Juniper High

Today we will tell you about an evergreen plant, which for a long time was especially appreciated by our ancestors for its beneficial properties, as well as for an interesting type of wood. This is Juniper Tall juniperus excelsa. It is interesting that this type of culture has already been included in the Red Book, therefore, in natural conditions, this unique plant can be found less and less often. But many gardeners want to grow this useful species on their backyard, and we will show you how to do this. Carefully study our article, and you will get acquainted with the description of the variety, interesting facts about the juniper, as well as the rules of care and planting. In the end, we will share with you recipes using juniper, which have been known since antiquity, so you can not only decorate your summer cottage, but also improve your health.

Juniper high: variety description

It is an evergreen shrub that grows in different climates. He has an interesting appearance, which is why summer residents love him so much. The tall juniper belongs to Cypress, since it can grow up to 15 meters in height, but the diameter at the trunk is up to 2 meters. His crown is pyramidal, every year it becomes more spreading and powerful. The twigs are rounded, tetrahedral, the foliage on them is small, emerald green. This tree is monoecious, therefore Tall juniper bears single fruits, moreover, rather large ones. Juniper berries are purple-gray, with a thick whitish bloom on the surface. This plant can be propagated by seed, this usually happens in natural conditions. Seeds can be spread over long distances by wind as well as birds. However, the germination rate of such crops is low, it is not more than 20%. Unfortunately, a tall juniper does not grow so quickly, this tree can live for more than 500 years, but some scientists believe that individual plants are as old as one and a half thousand years. Imagine, a juniper with a height of 15 meters saw not only the troops of Napoleon, but also the invasion of the Mongol-Tatars, it is simply amazing. But a 60-year-old tree grows only a meter in height, so you cannot count on a very spreading crown. In our country, tall Cossack juniper grows mainly in the south, namely, in the Krasnodar Territory and in the Crimea. This shrub loves stony soil, and is not at all afraid of drought, so it usually rises on the slopes by the sea. Some trees grow even at an altitude of 2 kilometers above sea level, so a tall juniper is not at all afraid of mountains. But he got into the Red Book in 1978. Currently, it is considered a vulnerable species, its population is decreasing more and more every day. And this happens due to the fact that the juniper has valuable wood, so furniture, souvenirs and crafts from this plant are considered incredibly expensive, moreover, it is a real luxury item. The builders are also exterminating the juniper, as it grows in the south, and the resort areas are expanding and expanding every year. Agricultural activities also negatively affect the development of plants. Juniper is also used in industry; many make essential oils from pine needles. Great damage to the high juniper population was inflicted during the Great Patriotic War.Therefore, if you find a juniper in natural nature, then treat this plant more carefully, do not cut down forests, and even more so, do not break branches of this endangered species. Environmentalists advise planting junipers in their plots, since this medicinal tree perfectly cleans the surrounding air, it becomes clean and transparent.

A couple of interesting facts.

Interestingly, it was the tall juniper that was often captured in various legends and myths of antiquity. For example, storytellers often note the hypnotic properties of this tree, therefore, the snake that guarded the cherished Golden Fleece was clearly put to sleep with this fragrant plant. In ancient times, for example, the Romans also fumigated the premises with this ephedra, in order for ailments and diseases to recede, effectively fought with the help of this plant and with outbreaks of cholera. The healing aroma of this plant is associated with the high content of bactericidal oils in the needles, so the juniper is able to purify the air even in the city. But the wood of this plant practically does not rot. Therefore, it was often used for the construction of various buildings in unfavorable natural conditions. This wood will even outlive stone, so even with high humidity, the juniper does not collapse.

How to plant and care for Cossack juniper High

Juniper High: photo

It is believed that the juniper is a rather thermophilic tree, and it does not like frosts. They can withstand no more than minus 23 degrees, so planting this medicinal tree in the northern regions of our country is useless. However, before purchasing this amazing seedling, carefully read this paragraph of the article in order not to make mistakes, because the juniper requires careful treatment and, of course, good care. Usually, juniper is propagated by seeds, cuttings, layering. But due to the fact that the seeds do not germinate well, most often gardeners use cuttings. It is best to harvest the branches in early summer, and it is recommended to cut off the cuttings from the top of the plants, the length of the shoot should be about 15-20 cm. In the lower part, the needles are removed, and the stem is cleaned of bark. Then it is recommended to keep the branch in a growth stimulator, and then place it in a nutritious soil, and best of all at an angle. It is advisable to stretch the film from above, and put the plant in a well-lit place. Soon the cutting will take root, so you can transplant it into a greenhouse or permanent habitat. However, in order for the plant to grow really beautiful, you need to follow the rules of care, namely, timely feed and water the crop. Remember that the juniper survives drought very well, so the plants should be watered only in especially hot and dry summers. After moistening the soil, it is advisable to remove the weeds around, and loosen the top layer of the earth. Gardeners recommend mulching the soil in order to retain moisture, and they also do this in order to enrich the land with natural organic matter. In the spring, fertilizer containing nitrogen can be applied to the soil. But in the fall and winter, you should give preference to phosphorus-potassium fertilizers. You do not need to prune the juniper, this is done only in order to give the crown a beautiful decorative appearance, many gardeners create green hedges from these trees. However, sanitary pruning is still necessary. To do this, you need to remove dry, diseased and extinct twigs. Remember that in a harsh winter, the plant can freeze slightly, so it is simply necessary to cover young plants. It is especially important to do this if your region has harsh climatic conditions. Before this, it is advisable to water the plants abundantly, feed and mulch the soil. From below, the crown is tied with twine, and then covered with agromaterial.

About diseases and pests.

Juniper blue tall has low immunity, so it often suffers from various ailments. The most common disease in this culture is rust. A fungus is considered the causative agent of this disease. If torrential rains occur at the beginning of summer, and the air temperature is low, then this is considered the most favorable environment for the spread of the fungus, orange specks begin to appear on the needles, and over time they become more convex. After that, these formations crack, and new spores of the fungus emerge from them, which successfully fly to neighboring plantings. In order to cope with this ailment, you should buy the drug Arcerida, you can buy it in a specialized store. If you treat the plants with this remedy for 10 days, then the juniper will recover. But if you are late with the preventive, then the tree may die, so you will have to remove it from the site. If you plant seedlings in wet weather, then young plantings can hit the shute. In a juniper, the color of the needles begins to change from this, and in the future it will completely fall off. In order for the disease not to develop, you should remove all diseased needles in time, preferably burn them. In order for adult juniper bushes not to get sick, they should be treated with Bordeaux liquid in time. Another fungus that attacks the roots of a plant is called Alternaria. Usually, with this disease, the needles in plants become dark brown, and a dark bloom forms on the bark. If the plantings are too dense, then this disease is actively progressing. In order to fight the fungus, you need to remove the diseased branches, and then also treat the plants with Bordeaux liquid. In order for the wounds on the shoots to heal better, they should be lubricated either with garden varnish or treated with copper sulfate.

The healing properties of blue high juniper

As you remember, high juniper is actively used in folk medicine. Its needles cure many diseases, juniper is considered an excellent diuretic, expectorant. This plant has a beneficial effect on the digestive tract, as well as on human skin. Therefore, juniper essential oil is often used in cosmetology. It is best to eat fresh berries, they, when taken regularly, perfectly cleanse the blood, increase the body's defenses, and also relieve puffiness. It is recommended to use juniper berries and hypertensive patients, as they perfectly reduce blood pressure. It is best to eat berries on an empty stomach, on the first day you should eat one berry, and then every day the intake of the product is increased by one piece, the intake should be done for 15 days, then every day the dose should also be reduced by one berry. And here are some recipes for traditional medicine. For example, a decoction is often prepared from juniper, for this, the needles are poured with water and boiled for 5 minutes, after which the mixture is filtered and insisted. It is recommended to drink the broth three times a day before meals, one tablespoon. This remedy is considered a diuretic and choleretic. In order to cope with rheumatism, arthritis, arthrosis, juniper tincture is often used; for this, the berries are poured with alcohol and insisted for a week in a dark and warm place. As you remember, juniper oil is effectively used by cosmetologists, if you make a mask with the addition of this ester, then your skin will become smooth, firm and elastic. But remember that in addition to the beneficial properties of the juniper, there are also some negative ones. It is not recommended for people with diabetes, pregnant and lactating mothers, if you have diseases of the gastrointestinal tract in the acute stage, as well as liver or kidney failure, then you should not eat juniper either. It is not recommended to eat these berries for people with allergies.

Conclusion.

This evergreen tree beautifully adorns not only wildlife, but also household plots. Many summer residents build real green hedges from these plants, and what scent this tree emits is simply magical. In addition, the air in the area will become cleaner and more transparent. From the needles of this tree, you can make a tincture, prepare a decoction, the plant has a lot of useful properties, therefore juniper even beauticians often use it. It should also be said that this culture is quite unpretentious, despite the fact that the tree grows slowly, if you follow the rules of care, then the juniper will be a wonderful decoration for your site.