How to Prune Upright Junipers

Upright junipers make a daring assertion within the backyard. Whether or not you might have a stately ‘Spartan’ or a row of ‘Skyrocket’ shrubs, there’s nothing else like them.

Most upright junipers preserve their form with none pruning or additional work in your half.

However extended heavy snow can bend branches, constant wind from the identical course could cause uneven progress, and illness can harm sections of your tree.

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To make your plant look higher, it can want some pruning. The purpose of pruning is to take care of the plant’s present form or to tidy it up, to not change its form.

So earlier than we get began, right here’s the underside line: It’s going to be extraordinarily troublesome to prune a juniper with a naturally sprawling or spherical form into an upright form. You’ll want to purchase an upright cultivar within the first place – it’s a very good factor there are such a lot of incredible choices accessible!

On this information, we’ll cowl the way to trim your upright juniper, to not change the form of an present shrub.

Now that we’re all on the identical web page, right here’s what we’ll talk about on this information:

As I discussed, there are many attractive upright junipers accessible. For those who’re in search of some wonderful choices, listed below are only a few that I’m significantly keen on:

‘Witchita Blue’ is a giant shrub, rising about 25 toes tall and as much as eight toes large.

Whereas the metal blue foliage stands out, what’s significantly good about this Rocky Mountain juniper (J. scopulorum) is that it’s fairly bushy, with a number of mushy progress. Which means it could actually deal with heavy pruning earlier than you attain the woody stems.

‘Wichita Blue’

That is a type of shrubs that you could truly prune fairly dramatically.

In order for you an adaptable shrub, seize one in a two- to three-, three- to four-, or four- to five-foot top at Quick Rising Timber.

Or nab your self one of many narrowest juniper cultivars on the market. ‘Skyrocket’ is one other Rocky Mountain cultivar, this one grows about 15 toes large and an astonishing three toes large.

‘Skyrocket’

It’s excellent as an announcement specimen or with a number of in a row as a windbreak or dwelling fence.

Nature Hills Nursery carries ‘Skyrocket’ in #1 containers at about two to 3 toes tall.

And that can assist you get began, we’ve got a information to rising ‘Skyrocket’ right here.

‘Moonglow’ is a favourite of mine as a result of the blue-green foliage has a touch of silver that resembles the mirrored gentle from the moon.

‘Moonglow’

Seize one in every of these Rocky Mountain cultivars at Quick Rising Timber in one- to two-, two- to three-, or three- to four-foot heights in a single or six-pack.

As soon as mature, they may attain 15 toes tall and about six toes large.

If you are going to buy and plant one in every of these, please go to our information to rising Rocky Mountain junipers for cultivation suggestions.

If you have already got an upright juniper and also you’re in search of some trimming info, let’s get began with the instruments you’ll want.

You may get away with a pointy, clear pair of bypass pruners, however I additionally prefer to have a pair of anvil and ratchet pruners readily available, relying on the tree or shrub I’m working with.

For those who don’t need or want a bunch of various pruners, simply persist with the previous basic Felco F-2. They’ll get the job accomplished simply high-quality.

Felco F-2

Amazon carries these gardening necessities.

In case your plant has some bigger branches you could deal with, you’ll additionally need a noticed or loppers. A tree noticed will help you attain excessive branches, particularly when you discover one with a built-in lopper.

One thing just like the Milliard extendable pole noticed/pruner accessible at Amazon is right for these taller junipers.

Milliard Extendable Pole Noticed

You must also put on gloves, since many junipers have sharp leaves. You may also think about donning a thick, long-sleeved shirt or some protecting gardening sleeves.

You solely should get all scratched up by your juniper as soon as earlier than you keep away from making that mistake a second time.

Timing

Pruning could be accomplished anytime you need except the air temperatures are beneath freezing. When the wooden of a juniper freezes, the plant could be broken and even killed by pruning.

To be additional secure, it’s best to keep away from pruning within the late fall, too. Whenever you make cuts in late fall, it exposes the plant to winter harm.

Alternatively, pruning throughout a warmth wave when the plant is already struggling to preserve water isn’t advisable except it’s completely obligatory.

For those who can wait, the most effective time to prune is in late winter or early spring. Early fall is barely much less perfect, but it surely’s nonetheless high-quality.

