We get acquainted with the beautiful varieties of Chinese juniper. Juniper Chinese, planting and care "Kurivao Gold" - a beautiful variety of Chinese juniper

If your garden does not yet have a Chinese juniper, you should take a closer look at numerous varieties coniferous shrub. There are up to five dozen of them: these are both tall and short varieties.

Landscape designers include trees with exotic needles in different garden groups:

- Hills and slopes;
- Rock gardens and lawns;
- Various garden compositions;

Used for planting city streets and paths in parks;
Create hedges;
It has long been cultivated as a pot culture to create bonsai;
Rocky Japanese garden.

Is it difficult to grow Chinese juniper, how fast it grows and what varieties you should pay attention to.

Juniper Chinese, from lat. Juniperus chinensis (cypress family), in the natural environment - a tall tree, up to 25 meters. The crown is pyramidal, cone-shaped, there are rounded, creeping forms. A long-lived tree lives from 600 to more than 1000 years.

It has long been known in the Asian-Far Eastern zone - Japan, China, Sakhalin and the southern regions of the Kuril Islands. More than three centuries ago, the plant was cultivated, and grows in a favorable environment for itself, both in central Russia and in European conditions.

Evergreen, long-growing shrub has needles, initially soft, which, as they grow, become hard - protruding and prickly. Needles reach a length of 12 millimeters, in a whorl of them up to 3 pieces, and a thickness of 1 millimeter. The bark of the shoots is scaly, flaky, has a grayish-brown color.

Rarely bears fruit, has dark, blue-black fruits-cones - round or elongated, with rounded flattened seeds inside (1-5 pieces).

What are the features of agricultural technology

Many varieties of Chinese juniper have similar requirements for growth conditions:

It grows slowly, growing by 10-20 centimeters per year;
Takes root for a long time, 2-3 years;
The soils are different, from weakly fertile to enriched with humus. Like deep digging;
He likes illuminated places, does not tolerate dry soil and air, is responsive to crown sprinkling;
It is cold-resistant, this quality is better manifested in adulthood. Young bushes in the first year or two are best covered for the winter. Frozen branches are pruned in spring, removing dried, yellowed shoots;
Snow, after a heavy snowfall, it is better to shake off;
In early spring, the plant should be protected from the bright rays of the sun, shading with a covering woven material. Otherwise, shoots and needles may burn;
It tolerates pruning, crown formation.

Varieties

Varieties differ in crown shape, height and life expectancy, as well as crown color.

It grows up to 3 meters high, has a conical shape, the branches fit snugly and grow vertically. Annually increases in height by 15-20 centimeters. Shrub with bluish-green needles becomes bluish-blue in winter.

During fruiting, many brown-purple cones appear. Stricta loves good soil, well-drained areas located in bright places.

Trees of this variety should be planted at a distance of up to 2 meters, since the diameter of a ten-year-old plant reaches one and a half meters. Be sure to lay out a 20-centimeter drainage at the bottom of the pit, do not deepen the root collar.

Young plants are fed once a year, in dry weather they are sprayed, in the first two or three years they are covered with spruce branches for the winter. The shrub is not very hardy. Also in winter, when it snows, branches can break from its severity. Prevent this by tying shoots to the trunk.

Juniper varieties Strikta are placed in single and collective plantings, decorate Japanese rocky gardens. With a tight landing in one line, get hedge. Compose with cotoneaster, heather, barberry and honeysuckle, mountain pine.

Representatives of this variety have a picturesque appearance, thanks to the differently colored needles. Pyramidal shrub grows up to two meters tall. The coloration is curious - yellowish-whitish spots on green, sometimes bluish, needles.

This variety is quite suitable for growing in central Russia, it has winter hardiness.

Soil conditions: I like that the water does not stagnate, I need a drained layer in the planting hole and loose, moist soil. Juniper Chinese Variegata takes root for a long time in place, for 2-3 years it needs special attention and care: shelter for the winter at a young age, protection from sunlight in early spring days.

If the plant has lost its decorative effect in winter, the branches have broken, turned yellow and dried up, the affected shoots are cut in the spring. Pruning is well tolerated by the tree - soon it is fully restored.

A colorful color will make the design of any garden, park and composition unique. This variety is cultivated as a pot culture. A unique, original ensemble is obtained from coniferous and other trees and shrubs placed nearby, which have a bright, spectacular appearance.

Golden-cream areas on a green, bluish background are great variety variegated juniper.

