Junipers produce blue berries that persist into winter.
Blue junipers come in a wide array of styles and sizes, making it possible for you to use a variety of blue junipers throughout your landscape. Blue junipers are tough plants capable of thriving under a variety of adverse conditions once established. Choose a site in full sun with well-draining soil that is rich in organic matter. Know the mature size of the blue juniper you select. These plants do not respond well to pruning. Plant them in an area where they have adequate room to thrive. Does this Spark an idea?
Ground Cover
Because blue junipers are heat and drought tolerant, these plants are an ideal choice for a steep hill or slope. Choose a creeping variety, and water it well the first season. Saturating the ground each time you water is essential for a plant to develop a deep root system. The deeper the root system, the easier it is for the plant to take up water and nutrients below ground level. This helps sustain the plant during extreme drought.
Windbreak or Hedgerow
Plant blue junipers as a windbreak or hedgerow, but make sure to take the time to prepare the soil before you plant them. The reason you do not see this technique a lot is because if one of the plants dies, it is hard to find a replacement that is the same size. There are steps you can take to prevent a plant from dying. The first step is to dig a hole three times the size of the plant's root ball and amend the soil heavily with compost or other organic matter, which will improve drainage and add nutrients to the soil that are necessary for healthy plant growth. Water your blue junipers during times of extreme drought because even drought-tolerant plants need a certain amount of moisture to thrive.
Focal Point
Larger varieties of blue junipers are ideal to use as a focal point in your garden. Surround the blue junipers with other types of plants that like acidic soil. You may not start out with acidic soil, but over time as the junipers drop their inner needles, the pH of the soil will change. Don't worry about raking up the leaves that fall; consider it a natural mulch. Good companion plants for blue junipers used as a focal point include azalea, blueberry, rhodendron and camellia.
Xeriscape Gardens
Blue junipers are right at home in xeriscape gardens. Xeriscaping is a type of garden design that makes use of plants that require minimal water. This type of garden is ideal if you live where water use is restricted or if you are environmentally conscious. Select a site for this type of garden that gets the rainwater runoff from the rest of your yard, and mulch the plants well to keep the soil around the roots moist.
Tags: blue junipers, type garden, acidic soil, Blue junipers, extreme drought, focal point, organic matter