If you could do lots of pruning, unfold it out over a number of weeks and even months, if doable. Nonetheless, in case your plant has a major quantity of harm or diseased limbs, it’s greatest to get all of it accomplished without delay.

Pruning Approach

The instrument and technique you’re going to make use of to prune your upright juniper is dependent upon the dimensions of the department or stem you’re slicing.

For those who’re working with a bit of wooden smaller than your pinky, simply use these pruners. Something greater requires a noticed or loppers.

You possibly can prune inexperienced progress to encourage bushiness and form the plant. Solely areas with inexperienced, mushy wooden will department and develop new progress as a result of new foliage emerges from the department suggestions.

For those who prune an older, woody department again to the place there aren’t any leaves, it gained’t develop any new progress and also you’ll be left with a naked stump.

As a rule of thumb, it’s best to take away any branches or stems that don’t have needles. They gained’t generate new progress. If you could prune a department again into the woody space that’s devoid of needles, simply take the entire thing off.

Small stems could be in the reduction of to the principle department. Make a flush reduce so there isn’t a stump left behind.

For bigger branches, you need to make your reduce in order that the department collar stays intact. The department collar is a raised spot the place the trunk transitions into the department. Whenever you’re accomplished slicing, that little bump will stay.

To do that, take your noticed or loppers and reduce the department a number of inches out from the trunk. For those who’re utilizing a noticed, it’s greatest to make the reduce from beneath quite than above. Noticed about midway by after which begin sawing from the highest to fulfill the reduce that you just made out of beneath.

Now that you just’ve eliminated the burden you can also make a exact reduce. Use the noticed or loppers to take away the remainder of the department at a slight angle in order that the department collar stays intact.

Take away any lopsided, ugly, or uncommon progress. Something diseased or discolored will get the chop.

If you wish to encourage bushier progress in an space that could be a little sparse, reduce the inexperienced ends to advertise branching.

Keep in mind, you don’t have to create upright progress, you’re aiming to assist the pure form of the tree.

If you wish to flatten the highest of the shrub, be at liberty, however just be sure you are solely slicing into inexperienced progress. If as you flatten the highest you chop into previous wooden, you’re going to have a bit baldy in your arms.

What to Keep away from

There are some things to keep away from when pruning upright junipers. First, don’t ever reduce the principle central trunk.

This is called the chief and when you have been to lop it off within the hopes of constructing your shrub bushier or to restrict its top, you’ll solely weaken the plant and go away it extra inclined to wreck.

We’ve already talked about it, but it surely’s price repeating: don’t prune again into previous wooden and anticipate new progress.

You additionally shouldn’t seal any of the cuts that you just make. I do know it was widespread thought that you can defend the plant by sealing up any cuts, however most conifers do a incredible job of defending themselves.

That’s what the sticky resin that oozes out of those crops is for – it’s the plant’s pure protection.

Strive to not prune greater than 1 / 4 to a 3rd of the plant at one time. The exception to that is in case your plant is badly broken by illness, pests, or one thing environmental like wind or snow. In that case, it’s greatest to take away the issue wooden to assist the shrub.

Lastly, please, please don’t shear your crops! It hurts my coronary heart each time I see somebody taking a type of electrical trimmers to create a clean line. That works nice on some species, like boxwoods, but it surely’s not the proper methodology for junipers.

Shearing not solely runs the chance of making an unsightly bald spot, since you may’t be as correct along with your cuts, but it surely additionally creates a dense umbrella of progress on the surface of the shrub that shades the inside of the plant.

This causes needle drop and a skinny shell of progress that isn’t supported by wholesome inside progress.

If you wish to shear only a small space right here and there with some precision, go forward, however don’t do it on the complete plant.

Only a Little Off the High

Whenever you’re pruning an upright juniper, you aren’t attempting to create a topiary or change its pure form.

The objective is to supply some assist for the pure form of the plant. I imply, have a look at these crops! They’re already beautiful all on their very own. All they want is a bit help.

What sort of upright juniper are you pruning? Are you coping with a illness or simply offering a bit form? Share with us within the feedback part beneath.

Hopefully you’re feeling prepared to go on the market along with your pruners and gloves and end the job.

As soon as your plant is trying fabulous, you may need to study a bit extra about junipers. Listed here are a number of guides to get you began: