Most gardeners prefer to grow evergreen conifers on garden plots that will adorn the flowerbed throughout the year. In the past few years, Lyme Glow juniper has been especially popular, with its unusual coloring of needles. This article will discuss the main characteristics of the culture, as well as the features of its cultivation.
Botanical Description
Juniper horizontal varieties Lime Glow refers to dwarf ornamental plants. In the process of selection, wild-growing varieties were used. Skeletal branches are parallel to the cover of the earth. They are evenly covered with needles. The hue of the needles varies with the season.
Did you know? The Lyme Glow variety was bred in 1984 in America.
Variety Characteristics
Description and characteristics of Juniperus horizontalis Lime Glow:
- plant height - 40 cm;
- width - 1.5-2 m;
- bark - gray-brown, dense;
- the crown of young shrubs is pillow-shaped, and that of adults is funnel-shaped;
- annual growth is not more than 10 cm, therefore, juniper of this variety belongs to slow-growing crops;
- the needles of young bushes are green, with age it becomes bright yellow. In winter, the needles are transformed again, and acquire an orange-bronze hue;
- fruits of a spherical shape, about 4 cm long;
- the bumps are blue-black.
Winter hardiness is high. The juniper horizontal withstands cooling to -26 ° C. Therefore, it is possible to plant this crop in all regions of the country. Life expectancy, subject to all care rules, no more than 400 years. If you want to extend this period, then you need to transplant the plant to a new place every 50 years.
Proper fit
It is very important to plant horizontal juniper correctly, so that the plant develops at the time specified by the manufacturer and dies from changes in temperature conditions. Follow the optimal timing for planting, and also responsibly approach the choice of planting material.
Important! Lime Glow horizontal juniper bumps are poisonous.
Purchase planting material in specialized nurseries. In them you can buy healthy seedlings, as well as receive recommendations for caring for it. It is important to monitor the quality of the soil, because the plant prefers to grow in nutrient soil with a neutral pH level.
How to choose a seedling
When choosing a seedling, it is necessary to consider its age. For planting in open ground, plants that are 2-3 years old are suitable. More mature shrubs will take root for a long time and will not have time to acclimatize by the onset of winter. Young plants can die from the slightest change in temperature.
You should also pay attention to the condition of the root system and crown. More on this will be described below.
Root system
When choosing a seedling, consider the features of the root system. The optimum length is 20 cm. Choose planting material with a closed root system. When buying, consider what containers the plant is stored in. It is best if it grows in pots, not bags, where the roots are quickly damaged. If you get a seedling with an open root system, then you need to immediately start planting. Otherwise, the rhizome will be damaged by air.
Did you know? Juniper has its own interpretation in dreams. If you dream about this plant, it means that wealth and luck await you in all your endeavors.
Crown
The optimal crown width of a young seedling is 20 cm. It should be uniform and dense. On the surface of the crown should not be brown or red spots that indicate the presence of diseases. The optimal seedling size is 20 cm.
Site selection and preparation
It is necessary to plant a horizontal juniper of the Lyme Glow variety in the spring, when the root system builds up. It will also allow the plant to take root in the soil to withstand winter frosts.
When choosing a seat you need to consider some features. You can’t grow juniper next to apple trees, because these crops have similar diseases and parasites. Also, do not land next to the roofs. When the snow falls, it can damage the crown of the bush. It is preferable to plant plants in sunny areas, so that the needles become brighter. The garden should have nutritious soil. Juniper is best developed in loam or chernozem.
Preparing the soil for planting is as follows:
- Dig the site.
- Add humus (3 buckets per 1 m²).
- Water the soil (50 l per 1 m²) so that the fertilizer penetrates better into the ground.
Landing algorithm
After a month, you can start planting.
Important! When planting, the root neck is left above the ground, rising 5-6 cm. With its help, the oxygen necessary for the plant to grow will penetrate the roots.
The technology is as follows:
- Dig holes 30 cm deep and 40 cm wide.
- Sprinkle a 10-centimeter layer of broken brick to adjust the soil moisture level.
- Sprinkle drainage with a nutritious mixture, combining garden soil, sand and peat in equal proportions.
- Place the seedling inside and pour it with 5 liters of water.
- Fill the hole with garden soil.
- Pour 10 liters of water.
- Mulch the near-stem circle with peat or spruce branches (the mulch layer should be 20 cm).
