The common juniper is a popular ornamental tree because it offers a wide range of design options. Before planting, you should choose the location carefully. The cypress plant has special requirements and does not feel comfortable everywhere.
How do you plant a juniper correctly?
To plant a juniper correctly, choose a location in full sun to partial shade with dry, calcareous and sandy or stony soil. Plant it in spring, make sure there is sufficient planting distance and water it regularly.
Location and substrate
Juniperus communis is a light plant that thrives in full sun and partial shade. The more light you provide the shrub, the more lush it will grow. In nature, the woody plant inhabits poor and open locations. The common juniper occurs in sparse forests and thrives on rocks.
The species prefers dry and calcareous soils that are sandy or stony. Choose a free location where the juniper can spread without restrictions. The woody plant is one of the weakest competitive species and is displaced by shrubs or trees in natural habitats.
Planting distance and planting time
Juniper grows up to ten meters high and is ideal as a privacy hedge. For a dense shape, place two plants next to each other per meter. Creeping varieties with flat branches are ideal as ground cover. If you plant the juniper solitary, you should ensure a distance of between 70 and 100 centimeters from the next plant neighbor.
So that the juniper can grow well until the first winter, you should plant the shrub in early spring. A cool and dry day in April is ideal. Planting in autumn is possible but not recommended. If you were unable to plant the tree earlier, you will need to think about suitable protection in the first winter.
Preparations
Place the root ball in a bucket of water so that the substrate can soak up. Dig a planting hole that is twice the size of the plant ball. Mix the excavated material with moist peat. Compost or stable manure is unsuitable because the plant only needs a few nutrients. Place the bale in the hole so that its surface is flush with the substrate surface and fill the gaps with excavated material. In the near future, the juniper will need to be watered regularly.
Usage
Juniper is suitable for designing theme gardens with heather or gravel beds. While some varieties cover unsightly corners of the garden with their flat growth, tall specimens provide structure in the large garden idyll. The harmonious branches radiate calm and exude a Mediterranean atmosphere with the fresh to dark green needles. The coniferous tree with the blue berries proves to be very easy to cut and can be planted as a topiary in the front garden.
The juniper grows in the rock garden next to:
- Blueberry or Mahonia
- Holly or gorse
- Bell heather or broom heather
- Wild roses and carnations
If you don't have a garden available, you can plant the juniper in a pot and cultivate it on the balcony or terrace. The sunny conditions of a south-facing balcony ensure optimal growing conditions.
