Juniper will be an excellent solution in decorating a garden or summer cottage. This is an evergreen plant that does not lose its color for many years. How to grow juniper at home and what difficulties you may encounter - you will learn from the article.

Is it possible to grow juniper from berries

Growing juniper from berries is a rather laborious, but fascinating process. It is worth familiarizing yourself with all the nuances in its cultivation. In this way, common juniper is best propagated.. For ornamental plants, it is better to give preference to vegetative cultivation.

Important! Dilution by seeds practically does not preserve the varietal qualities of juniper.

Growing from seeds at home

In order to grow a plant, planting material should be prepared. Berries should be picked in September. Fruits of a dark shade are suitable for collection, green ones are considered not ripened, and therefore are not suitable for future planting.

After collection, place the closed cones in a warm place to open them. You can speed up the collection as follows: under the tree, spread oilcloth or a sheet, slightly grunt the tree, put the fallen fruits in a container.

How to plant juniper

Before planting the seed material, it should be properly prepared. In order for the seeds to sprout faster, their shell should be destroyed. If this is not done, then the seeds may not rise at all.

To do this, there are 2 ways to handle cones:

1. Grind the fruits with sandpaper.
2. Place the seeds for half an hour in an acid solution, then remove and rinse under running water. Grind them with ash and leave for 2-3 weeks.

After such preparation, the seeds are ready for planting. It is also important to choose the right place for growth.

The choice depends on:

• soil preferences. In this case, the soil should be soft and rich in minerals, which are necessary for better plant growth;
• the place should not be darkened. All juniper varieties grow in sunny areas.

Did you know? Juniper has been around for over 50 million years. For the first time as a medicine, it began to be used in ancient Egypt. Later they began to use in Rome and Ancient Greece.

How to sprout juniper

In order for there to be sprouts, it is necessary to properly arrange planting in containers.

Landing Rules:

1. Landing in containers. In the soil, make a furrow with a depth of not more than 2-3 cm.
2. The bottom should be well compacted with soil.
3. Place pre-prepared seed in the pit.
4. Cover the planting with humus.
5. Mulch the soil. It can be made using sawdust or peat. Mulch contributes to the additional conservation of moisture in the soil, and the seeds germinate faster.

Landing in a new place: timing and technology

In open ground to plant seedlings only those that have reached 4 years of age. It is not recommended to transplant younger specimens, as there is a risk that the plant will not take root and die. Landing at a permanent place is carried out in the spring, before the onset of heat. It is also important to plant a tree either early in the morning, or after sunset. Planting is carried out in several stages.

Did you know? Juniper bark becomes very strong over the years and can be used in the manufacture of pencils and canes.

Step-by-step instructions for disembarkation:

1. It is worth preparing the landing pits, they begin to prepare them 2 weeks before landing. Between them, a distance of up to 2 meters should be observed. This will allow the seedling to develop normally.
2. Fill the bottom of the pit with drainage, use sand or broken brick for it, the layer should be about 15–20 cm.
3. So that the soil is rich in nutrients, a special mixture should be prepared. Mix 2 parts peat, 1 part sand and turf. Also add 200 g nitroammofsky. Fill them with 2/3 of the landing pit. Also, in order not to prepare the mixture yourself and save time, you can purchase a ready-made mixture for conifers in the store.
4. After the mixture settles - it takes about two weeks, trees are planted. Sprinkle them with ordinary soil, without adding additional fertilizers.
5. Water the plant abundantly, about 1 liter of water is used per tree. After the absorption of water occurs, the soil must necessarily be mulched. This will save moisture, and also prevent weeds from growing near the plant.

Plant care

After planting, it is important to properly care for the plant. Without this, the desired results cannot be achieved.

Optimal conditions

It grows quite normally in regions with a hot climate. A plant develops well only in well-lit places. In partial shade, only juniper ordinary feels great.

Watering and feeding

Watering is carried out throughout the growing season of the tree. If the summer is dry, once a week it will be enough to add 10–20 L of liquid (depending on the size of the plant).

Sprinkling is also recommended. It can be carried out once a week or early in the morning or late in the evening. So that the sun does not damage the needles. Top dressing is applied only once a year, in early spring. 50 g nitroammophoski will be enough for 1 m².

Pruning

The plant should be pruned in spring for prevention. The yellowed and dried branches are cut off, which spoil the appearance, and also inhibit the growth of other shoots. If you plan to give it a decorative shape or the landing was organized for the construction of a hedge, then it is advisable to trim also in early spring.

Other methods of propagation of juniper

There are also other ways of propagating juniper besides sprouting from a seed.

These include:

• cuttings;
• reproduction by layering.

Cuttings

Using this method, sprouts can be obtained after several months. To do this, you need to cut a small stalk, the length of which will be about 10-15 cm. It will be better to cut them from the upper or middle part of the crown. You should also pay attention to the density of the stem, it should not be lignified.

Important! Sprinkle the soil with water, but so that the liquid does not get on the branches. Do not water the stem from the watering can, as excess moisture can lead to decay of the plant.

Place the handle in the soil, for this, use a pencil to prepare a place in the ground. The diameter of the pit should be no more than 1 cm, and the depth should be 3-4 cm. After that, pit the pit and make a small soil compaction near the future trunk so that the plant is not damaged. Next, the handle should be in a warm place, which will be well lit. Can be covered with a transparent cap.

Layering

In this way, you can grow those juniper varieties that are stunted. To do this, you need to bend the branch of the bush. You should choose branches that are about 5 years old.

Make small cuts on the branch with a sharp knife, roots will appear in these places. Dig a small trench. Bend the branch and sprinkle with sand so that it does not rise. Water the plant. Throughout the summer, you should observe the shrubbery and add sand or water it.

Diseases and Pests

If pests or diseases are detected, they should react quickly enough so as not to lose landing.

Juniper Disease:

1. Rust. The needles become a dirty yellow hue, eventually it loses its appearance and appearance and dries. This is due to the high amount of salts in the soil. The disease is treated with the help of the drug "Arcerida". Spraying is performed according to the instructions for the drug.
2. Schütte. This disease occurs due to the appearance of a fungus. The needles begin to die and eventually fall off the branches. When determining this disease, dry branches should be cut and burned. It is also recommended to collect and destroy the fallen needles.
3. Fusarium. Refers to fungal diseases. The first thing that is affected is the root system. With this disease, the needles can acquire a red tint. For the fight using the following drugs: "Vitaros", "Bactofit."

Juniper pests include:

1. Needle tick. Defining it is quite simple: the ends of the needles noticeably increase in size. For the fight using drugs "Karate", "Akarin." Processing is carried out in May.
2. Aphid. She feeds on the juice of plants, so after her planting becomes unpresentable. It is recommended that you regularly examine shrubs and trees for aphids. It can be collected manually or sprayed with the help of the drug "Karbofos".

Thanks to the simple instructions for growing and caring for plants at home, you can get a beautiful, evergreen garden. Juniper will look beautiful in hedges, single plantings, and low shrubs can complement the alpine hill.