It has an irregularly shaped cone, tightly fitting branches, grows up to 3 meters up, crown girth is more than 1.5 meters. It grows, like all varieties, slowly, which should be considered by those who want to get a tall, lush tree in a short time.

Likes sunny places, a little partial shade. In the shade, it becomes oppressed, the decorative effect is sharply lost. Fruits in cones of dark brown, with a purple tint, color.

Frost-resistant variety, the requirement for soils is looseness and moisture permeability. By planting this bush in your garden, you can create an exquisite, distinctive style of the site.

This is one of the shortest and most unusual varieties of juniper, its height is from 30 to 50 centimeters. The ground cover shrub has bluish-green needles, with milky-beige islands. In this contrast, the plant looks very advantageous in any composition.

It grows mainly in a horizontal direction, reaching a diameter of 150 or more centimeters.

The plant winters well, thanks to its small growth, and in spring it needs to be covered from the bright, aggressive sun so as not to burn the branches. For this, spunbond, lutrasil are suitable.

loves sunny open spaces, in the shade is oppressed. Can be placed in Japanese kindergartens and group plantings, near trees, in the backyard near the house.

It is undemanding to soils - these are sandy, slightly acidic, and fertile loose soils. In the dry months, sprinkling of thickets is necessary to avoid falling off and yellowing of the needles. In the first years after planting for the winter, they cover the plant, sprinkling it with peat or throwing spruce branches.

A three-meter shrub of irregular columnar shape, with a wide base, is very beautiful. Monarch is a variety with bluish-green needles, reaching one and a half meters in girth.

Planted in sunny areas with light partial shade. Chinese juniper perfectly tolerates urban air pollution, it is placed in the plantings of alleys and lawns, as a hedge.

It does not suffer from pruning, quickly restores its shape, although this particular variety does not need regular pruning. Twice a year, in spring and autumn, no more than one third of the shoot is cut. After winter, sanitization is carried out, and the affected shoots are removed.

It builds up the root system better, if the pit is made larger during planting, apply mineral fertilizer and organize drainage from pebbles, gravel, broken bricks. The root neck should remain at ground level.

In order to avoid breakage of the branches of the plant in winter, it is tied up, clasped with a ribbon, cloth. Care consists in the fact that young plants for better survival are watered and fed once a year (in spring). In the future - watering in dry weather, spraying. You can mulch the trunk part.

An American cultivar with dense, upright branches. Tall (up to 6 meters), wide (up to 2 meters) pyramidal shrub with green needles. On old branches, the needles are stiff, prickly, longer.

Slowly growing shoots lend themselves well to pruning, they form a dense crown. Soil claims are small - the main thing is that the site is well moisture permeable, fertility is optional.

Illumination is obligatory, in the shade of landing they thin out, lose their original appearance. This tall shrub is frost-resistant, suitable for planting in central Russia, in the northwestern zone.

It is good when landing in a permanent place to dig a hole twice as large as the root, earthen clod. Lay out drainage so that water does not stagnate during irrigation and precipitation, which can lead to decay of the underground part of the plant.

After watering, the near-stem area is loosened shallowly. Care measures include a single application of fertilizers in April-May, watering-sprinkling water on hot days, as well as a crown garter for the winter.

Description

Highly beautiful shrub with a wide-columnar asymmetric crown shape. The width of the plant reaches 1.5 m, height - 3 m. The needles are bluish-green in color, prickly. Sun-loving, at the same time tolerates partial shade. The plant is undemanding to soils. Very resistant to urban conditions and air pollution. Used in parks and gardens in group and single plantings, suitable for creating trimmed hedges.

Planting Chinese juniper "Monarch"

Juniper Chinese "Monarch" is best planted in sunny places. The plant from the container should be thoroughly watered before planting. Prepare a planting hole 1.5-2 times larger than the root system. For better survival, it is advisable to replace the soil with a nutrient mixture: sand, soddy soil, peat, ratio 1:1:1., Or take a ready-made soil mixture for coniferous plants, mix with soil 1:1. You can add complex mineral fertilizer 30-40 gr. for one plant. This transitional layer will promote better germination of the roots into the soil. If the soil is heavy or close to ground water, drainage is required from gravel or broken brick with a layer of 20 cm. When planting, the juniper root neck should be at ground level. If planting with a clod of earth, it is necessary to introduce a root formation stimulator (Kornevin, Radipharm), according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Wintering Juniper Chinese "Monarch"

Shelter for the winter is not required. But in snowy winters, branches can be severely bent and even broken under the weight of the snow cover. As a prevention of such troubles in late autumn, the branches must be tied together. In this form, the plant will survive any snowfall.

