Junipers are attractive, tough, and useful trees in a landscape. They serve well as screens, hedges, windbreaks, foundation plants and specimens, with juniper species ranging from low-growing groundcover shrubs to large conical trees. Small juniper trees also grow well in containers. A potted presentation works particularly well for juniper topiary. Read on for information on how to care for potted junipers.
Juniper Trees
Few trees are more versatile in the backyard than the juniper (Juniperus spp.). There are some 70 species in the genus Juniperus, all aromatic conifers. Junipers have juvenile leaves in the shape of needles and scale-like mature leaves; they also bear small seed cones called berries.
Here are where the similarities end though. There are tall and short junipers, thin and spreading junipers, and even juniper groundcover. Their foliage is far from uniform, with specimens displaying needles in varying shades of green, blue, and yellow. Small junipers are sometimes pruned artistically into juniper topiary.
Potted Juniper
Some short juniper trees are sized well for container planting. These include torulosa juniper (Juniperus chinensis ‘Torulosa’), topping out at 15 feet (5 m.) and gold coin juniper (Juniperus communis 'Gold Cone'), a small tree that doesn’t grow above 5 feet (1.5 m.).
Deciding to grow junipers in containers can have some real advantages. First, potted juniper can provide greenery for homes with limited backyard space. Also, small junipers in containers are easy to move if you place them on rolling container platforms. They can be moved into the sun as the exposure changes and from the patio to the garage when cold weather strikes.
Another advantage of planting short junipers in containers is the ability to select appropriate soil for the tree. All junipers prefer a potting mix that is light and airy and drains well. Acidic soil is preferred.
Potted Juniper Tree Care
If you are considering planting a short juniper tree in a container, you’ll want to learn more about how to accomplish this. The first step is selecting a container. Pick one with drainage holes and make sure it is large enough to allow the juniper to develop its roots. The rule of thumb is to pick a container at least twice the size of the root ball.
Once the juniper is planted, potted juniper tree care is minimal. Water the small juniper every week or so, or whenever the top inch (2.5 cm.) of soil is dry, adding a slow-release fertilizer in spring. Keep the juniper in a sunny area.
-
Urban Beekeeping Guide: Top Tips For Raising Bees In The CityUrban beekeeping can be a rewarding and appreciated pastime, but first be sure it’s legal in your city and learn the ropes of beekeeping.
-
2024 Plant Of The Year: Why Experts Say Philodendron Is The “It” Plant Of The YearWe aren’t surprised that philodendron was designated the plant of the year. Versatile, easy-care and lovely, it’s the houseplant of the year 2024!
-
Japanese Juniper Care – How To Grow A Japanese Juniper PlantIf you want a "set and forget" type of plant, Japanese juniper care is minimal and easy once established. For more information about this shrub of low heights and how to grow it in your garden, click the following article.
-
Mountain Cedar Information: Is Mountain Cedar Pollen Causing You ProblemsMountain cedar is a tree with a common name full of contradictions. The tree is not a cedar at all, and its native range is central Texas, not known for its mountains. In fact, trees called mountain cedar are actually ashe juniper trees. Click here to learn more.
-
Are All Juniper Berries Edible – Is It Safe To Eat Juniper BerriesJuniper berries have been used as a strong flavoring for wine, mead, and other alcoholic beverages, as well as a spice for meats, stews, sauerkraut, and other dishes. Upon reading this, you may be wondering are all juniper berries edible? Click here for that answer.
-
Juniper Berry Uses – What To Do With Juniper BerriesGiven that they are prolific and the fruit looks so much like a berry, the natural question is ‘can you eat juniper berries?” If so, what do you do with juniper berries? Click on the following article to find out how to use juniper berries along with some useful juniper berry recipes.
-
Juniper Berry Harvest Tips: How To Pick Juniper BerriesThere are about 40 species of juniper, most of which produce toxic berries. But for the educated eye, Juniperus communis, has edible, pleasantly pungent berries. Click this article for tips on how to pick juniper berries and how to recognize safe juniper plants.
-
Growing Juniper ‘Blue Star’ – Learn About Blue Star Juniper PlantsWith a name like "Blue Star," this juniper sounds as American as apple pie but, in fact, it is native to Afghanistan, the Himalayas, and western China. Gardeners love Blue Star for its thick, starry, blue-green foliage and its graceful rounded habit. Learn more here.
-
Can You Prune An Overgrown Juniper – Tips For Overgrown Juniper PruningJuniper shrubs and trees are a great asset to landscaping. But sometimes, like the best things in life, they get away from us. What was once a smart shrub is now a wild, overgrown monster. So what can you do with a juniper that?s gotten out of hand? Find out here.
-
Wichita Blue Juniper Care: Tips For Growing Wichita Blue JunipersWichita Blue juniper trees have an attractive broad-pyramid form that works well in a screen or hedge. With gorgeous silver-blue foliage all year long, these cultivars turn heads wherever they are planted. For more Wichita Blue juniper information, click here.
