this strain are similar to Blue Haven. It has a crown in the form of a wide pyramid. Plant height reaches no more than 2.5 meters. Width no more than 1 meter. The needles are painted in bright shades of blue with a silver tint. Colors look especially beautiful in winter, becoming the brightest.
• Silver King - The branches of this plant are open. The height of the bush does not exceed 60 centimeters. But its width can reach 2 meters. The needles resembling scales are colored blue.
• Springbank - This variety can grow up to 4 meters in height. It differs from others in its disheveled twigs on the crown, resembling a pillar. Thin needles are blue with a tint of silver.
• Table top blue - The variety has an oval shape. The maximum height does not exceed 2 meters. Width is about 2.5 meters.
• Welch - The variety has a dense pyramid-shaped crown. The needles are colored green with a shade of blue and with a silver tint.
• Wichita Blue - The open branches of this plant are blue with a silvery tint. The maximum height that the plant reaches is no more than 40 centimeters. While the width can reach one and a half meters.

Among gardeners, they also use varieties such as: Winter Blue, Tollesons Blue Whipin, Tollesons Green Whipin, Sutherland, Monwade, Medora, Greenspier, Erect Glauca, Gray Glim, Colorado Green.