Care Juniper Chinese "Monarch"

In the year of planting, the plant is watered more often, because. root system compact and not able to independently consume moisture and nutrients from the soil. In subsequent years, it is enough to water abundantly once a week during the dry season, especially for young plants. In order for moisture to evaporate from the surface of the earth more slowly, it is necessary to mulch with pine bark or wood chips (layer 5 cm), then it will be possible to water less often - when the top layer of the earth dries up. In early spring (April - May), you need to feed the juniper with nitroammophos (30-40 g / m2) or complex mineral fertilizers for coniferous plants. In autumn (October) you need to make potassium-phosphorus fertilizers. If the plant is affected by fungal diseases (shutte), treatment with fungicides (Topsin) is necessary. Preventive treatment for fungal diseases - in April-May with Bordeaux liquid 1%. When plants are damaged by pests (aphids), it is necessary to treat them with insecticides (Aktara, Konfidor). Processing is carried out twice with an interval of 7-10 days.

Pruning Juniper chinensis 'Monarch'

Juniper Chinese "Monarch" forms a beautiful crown and does not need regular pruning. Sanitary pruning in early spring, dry twigs are removed and, if necessary, some lateral branches that extend beyond the crown being formed. The plant lends itself well to molding, cut the plant twice in early spring and in mid-summer. It must be remembered that cutting off more than 1/3 of the shoot is undesirable.

Botanical name: Chinese juniper.

Homeland of Chinese juniper: northeast China, Manchuria, Japan, North Korea.

Lighting: photophilous.

The soil: undemanding to soil fertility.

Watering: drought-resistant, watering during the dry period no more than 1-2 times a month.

Maximum tree height: 20-25 m.

Average lifespan of a tree: 800 years.

Landing: seeds and cuttings, creeping forms by layering.

Description

Chinese juniper (lat. Juniperus chinensis) is a species of plants belonging to the genus Juniper of the Cypress family. These are monoecious or dioecious trees or shrubs, reaching a height of 20-25 m. Trees have a narrow-conical, broad-conical or columnar crown, shrubs have a creeping, rounded or pyramidal crown. Chinese juniper shoots are usually dark green in color, thin, not more than 2.5 mm in thickness. The bark is gray-red, exfoliating.

The needles of plants of this species can be either needle-shaped or scaly. Cones, depending on the variety, also have a different shape: angular, elongated or spherical. At the beginning of maturation, they are covered with a whitish bloom, then darken, acquiring a brown, dark blue or black tint. Each cone contains 2 to 4 shiny, brown, elongated or triangular shaped seeds that mature in the second year.

Chinese juniper, the photo of which is presented above, got its name because of its distribution area. The homeland of these plants is China, Japan, North Korea. AT Western Europe trees and shrubs of this species began to be cultivated in early XIX century. In 1850, the first Chinese juniper plants appeared in the Nikitsky Botanical Garden (Southern Coast of Crimea), and then in the botanical gardens of the North Caucasus.

Juniperus chinensis grows slowly at a young age, then the growth rate accelerates. It is quite frost-resistant, demanding on air humidity, but practically indifferent to its gas content, some varieties withstand the conditions of the arid steppe and develop well in urban conditions.

Juniper Chinese: planting and care

When planting with seeds, the first shoots appear only after 1-3 years. Seeds need to be stratified before sowing. Within a month, the planting material is kept at a temperature of 20-30°C, for the next four months the seeds are stored at a temperature of 14-15°C. In the spring, the seeds should be cleaned of the pericarp, and then scarified (partially break the hard covers). Before planting Juniperus chinensis, a little soil should be added to the planting furrows from under to ensure the spread of mycorrhiza.

Cuttings are recommended to be planted in sunny places, since with constant shading, the plants lose their decorative qualities, become loose, and the needles may partially fall off. The distance between seedlings depends on the variety of Chinese juniper - columnar trees can be planted at a distance of 0.5 m from each other, shrubs with a spreading crown require a larger area (up to 2 m). The planting depth of Juniperus chinensis is usually 70 cm, while a little earth should be added to the root who, if necessary, drainage should be provided (sand and broken brick with a layer of up to 15-20 cm). Large plants are planted in such a way that the root neck of the seedling is 5-10 cm above the edges landing pit. It is preferable to purchase planting material with a closed root system. Chinese juniper with open roots is more capricious, such plants can be planted for a very limited time: only in late April - early May or late August - early September, and only in moderately humid weather. Also in this case, it is necessary to treat the open roots of the seedling with root formation stimulants. Seedlings from containers are more viable, they can be planted in a permanent place throughout the season, after soaking a lump of earth with water for two hours.

