How And When To Cut Juniper

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

Junipers are frost-resistant, unpretentious and decorative. Many species, without timely pruning, lose their decorative effect or grow strongly. A haircut is necessary, but it must be done correctly

Why cut juniper

I will name a few points for which juniper pruning is done:

• increasing decorativeness;

• exclusion of the development of fungal problems;

• increased ventilation of the crown;

• prevention of overgrowth;

• cleansing from dry / broken branches;

• containment of growth;

• giving the desired shape;

• removal of improperly growing, deformed branches.

Methods and types of pruning

There are 2 ways to trim your juniper. The choice depends on the variety, size, age of the plant.

1. Point method. It is used on young seedlings to form a "skeleton". At the initial stage of branch growth, part of the shoot is stopped in order to direct growth to the selected bud.

2. Blind way. It is carried out on an adult, formed plant to maintain the desired dimensions. With large scissors, everything that is superfluous that goes beyond the specified shape is cut off. The work takes place in quick movements along the contour of the bush.

Any haircut should be done with a sharp tool so that there are no creases, notches that scar poorly.

For juniper, use 3 types of pruning, consider the purpose of each.

Sanitary

For the prevention of diseases and the improvement of the bush, sanitary pruning is done. The first time is carried out after the snow melts. Frozen, broken, withered branches are removed from yellowed needles. The second time is done in early September. Sick, dry, abnormally growing are subject to removal. When a disease occurs, it is carried out in the summer.

Thinning

Thinning pruning helps to lighten the internal space, increase the flow of air to the center of the crown, and eliminate excessive density. Held in spring or August / early September.

The "operation" is aimed at cleansing the skeletal branches and trunk from outgrowths directed inward, unnecessary overgrowth, unstable forks leading to a break in the bush are eliminated. Thinning serves to prevent fungal problems, as the crown begins to ventilate better, moisture accumulation is eliminated.

Formative pruning

It consists in limiting growth, shortening young growths, removing branches overlooking the crown contour. It is always held in the spring, preferably after the snow melts. Creeping juniper species must initially be formed into 3-7 large branches, and the emerging promising sprouts must be completely removed.

Pruning rules

Junipers can be cut up to three times per season. The first time the event is held until mid-May. Second, crown correction is done in fast growing species at the end of June. The last pruning is no later than mid-September. In July / August, it is better not to touch the bush.

It is recommended to give a mineral dressing a couple of weeks before pruning. For work, choose a cloudy day, before that the bush should be watered under the root and over the crown. Pruning is done with pruning shears or garden shears. For large shrubs, a garden saw or delimber may be required. It is worth taking care of the protection of hands and clothing.

Juniper pruning rules consist of several points:

• cuts are made at an acute angle;

• a branch growing upwards is truncated so that the last bud left behind grows from the crown, directed downwards - inwards;

• the first shearing of the seedling is carried out for the second season;

• young shoots are partially removed / shortened, leaving at least two-thirds;

• when forming a branch, the cut is made with an indent from the promising bud (stump 2-3 cm).

After cutting, large cuts are not closed with garden pitch, in juniper they scar themselves, you can smear with Emistim, any fungicide. To speed up rehabilitation, the bush is sprayed with Epin or another growth stimulant along the needles.

Haircut options

Creeping varieties can be left unformed and left in their natural state, thinning and sanitary pruning are carried out as needed. Colonials have a tendency to self-retain their shape, so the intervention is minimal: the shape is corrected by pruning the annual growth.

Crown formation depends on the type of plant. A pillow or ball shape is given to Chinese varieties such as Kuriwao Gold or Blue Point. Forming in the form of a cone, a cube suitable for a rocky look (Wichita Blue), in the form of a cylinder it is easy to cut Chinese Spartan, Hibernik, Meyeri.