What attracts gardeners to the low-growing juniper Mint Julep
Content
Description and characteristics of the juniper Mint Julep
Let's start the description of the juniper with the fact that this coniferous plant belongs to the Cypress family. It perfectly cleans the air and fights bacteria. Veres is a native of America, thriving in the mountains. It has a lush crown and branches that fall to the ground. The needles are soft, scaly, rich green.
The bush can grow up to two meters in height, while its diameter reaches three meters. Fruiting in large cone-shaped berries of a blue hue. The plant is poisonous. The hybrid was bred in America by crossing the Chinese and Cossack species.
Juniper has a high frost resistance - it is able to withstand frosts down to -40 ° C. The same goes for poor environmental conditions - the plant develops rapidly and cleans the air. It is unpretentious in leaving, it can withstand extreme heat and sudden changes in temperature. The culture is not demanding on the soil; it can be planted on the ground of any acidity.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
- the ability to quickly clean up the polluted area;
- unpretentious care;
- pleasant aroma that prevents the occurrence of infections and ailments of the respiratory tract.
- before planting, you need to carefully calculate the holes on the ground so that you do not have to transplant it later;
- needles need regular watering and irrigation from a spray bottle (the minimum consumption for one such procedure is about ten liters of water);
- direct rays of the sun can provoke burns near the needles;
- spoiled branches must be cleaned up constantly and in a timely manner.
Video "Brief description of the juniper Mint Julep"
By watching this video, you will know what a coniferous culture is.
How to properly care for the Mint Julep juniper
Juniper adapts to soil with any acidity level. But keep in mind that too acidic or alkaline soil negatively affects the growth of the crop and its appearance.
Planting instructions
The hybrid requires a large land area. If you are planting multiple bushes, create a gap of at least two meters between them. The period for planting is chosen by the gardener, but the ideal option is the beginning of spring, when the snow has already melted.
An important condition is the absence of groundwater near the planted crop, otherwise it will be frail.
To begin with, the gardener must prepare a recess for planting. Please note that the dimensions of the groove should be a couple of times larger than the girth of the rhizome. The approximate depth should be 60 cm, and the width should be 50 cm. Be sure to put drainage on the bottom (you can use expanded clay, sawdust, gravel).
Straighten the roots before planting. Sprinkle loose soil on the plant dropped into the hole.The neck of the root should be deepened in such a way that it does not protrude completely from the ground, but at the same time it is lowered deep enough. Finish planting with water irrigation and mulching on the trunk. You can use wood chips, sawdust, bark, or even grass as mulch.
Evergreen Shrub Care
The plant is not demanding to care for. In order for it to always be healthy and delight you with bright, dense foliage, water it often, feed it, prune it and protect it from the sun and frost.
Juniper loves moisture, so you need to water it every week. To do this, you need 20 liters of settled water. Also, remember to spray the bush with a spray bottle every three days. It is recommended to water the culture in the evening so that the moisture has time to be absorbed overnight. Otherwise, the shrub will dry out in the sun, and the needles will be withered and less juicy.
Fertilize Mint Julep once a year. Carry out this procedure in the spring, using mineral mixtures that include phosphorus. The first time feeding can be carried out only in the second year after planting. For an adult plant, two feeding procedures are required per year.
Trim the heather as needed. Always remove shrunken outgrowths so that they do not interfere with the growth of new ones. Bushes that are more than six years old can be safely given any shape.
Shelter for the winter
In the first years after planting, the culture needs preparation for the winter. In order for a young pfitzeriana to easily endure the cold, carry out water charging watering a couple of months before frost. Mulch the trunk circle with peat, and remove it in the spring so that the roots do not rot. The branches need to be tied and covered with spruce branches. To avoid deformation, the branches are fixed with wire.
Diseases and pests of the variety
The hybrid has excellent immunity. In some cases, it can become infected with rust. The most common reason for this is the fruit trees growing nearby. In this case, the drying branches must be cut and burned. In case of serious damage, the bush is treated with Metaxil or Karbofos.
Insects that are dangerous to heres are aphids, sawflies and scale insects. To deal with them, you need to use "Decis" or "Fitoverm". Among the folk remedies for preventing the appearance of pests, the most popular are ash, sulfur soap or garlic.
Juniper Mint Julep in landscape design
This variety of juniper will decorate any garden, so gardeners often use it to create original compositions. Thanks to the bending branches, you can create a curly composition of any shape from it, and the crown of an adult bush can be decoratively trimmed. It is recommended to plant a crop next to other pine trees and shrubs.
A spectacular plant will adorn any territory, while it is completely unpretentious. Therefore, caring for heather does not take much effort, even for a novice gardener.