To soil fertility, trees and shrubs of the juniper genus are undemanding. The most common soil mixture is peat (2 parts), soddy soil and sand (one part each). This ratio may vary depending on the plant variety. The optimal acidity of the soil when planting these plants is from 4.5 to 7 pH.

Caring for Chinese juniper is not difficult. Plants of this species are quite unpretentious and easy to grow. The only thing worth paying close attention to is the prevention of fungal diseases, as well as protection from spring burning of needles. For preventive purposes, with the onset of the warm season, 30-40 g / m2 of nitroammophoska should be added to the soil.

Since Juniperus chinensis does not tolerate dry air, the crown of trees should be sprayed regularly (once a week in the evening), but about frequent watering no need to worry. During dry seasons, trees and shrubs should be watered no more than once a month. After watering, the near-stem circle is recommended to be slightly loosened and weeded. For winter, the soil can be mulched with wood chips, peat or sawdust. Haircut and pruning of the crown are carried out depending on the place of cultivation - in landscape plantings this should be done regularly, it is enough to remove dry branches.

Caring for Chinese columnar juniper involves tying branches in winter period to avoid being damaged by a heavy layer of snow. Only young plants should be covered during the cold period, mature trees and shrubs are quite frost-resistant. If necessary, the trunk circle can be sprinkled with peat or covered with spruce branches.

Varieties of Chinese juniper - "Strict", "Blue Alps" and others

Chinese juniper "Stricta" (Juniperus chinensis Stricta) is a dense conical shrub with a columnar or narrow-pin crown. At the age of 10, the plant variety of the Strykta variety can reach 1.5 m in height with a crown diameter of up to 0.7 m. The shoots grow strictly vertically. The needles on dense, ascending branches have a gray or bluish-green tint. Cones purple-brown, spherical. This variety is very frost-resistant, even in the most severe winters it does not require additional warming, however, like other plants of this species, it does not tolerate frequent transplantation.

Juniper variety Chinese "Strict" (see photo) is recommended for planting in heather and rocky gardens, looks great both in single and group plantings, is used to decorate slopes and hills, decorate lawns.

Chinese juniper "Blue Alps" (Juniperus chinensis Blue Alps) is a rather large plant, reaching 4.5 m in height. Skeletal branches are powerful, the crown is compact, with shoots hanging down. The needles are rigid, prickly, up to 1 cm long, silver-bluish in color. Juniperus chinensis Blue Alps is photophilous and frost-resistant, very loved by professional landscape designers and amateur gardeners.

Blue Alps grows best on sunny areas, planting on stony soils and sandstones is possible, reaches good development on rather fertile soils. This variety is the best suited as an exclusive garden bonsai. Juniper Chinese Blue Alps is ideal for forming a hedge that can turn into an impenetrable fence.

Variety "Blue Alps" Chinese juniper

Juniper Chinese "Variegata" (Juniperus chinensis Variegata) - small tree or pyramidal shrub. The maximum height at the age of 10 is 2 m. The characteristic features of this form are yellowish-white spots randomly scattered over the blue-green crown.

Variety "Variegata" is quite thermophilic, but with proper care it can be grown in climatic conditions middle lane. Does not tolerate stagnant waterlogging. In the first 2-3 years it takes good care: protection from direct sunlight and wrapping in the winter. Pruning should be carried out before the onset of active sap flow (in late April - early May).

In recent years, variable Variegata varieties have become widespread: Chinese juniper "Stricta Variegata" (interspersed with pale cream color) and Chinese juniper "Expansa Variegata" (interspersed beige colour). Due to its unusual, spotted coloring, the Variegata form is used as bright accent on lawns and in exquisite landscape compositions.

Juniper Chinese "Monarch"

Chinese juniper "Monarch" (Juniperus chinensis Monarch) is a tall shrub with an asymmetric columnar or narrow pin-shaped crown, reaching a height of up to 1.5-2.5 m.

The needles of this variety are extremely fragrant, very prickly, have a bluish-green or gray color. The main trunk grows strictly vertically, the lateral branches depart from it at a right angle, and then bend to a horizontal position, forming an original silhouette, characteristic only for this variety. The form "Monarch" is unpretentious to soil fertility, quite photophilous, looks elegant both in single and in group plantings.