Care Tips
In the process of growing horizontal juniper Lyme Glow varieties should provide him with full care. Adjust the watering interval so that the soil is not too waterlogged. Also, one should not forget about top dressing and loosening of the upper soil layer. It is important to trim the crown so that it retains its brightness and splendor.
Watering and feeding
Horizontal juniper is a drought tolerant crop. Therefore, you need to water the plants no more than 1 time per month. Under each bush, 20 liters of water are poured. If you live in regions with a hot climate, then you need to irrigate juniper 2 times a month. Shrub prefers to grow in humid air. Therefore, irrigation is carried out by sprinkling, so that water falls on the crown.
It is not recommended to fertilize the soil strongly, i.e. the juniper variety Lime Glow develops poorly under such conditions.
In total, 2 top dressings are required during the season:
- in the spring, under each bush, 300 g of nitroammophos are introduced;
- in the fall, mineral fertilizers are used (50 g of superphosphate per plant).
Mulching and loosening the soil
For the first time, mulch the plants immediately after planting. After this, similar care procedures are carried out once a year, in late autumn. A layer of mulch is needed to protect shrubs from frost. For these purposes, using spruce branches, fallen leaves or peat. The mulch layer should be 20–25 cm.
Loosening the soil is carried out once every two weeks. This stage is especially important before watering and top dressing, so that nutrients and moisture penetrate better into the rhizome. The depth of cultivation is 8 cm. Try to use disinfected garden tools so as not to bring bacteria and fungi into the soil.
Cropping and shaping
The genetic feature of the Lyme Glow variety is that its crown develops symmetrically. Therefore, the plant does not need to form a crown. If you cut branches to make the shape of the bush more correct, then weaken its immune system. Only sanitary scraps are carried out annually, in early spring. In the process, dry, diseased and frost-damaged branches are removed.
Wintering
The frost resistance of the culture is high. Therefore, adult plants do not need shelter for the winter. It is enough to cover bushes with the spruce branches, which are less than 4 years old. With the onset of spring, it must be removed and loosened the top layer of soil. This is necessary for the prevention of root rot.
It is enough to cover bushes with the spruce branches, which are less than 4 years old. This is necessary for the prevention of root rot.
Diseases and Pests
Lime Glow horizontal juniper is resistant to most diseases. But it can be affected by Fusarium and rust. Disease treatment is carried out by fungicides. Against fusarium, which manifests itself in the form of a pink-orange coating on needles. Treatment consists in the use of “Prothioconazole” (50 g per 10 l of water). To destroy the signs of rust (burgundy and red-brown spots on the needles), the bushes should be treated with a solution of copper sulfate (10 g per 9 l of water). All sprayings are carried out with an interval of 2 weeks.
Of the pests, shrubs can be affected by aphids and spider mites. Against aphids, it is recommended to use Oksikhom (40 g per 10 liters of water). In the fight against spider mites, Topaz is used (20 g per 8 liters of water). Spraying is carried out with an interval of 21 days.
Breeding methods
There are several ways to propagate the horizontal juniper variety Lyme Glow. Most often, gardeners use the method of cuttings. Material must be harvested in the spring. To do this, cut the cuttings (up to 25 cm long) together with the wood.
Free the lower part from the needles and plant in a container filled with a nutrient mixture (sand and peat in equal proportions). Place the container in a warm place. Care consists of weekly watering. After 2 months, after the roots are developed, transplant to a permanent place in the open ground.
You can also breed horizontal juniper layers, in early autumn. To do this, squeeze healthy shoots to the ground and tack. Plant care is the same as with adult shrubs. In the spring, when the root system is developed, separate the layers from the mother plant and transplant to a permanent place.
Landscape design application
In nature, the Lyme Glow variety is found near ponds and mountains. Therefore, gardeners specializing in landscape design often plant juniper crops to decorate decorative ponds in garden areas. You can also plant plants on the lower rows of rock gardens. Due to the shape of the crown of the bush, it is used to cover the soil on paths or decorate open areas of the garden. To get a carpet from juniper, it is enough to plant 3 bushes per 1 m².
Most often, the Lyme Glow variety is planted next to barberry, heather, panicle hydrangea, or evergreen conifers.
Juniper is often used for single plantings. It can also be combined with other plants. Thanks to the bright crown, reminiscent of the peel of a lemon in color, the culture goes well with the colors of lilac or purple. Looks good against the background of decorative lemons, which gardeners also grow at home.
So, now you know how to grow Lyme Glow horizontal juniper at home. Despite the unpretentiousness in the care, you need to carefully care for the culture so that it delights you with a rich bright color of needles and a lush crown.
