The juniper tolerates pruning well if you don't shorten too many branches. Topiary cuts encourage the plant to form dense branches. You shouldn't cut too much at once, but rather use the scissors several times.
When and how should the juniper topiary be carried out?
When juniper topiary, the ideal time is in the first year after planting to create an attractive shape. Cut the juniper into a trapezoid or bonsai shape during the growth phase, preferably in spring or autumn, and avoid radical pruning.
Time
Start topiary in the first year after planting to create an attractive shape. Since the juniper is extremely robust, it can be cut at any time during the growth phase. This refers to topiary. You should avoid radical pruning of the juniper, as the tree will no longer sprout from the old wood.
For more intensive pruning, choose a cool and overcast day in spring or autumn. Juniper is cut before budding or the winter break between September and October. If there is a risk of frost, the branches should no longer be shortened as they will quickly suffer frost damage.
Hedges
When trimming the hedge, you should aim for a trapezoidal shape, because the juniper tends to quickly become bald when there is a lack of light. Therefore, the tree is not suitable for cuboid hedge cuttings. Thanks to a trapezoidal growth habit, the lower shoots receive enough light. To increase the incidence of light, edges are rounded. You can tighten cords for better orientation. There are special stencils (€33.00 on Amazon) from the garden center that make topiary easier
Procedure:
- remove bare and dead shoots
- cut from crown to base
- Run the hedge trimmer parallel to the plant
- after topiary pruning in spring, you can prune again in autumn
Bonsai
If a juniper becomes bare from the inside, it can be transformed into a bonsai through targeted pruning measures. Remove stray branches at their base. You can focus on diseased and dead branches. Also remove any other branches that disrupt the overall look. Cut off any bare shoots on the remaining branches so that they end in a small crown. These branches are wired and bent into a horizontal shape. For more stability, you can anchor particularly thick branches in the ground with a wire rope. The small crowns are reminiscent of plateaus.
This is what you need to pay attention to:
- keep upper plateaus smaller than the lower ones
- continuous topiary required
- preferably cut at the top, as the trees grow more there