Juniper Chinese "Plumosa Aurea"

Juniper Chinese "Plumoza Aurea" (Juniperus chinensis Plumoza Aurea) is a decorative, dwarf form, not exceeding 1 m in height at the age of 10 with the same crown diameter. In summer, the needles of this variety are golden yellow, in winter it acquires a brownish tint. The branches extend vertically upwards from the trunk, and hang down at the ends.

To soils given form it is undemanding, rather frost-resistant, reaches the best development on fresh and fertile soils.

Plumoza Aurea is one of the most beautiful varieties with yellow needles, recommended for growing in small gardens, rockeries. Compilation of mixed compositions with ornamental cereals and flower bushes is widely used.

"Kurivao Gold" - a beautiful variety of Chinese juniper

Juniper Chinese "Kuriwao Gold" (Juniperus chinensis Kuriwao Gold) is a fairly tall, sprawling plant, reaching 2 m in height.

The crown is often asymmetric, the needles are golden-green, openwork. Shoots are directed vertically upwards. Despite the impressive size, this variety does not look bulky, thanks to the thin pattern of the branches.

The plant is very photophilous, it develops best in single plantings, when it is not shaded by other trees. In low light, it can lose not only the saturation of colors, but also the splendor of its forms.

Variety "Kurivao Gold" is well adapted to urban conditions, does not suffer from air pollution and dry soil, frost-resistant, suitable for growing in containers.

If you like oriental notes in landscape design, we offer to settle Chinese juniper on our site. It's pretty unpretentious perennial, which will reward attention with a lush evergreen crown. Its appearance resembles cypress, especially if it grows under good conditions and reaches 20 m, but most often juniper does not grow above 10 m. In garden culture, shorter and creeping varieties are popular. First, the Chinese juniper appeared in Europe, then it was brought to the famous Nikitsky Botanical Garden, and then the plant spread to the Caucasian and Russian botanical gardens. The great thing about Chinese juniper is that even though it requires certain conditions for growth, but is completely indifferent to air pollution, so it can be successfully grown even in the city. So, get ready to learn all about planting Chinese juniper.

Chinese juniper is different from most of its relatives small size and grows no more than 2 m with a crown diameter of no more than 1 m. The coniferous foliage of the plant is very dense, but can be collected in crowns various shapes depending on the variety. The most popular and widespread variety is Strikta. Its unusual needles with a bluish tint leave no one indifferent and can transform any landscape composition.

Young junipers grow very slowly, but after a few years the rate increases and the plant reaches its maximum size. In autumn, small dark brown or black berries appear. Depending on the variety, they may have healing properties, but they should not be eaten raw.

Most often, Chinese juniper is used in decorative purposes in gardening or landscaping. He perfectly tolerates a haircut, so the most bizarre figures can be formed from the bushes. The plant is ideal for creating coniferous or mixed mixborders, as an addition to rockeries or rock gardens. However, experienced and wise owners can receive from the plant not only aesthetic pleasure, but also very practical benefits. Juniper is used in folk medicine for a very long time - based on it, effective anti-inflammatory drugs are obtained. Basically, preparations from their own and berries are intended for external use. Some help get rid of skin diseases, others “warm up” the body, relieving rheumatic pain, sciatica and polyarthritis. AT the move is on and the underground part of the plant - juniper roots are used to treat lung diseases, including tuberculosis. And if you suffer from allergies, prepare a decoction of the branches.

Also, do not forget that juniper is a coniferous plant, and all conifers emit phytoncides - volatile substances that are useful for breathing. However, juniper releases as much as 30 kg of phytoncides per day, which is quite enough to purify the air nearby.

Interesting: Everyone knows that juniper wood is very much appreciated, but not only for its pleasant aroma. The fact is that it has powerful natural antiseptic properties. Previously, in the villages, juniper branches were used to disinfect wooden tubs, barrels and boxes where vegetables and fruits were stored. And juniper smoke was able to drive out of the house not only diseases, but also evil spirits.

Varieties

There are several varieties of Chinese juniper. They differ not only appearance and size, but also care features.

What varieties are widespread in the middle lane:

Strikta - as we have said, one of the most popular varieties. Growing up, the shrub takes the shape of a cone. By the age of 10, it can grow up to 1.5 m in height. The needles are very dense and have an unusual bluish or grayish tint. During the fruiting period, Strikta produces brown-purple cones of a spherical shape. The variety is highly frost-resistant and does not need additional insulation even in cold snowless winters. The only thing that can harm Strikta, like any other variety, is frequent transplants.
Blue Alps is a fairly large variety, reaching 4.5 m in height. A bush with powerful branches, a neat crown and hanging shoots. You can recognize Blue Alps by hard prickly needles 1 cm long, silvery blue color. The plant loves well-lit areas, tolerates cold winters well, for which it is valued by gardeners and landscape designers. It grows well on rocky and sandy soil, but has nothing against soil saturated with organic matter. If you have always dreamed of trying your hand at the art of bonsai, Blue Alps is the perfect place to do it. It also makes beautiful and dense hedges.
Variegata - small plant pyramidal shape with a maximum height of 2 m. It is very easy to recognize the Variegata by characteristic feature- a spot of light yellow color randomly scattered over the crown. This is a heat-loving variety that requires warming for the winter. Variegata does not like a large number moisture, so plant it away from water bodies and in well-drained soil. For the first couple of years, the variety needs careful care: you need to protect the plant from direct sunlight, otherwise the needles will dry out, and also warm it well for the winter, especially if you live in the middle lane or further north. You need to cut Variegata in the spring before the start of sap flow (end of March-April). Particularly popular are hybrid varieties: Stricta Variegata with cream spots, Expansa Variegata with beige spots.
Monarch is a medium-sized shrub with a height of 2.5 m and an asymmetric crown formed by fragrant prickly needles of a grayish or bluish color. A distinctive feature of the variety is that there is a main vertical trunk, from which lateral secondary branches depart at a right angle, but upon reaching a certain length, they sharply bend and grow upwards, which is why the bush acquires original outlines. The monarch, despite its name, is completely unpretentious to the soil, loves well-lit areas and looks great both on its own and in a group with other plants.
Plumosa Aurea is a dwarf variety that does not grow above 1 m with a similar crown diameter. It is noteworthy that in summer the crown of the plant is golden yellow, and closer to cold weather the shade changes to brownish. It is also interesting that the vertically growing branches hang down at the ends. Plumosa Aurea is able to adapt to any soil, but prefers fertile and well-drained. Designers consider this variety to be one of the most spectacular, actively using it in the design of rockeries, mixed compositions with lush flowering shrubs and ornamental grasses.
Kurivao Gold - A tall plant with a spreading, often asymmetric crown, growing to 2 m. You can recognize this variety by its golden-green openwork needles and vertical shoots. The delicate pattern of the branches gives the plant lightness and grace. Kurivao Gold loves well-lit areas and grows best away from others. tall plants. If he does not have enough light, the needles will fade, and the crown will not be so lush. The variety feels great in urban conditions, because it is not afraid of gas contamination, poverty and dryness of the soil. It can also be grown in containers.

Growing technology

From the description of the Chinese juniper and its varietal forms, it follows that the plant is not particularly whimsical and its cultivation is not burdensome. However, if you want to achieve optimal results and get a healthy beautiful plant, you need to purchase quality planting material. The easiest and preferred way to obtain Chinese juniper is to visit a garden center.

When buying, check with the consultant that the young seedling is grown in a container with a closed root system. This is an extremely important and sometimes decisive moment, since the root system of conifers is very vulnerable in the open air. We have already said that juniper does not like frequent transplants, and this can have an extremely negative effect on the plant at such a young age. Therefore, buying a seedling in a container with a closed root system is a guarantee that the bush will receive a minimum of stress and take root better in a new place.

The optimal time for planting the Chinese juniper Strict is the first half of spring or the beginning of autumn before the onset of frost. Choose a sunny area, but not in a lowland, so that there is no stagnant water. Also juniper does not like neighborhood with climbing plants. special requirements there is no soil to the composition - juniper grows well both in loam and in sandy soil. However best option still there: a mixture of river sand, peat and turf land in equal parts or in a ratio of 1:2:1. After planting, the ground around the seedling should be mulched with sawdust or moss to prevent too rapid evaporation of moisture and the appearance of weeds.

How deep to dig a hole under a young bush? It depends on the size of the seedling itself, but usually the dimensions do not exceed 70 cm in depth and diameter. To prevent stagnant water, make a drainage cushion at the bottom of the pit from 10 cm of sand and 10 cm of gravel or expanded clay. When planting large bushes, make sure that their root neck is located just above ground level - after the earth shrinks, it will be at the right level.

At first, seedlings need to be watered well, and when they take root, reduce watering to 4 times a season, that is, 1 time per month. After each session, weed and slightly loosen the soil around. If the weather turned out to be hot, the crown should be periodically sprayed - young plants do not tolerate dry air. Spray only after sunset or early in the morning.

Care

The height of the Chinese juniper is gaining very slowly, so there is no need to cut young bushes. However, you should periodically inspect the plant and remove dried or diseased branches from it. Despite the frost resistance of juniper, for the first couple of years, young plants need to be insulated: wrap the bushes with lutrasil, and cover the ground around with spruce branches, chips or sawdust. If the winter promises to be snowy, you need to protect the thin branches of the Strikta variety from breaking by tying the bush with twine.

Since juniper is dioecious, only females bear fruit. The male plant can be recognized by the columnar or ovoid crowns, the crown of women will be open and loose. In the middle of spring, yellowish spikelets are visible on males, on females - small green cones, which turn into berries with seeds inside with the onset of autumn. The taste of the berries is bitter, so there is no point in eating them raw, but you can add them to tea or healing decoction for the prevention of colds.

As for pests and diseases, the greatest danger to juniper is aphid, spider mite and juniper shield. At the first sign of damage to the plant, the bush and nearby plantings should be sprayed with chemicals.

What diseases most often affect Chinese juniper:

Rust - manifests itself in the form of brownish growths with an orange coating and leads to the death of individual parts, and then to the death of the entire plant. That is why treatment must be started as early as possible by removing diseased branches and treating the bush with a special preparation (Arcerida has proven itself well).
Drying of the branches - if you notice that the bark of the bush has begun to dry, the needles turn yellow and crumble, then you should immediately remove the affected branches, disinfect the sections with a 1% solution blue vitriol, then smear these places with garden pitch. Removed parts of plants must be burned so that the infection does not spread. For prevention in early spring and autumn, juniper plantings need to be treated with 1% Bordeaux mixture or special preparations Hom type. In the event of a recurrence of the disease, treatment can be carried out in the summer.
Brown Shutte - manifests itself in the spring in the form of yellowing, and then browning of the needles. It does not crumble, but the tank branches begin to die off, as a result of which the bush loses its attractiveness. It is necessary to treat brown shutte in the same way as for the drying of branches - cut and burn the affected areas, and then treat the cuts with chemicals.

Juniper Chinese: photo

Juniper plants enjoy the well-deserved attention of amateur gardeners and landscape designers. The reason is their unpretentiousness, as well as the ability to create monocultural and combined compositions that decorate areas in any period of the year.

One of the species - Chinese juniper - favorably distinguishes the abundance of varietal forms with different needle structure and bush habit. A pleasant specific smell creates a unique atmosphere in the garden, and phytoncides secreted by plants serve to improve the health of the bronchopulmonary system.

Show all

Brief description of the species

Chinese juniper (Juniperus chinensis) is an evergreen coniferous plant of predominantly shrub type. Some varieties grow as trees with an irregular (irregular) crown shape.

The shoots of the Chinese juniper are covered with dense needles. In most representatives of the species, old needles become prickly, and at a young age they are softer. Height varies depending on variety, age and growing conditions.

Cold resistance zone - 5 or 6. In the climate of the middle zone, those cultivars are planted that can withstand a decrease winter temperatures up to -28.8 ... -23.4 degrees, which corresponds to the fifth zone.

Popular varieties

Along with varieties that have firmly won the sympathy of gardeners, new items with unusual characteristics appear. Everyone chooses the variety that will organically emphasize the beauty of a particular landscape. The most popular varieties are described in the table:

