Junipers for Year Long Color

Junipers are extremely popular in landscape design due to their different shapes and sizes. Most times they get a bad name but they definitely have their place.

Junipers come in all sizes, colors and shapes and can be used as a ground cover, in wind breaks and or as specimen plantings. They are an evergreen that is a part of the conifer family, although they do not produce cones; instead they have small berries.

Most junipers require a full sun location with good drainage. They are very drought tolerant which make them an excellent choice for areas that are not irrigated. I have seen more junipers die from overwatering than anything else, especially the ground cover varieties. Junipers require little maintenance

Ground cover - For a great evergreen ground cover choose ‘Blue Rug’ or ‘Blue Chip’ Juniper for a blue green color, and for dark green, use ‘Broadmoor’ and ‘Mini Arcadia’. When planting these in landscape beds it is always best to mulch to help keep out the weeds. Use Dimension in the spring and summer to keep weed seeds from germinating. If you still have a problem with grassy weeds growing in your low growing junipers, try Ferti-lome® Over-The-Top, this spray only kills grassy weeds and eliminates a lot of back breaking weed pulling.

Foundation - A great juniper with lots of color all year long is ‘Saybrook Gold’. It gets about 3 feet tall and has a bright yellow foliage color that doesn’t fade in the winter months. ‘Grey Owl’ and ‘Kallay Compact Pftizer’ will reach about 3 to 4 feet tall and have a nice blue green color to their foliage.

Background - If you are looking for a screen or a background planting that has a great bright green color all year long, then ‘Sea Green’ Juniper is the plant to use. ‘Sea Green’ Juniper will get 6 to 8 feet tall with dense fountain like branches.

Screening - Pine trees have been on the decline with disease problems. Many people ask for a good substitute for screening and upright junipers are a great alternative. ‘Canaerti’ Junipers reach a height of 30 feet by 10 feet and grow fairly rapidly. They have great dark green foliage and can be trimmed to be either formal or informal. If you have a narrow space and want a tall screen ‘Taylor’ is an excellent choice. The ‘Taylor’ juniper has a very vertical form, reaching 25 feet tall and only 3 feet wide. They remind me of the junipers in Europe, and make a great statement when planting 3 or more. The foliage has a nice blue tint.  Other upright junipers that make great choices are ‘Iowa’, ‘Perfecta’, ‘Spartan’, and ‘Burkii’.

Pruning - The best way to trim junipers is not with hedge shears, but to prune selectively where you see a “Y” or on low growing varieties a wild branch, or branches that cross each other. Locate the dead zone, (where you no longer see green foliage) and do not go back into that area.

Pests - Junipers will sometimes get spider mites and bagworms.  For spider mites spray with a hard blast of water to wash of the pests or use Ferti-lome® Horticulture Oil, but be careful when temperatures are warm so you don’t burn the foliage. Bagworms can also be a problem, spray them when small, and use Ferti-lome® Bagworm, Borer Killer, Tent Caterpillar and Leaf Miner Spray with spinosad.

To get that all year color junipers make a great choice! As always, for additional questions on selection or planting instructions stop by Blueville Nursery Garden Store.

Fall Perennial Care

Many perennials are better off left with their foliage intact over the winter rather than cutting them down to the ground. There are several reasons for this, one is the seeds can be attractive and provide food for  birds. Many birds find the seeds of perennials, especially Coneflower and Rudbeckia very tasty. The stems of perennials also offer a place for some birds to hide during the winter. Leaving the stems intact also protects some marginally hardy perennials and gives them a better chance of survival. The foliage helps insulate the crowns. Mums also benefit from a layer of mulch around the crown. Sometimes perennials are late to emerge in the spring, and having the stems from the previous year helps you find where you planted them.

If you had any disease problems with your perennials cut them back to about 3” from the soil and dispose of any foliage. Some people just don’t like the looks of dead stems in their beds and it is fine to cut back most perennials. Be sure and water them in well before winter and if we do have a dry winter and warm temperatures drag a hose to the garden and give them a drink.

Avery's Additions

Fall is upon us and what a beautiful season it is! It’s time to start thinking about our song birds.  We have a great selection of quality birdseed, feeders and accessories to accommodate your bird watching needs.

Our amaryllis bulbs have arrived! We have boxed Amaryllis as well as loose bulbs with a great variety of colors. Shop early for the best selection of this great holiday flower. We also still have plenty of tulips, hyacinth, crocus and tulips to choose from.  Plant bulbs now to enjoy them in the spring!

When you start thinking about Christmas gifts think about Blueville!  We have lots of great gift ideas perfect for the gardener and outdoor entertainer.  Don’t forget there’s always a Blueville Gift Card available in any amount and they never expire!

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