Can you prune upright junipers?

Upright juniper pruning can help a shrub that is losing its shape. You’ll need to start selectively pruning a juniper bush by trimming back each branch’s terminal tip. This will reduce the length and weight of the branch, making it less likely to pull out from the trunk.

What is the best fertilizer for junipers?

Incorporate fertilizer into the soil or spread it around the plant, but avoid directly placing fertilizer into the planting hole. Established junipers will benefit from a complete fertilizer such as 16-4-8 or 12-4-8 applied at a rate of 1/2 lb. per 100 square feet in early spring and again in late summer.

How tall do upright junipers get?

Pruning Instructions

Category:	Nursery
Available Colors:	Grown for foliage
Bloom Time:	Grown for foliage
Height Range:	6-20′ (1.8-6.1m)
Space Range:	5-10′ (1.5-3m)

When is the best time to trim junipers?

Junipers are hardy shrubs that can take severe pruning, but it is possible to kill them by pruning them back too far. They can be pruned at any time, but do heavy pruning in winter or early spring before growth starts. If the juniper is severely overgrown, it may be preferable to replace it.

What’s the best way to cut back a juniper tree?

If the tree is overgrown, remove up to 20 percent of the height, but make all cuts well above the dead zone. If your juniper is a low species like creeping juniper (Juniperus horizontalis_),_ a shrub that thrives in USDA zones 3 through 9, selectively cut back the branches. Trim each one back to just above a vigorous side branch.

What’s the best way to trim a blue star juniper?

When pruning, only cut into healthy wood, trimming back to a branch that is pointing in the direction you want the shrub to grow. You may need to thin “Blue Star,” which is a densely growing plant. Thinning allows sunlight to reach all of the foliage. To thin, cut back selective branches at their points of attachment.

Why do I need to prune my creeping juniper?

Pruning the lower branches will give the plant better air circulation. Creeping juniper has a special place among representatives of this genus. If you planted it in your yard, it is obvious that the purpose was to cover the ground so that weeds did not grow.

Can you prune upright junipers?

Upright juniper pruning can help a shrub that is losing its shape. You’ll need to start selectively pruning a juniper bush by trimming back each branch’s terminal tip. This will reduce the length and weight of the branch, making it less likely to pull out from the trunk.

Can you keep junipers short?

Unfortunately, the answer to this question isn’t a definite yes. Juniper trees and bushes have something called a dead zone. This means that your juniper can never be pruned smaller than the border of its dead zone. If you keep up with pruning and shaping as the tree or shrub grows, you can keep it compact and healthy.

How do you trim a juniper bush?

Use a Chainsaw to Cut the Bush Down Cut the bush down to ground level using a chain saw or ax. This helps kill the bush and facilitates its removal. Wait at least a few days before removing the roots; if cutting down the bush kills the plant and the roots, the dry roots are easier to extract from the soil.

When should junipers be pruned?

Junipers and arborvitae generally need little to no pruning. They may be pruned anytime except during sub-zero weather. The best time is early spring prior to new growth. The best pruning method is to cut individual branches back to an upward growing side branch.

Can junipers be topped?

All junipers have dead zones at their center so severe pruning, including topping, is never a good idea. Instead, prune lightly and regularly, just before new growth begins in spring. The key to pruning juniper is to leave areas with dormant bud on each branch you trim.

Will junipers grow back?

Junipers (Juniperus spp.) can be used in nearly every part of your landscape. The long-lived evergreens can become scraggly and overgrown, however. Although a juniper won’t grow back from a branch that has no green growth, careful pruning can revive the shrub.

Can you keep Blue Point juniper short?

“Blue Point” is listed as growing to 7 to 8 feet but does indeed grow larger as you have discovered. Junipers can certainly be pruned, but unfortunately there is no way to discourage new growth by pruning. They are vigorous plants! If you attempt to shorten it, you will end up needing to prune the sides as well.

Are junipers hard to dig out?

Since they are low-growing shrubs with soft branches, they can be difficult to dig up. Junipers do not provide much to grip on to, so they are hard to pull out of the ground. However, with a some pruning shears and a shovel, removing junipers can be a manageable task.

When is the best time to prune a juniper tree?

The best time to prune your junipers is in the winter or early spring. In the springtime, it’s easier to see the general shape of the tree and cut the branches without having to worry about accidentally harming new growth. Winter pruning is a great option because it ensures that the plant is pruned before new growth begins.

What happens if you cut back a juniper tree?

If you cut back a branch below the leaves and into this dead zone, no new leaves will grow from it. This means that your juniper can never be pruned smaller than the border of its dead zone. If you keep up with pruning and shaping as the tree or shrub grows, you can keep it compact and healthy.

What to do with an overgrown Juniper Tree?

If this is the case, the only thing to do is remove the plant and start again with a new one. While overgrown juniper pruning has its limits, it is possible to trim your plant down to a more manageable shape. One good place to start is the removal of any dead or leafless branches – these can be cut off at the trunk.

How big does a juniper tree need to be cut?

You can cut up to a third of the branch without damaging its growth. For example, if the length of a protruding branch is 24 inches (61 cm), you should prune 6 to 8 inches (15 to 20 cm) off of the branch. Tie sagging branches to the center of the shrub to secure them.