Variety name	Description	A photo
Blaauw (Blauw)	An interesting juniper: its crown has the shape of an inverted cone. The needles are blue with a gray tint. Grows up to 1.5-1.7 m in height
Blue Alps (Blue Alps - "Blue Alps")	Attractive variety with shoots growing at an acute angle, the tips of which hang picturesquely. The height of an adult plant is about 2 meters, the width is slightly less. Color - bluish blue
Expansa Variegata (Expansa Variegata)	Some branches spread along the surface of the soil, and some rise slightly upwards. The needles, green with a blue tone, are decorated with yellowish, unevenly spaced sprays. Height - about 30 cm, width more than 1 meter
Iova (Yova)	The variety appeared on the plant market recently. It is a bush with a flat, like a tapering column shape. Tone - green with a slight blue. In some seasons, it is completely covered with blue cones, giving the tree an elegant look. Height - 1.5-2 m
Kuriwao Gold (Kuriwao Gold)	A tall shrub with a pyramidal spreading crown - 1.5 m wide and up to 2 m high. The needles are covered with alternating segments of light green and bright green.
Monarch (Monarch)	Prickly bluish plant of irregular pyramidal shape. It gets thicker with age. For greater showiness, some of the branches are trimmed in length. Height - up to 2 meters
Obelisk (Obelisk)	At a young age, it has a columnar shape, then falls apart in the absence of a haircut and tying. Prickly grade of a bluish shade 3-4 m high
Plumosa (Plumosa)	The shape of the bush resembles juniper plants of the middle Mint Julep (Mint Julep), but much more compact - up to one meter in height and diameter. Needles focus more on the tips of the shoots than in the center. Color - dark green
Plumosa Albovariegata (Plumosa Albovariegata)	Variety-sport from "Plumoz", but more compact - up to 80 cm, with cream interspersed twigs
Plumosa Aurea (Plumosa Aurea)	Meter spreading shrub with golden needles, which acquires a brownish tint for the winter
Plumosa Aureovariegata (Plumosa Aureovariegata)	Not very large (up to 0.8 m) lush plant with golden fragments of needles
Robust Green (Robust Green)	Greenish-blue narrow juniper, shaped like an arrow, 1.5-2.5 m tall. Needles are hard, prickly
Spartan (Spartan)	Popular in landscape design due to the beautiful emerald shade of soft needles and the correct columnar shape. Height - 2-3 m
Stricta (Stricta)	Less winter-hardy variety, but often found in large and medium-sized gardens. Differs in a wide-pyramidal shape of the crown and a bluish tone. Height - about 2-2.5 m with a diameter of up to 1.2-1.4
Stricta Variegata (Stricta Variegata)	It is distinguished from the Strikt variety by its shade - green with a light dove - and white fragmentary areas of shoots.

Variety Mint Julep (Mint Julep) in various sources is classified as both Chinese and middle species (J. media). Plants reach impressive sizes - about 1.5 m in height and more than 3 m in diameter. The needles are soft, bright emerald hue.

Landing

Plants have several main cord-like roots and branches extending from them. Digging and planting Chinese junipers with an open root system does not always give a positive result - about 20% of the plants die. This is especially true in cases of improper care.

The advantage of seedlings in a container is a high survival rate. In addition, they can be planted at any time of the year, unlike bare-rooted junipers, which take root best in early spring or early autumn.

Condition Requirements

Chinese juniper prefers to grow in well-lit areas with adequately drained soil. On clay lands, a drainage system is equipped.

To the presence in the ground nutrients culture is undemanding, but responds positively to the timely introduction of complex mineral dressings depending on soil composition and season.

Process description

The pits in which the plants will be placed must be of sufficient depth and diameter so that the roots can be freely spread when planting. AT sandy soil add loose clay and organic matter (compost).

The use of fresh humus harms young roots, and the seedling stops developing.

30-70 g of fertilizer is poured into each pit for rooting conifers (depending on the size of the seedling) and mixed with the soil.

The technology of planting plants with a closed and open root system has some differences:

1. open root. Select days from cloudy weather. Plant the plant as soon as possible after digging. The roots are straightened, covered with earth and lightly tamped, leaving a side along the edge. Then carry out abundant watering in such an amount that the water stood in the hole. During the dry season, water twice or thrice a week.
2. closed root. The acquired plant is soldered by dipping for half an hour in water or a weak solution of the rooting agent. They bring it to the finished hole, carefully pull it out of the container. If the root system is strongly intertwined, they use a vertical incision in the lower part of the coma in several places and immediately put the seedling in a hole, after which they fall asleep and fill it with water. Watering should be plentiful and frequent, in the absence of rain - daily, in order to prevent the coma from drying out.

After 3-4 weeks, the juniper will put young roots into the ground, after which moisturizing can be done less frequently.

Care rules

Caring for Chinese juniper is not difficult. Basic principles:

1. Watering and fertilizing established plants. Use only as needed - in dry years or on loose sandy soils.
2. Fight against burns. At the end of winter, when the root system is still frozen and the sun begins to rise, the needles of vertically growing varieties can get burned with south side. For preventive purposes, for the period of frosty sunny days, the plants are covered with a mesh net. Taken on cloudy days.
3. Pruning. Spend it in early spring. Remove diseased branches, as well as those that spoil the attractiveness of the bush. Use a sharp tool that is treated with alcohol after manipulation.

regular pruning