As a versatile plant species, juniper is sometimes used in the kitchen. It can be planted as a hedge and even as a bonsai.
Juniper (Juniperus) is a decorative tree that not only impresses with its extraordinary appearance, but also with its scent and healing substances. We show you how to properly plant and care for juniper and why juniper berries are actually not berries at all.
Juniper: flowers, leaves and properties
The juniper plant genus (Juniperus) belongs to the cypress family (Cupressaceae). It contains about 80 species, of which only two occur naturally in Central Europe. The other juniper species are distributed almost all over the entire northern hemisphere - from the Arctic to the tropical zones. The evergreen trees or shrubs grow erect, creeping or deciduous and emit a strong fragrance. Its leaves are needle-shaped or scaly, often soft and slightly flattened, but sometimes very pointed. The white or pink juniper flowers are very small and inconspicuous. Juniper is better known for its cones, which are often referred to as berries. Until the female cones have reached their blue color, they have to mature for up to two years. Since juniper is dioecious, a male and a female specimen are required for fertilization.
But how big does juniper get? This varies from species to species and can range from a one meter tall shrub to a ten meter tall juniper tree. The common juniper (Juniperus communis), which we frequently plant, reaches an average height of about five to eight metres. In addition to being used as ornamental plants, juniper fruits are also used to make schnapps, essential oils and spices. They are also used as natural remedies. Other names for the juniper are: Feuerbaum, Kranewitt, Queckholter and Machangel.
Tip: Juniors used to be planted on graves. It was believed that through him theSouls of the dead can come back to life. It is not for nothing that the name juniper is reminiscent of Wach-H alter.
Planting juniper: location and procedure
The genus Juniperus is considered to be very undemanding and robust, which is why a location can be found for every juniper.
Only shade should be avoided: the juniper needs a lot of light to be able to grow well. A place in the sun is ideal, partial shade is tolerated. Drought doesn't bother him much and even a calcareous subsoil is not a problem. The soil should be permeable, but the juniper also tolerates a location with alternating humidity.
Tip: If you want to harvest juniper berries, you should plant a female and a male juniper.
The best time to plant juniper is spring, but planting in early autumn is also possible. The distance to other plants depends on the species and their growth characteristics. At the desired location, dig a planting hole that is about twice the size of the root ball. Place the juniper root ball in a bucket of water to soak it up. If the garden soil is very heavy, you should dig the hole particularly deep. The excavated soil should be mixed with plenty of sand to promote water drainage. Then put the juniper in the hole, fill it up with soil and tamp the soil down. In the near future the plant should be watered well.
Juniper in pots: You can also keep some small juniper species in pots and put them on the balcony. Suitable are for example Juniperus communis 'Compressa' or Juniperus squamata 'Blue Star'. A drainage layer made of potsherds ensures water drainage. High-quality plant soil is suitable as a substrate, such as our Plantura organic universal soil. It is suitable for many plants and also ensures he althy growth for juniper. Our peat-free, organic soil is not only good for plants, but also for the environment. Mix the soil with a third of sand to further increase permeability.
Tip: Juniper can also be planted as a hedge. To do this, reduce the planting distance and place two juniper plants on a meter of hedge. A suitable species is, for example, the columnar juniper Juniperusscopulorum.
Care for the juniper: pruning, fertilizing etc.
There is hardly anything to consider when caring for junipers. Although the plants grow slowly, they do not require any additional care. Only young juniper plants should still be watered and depending on when they are planted, winter protection can be helpful.
Watering and fertilizing
Because juniper tolerates drought very well, larger specimens do not need to be watered. However, freshly planted, young juniper should be supplied with water regularly at the beginning so that it can grow well. In the first few years, watering is only done when it is dry, later not at all. Fertilization is also usually not necessary for juniper in a suitable location. On sandy soil or in pots, a little slow-release fertilizer should be added occasionally. Juniper requires a nutrient composition low in phosphorus and extra magnesium. Due to these special requirements, our Plantura organic rose fertilizer is very well suited for juniper, even if it may sound unusual at first. Our organic fertilizer lasts a long time and is safe for pets and garden animals. Potted juniper should also be repotted occasionally, because the fresh substrate promotes he althy growth.
Pruning juniper
Juniper tolerates pruning well and can be used to create decorative shapes. However, it grows slowly and it takes longer for it to sprout again. Although it is not necessary to prune juniper, pruning encourages branching. However, you should not cut into the old wood: after a radical pruning, older junipers hardly sprout anymore. A large, he althy plant can also be pruned back a little more selectively. However, re-growth is not guaranteed. Remove visible dead branches in the spring and regularly cut back the young juniper. Because juniper needles are very sharp, be sure to wear gloves when cutting.
Common juniper diseases and pests
Although it is very hardy, juniper can also be attacked by diseases or pests.
- Dieback (Phomopsis juniperivora): This disease is manifested by brown needles and small black fruiting bodies of thefungus that causes the disease. Cut off all affected parts of the plant generously.
- Juniper leaf miner (Argyresthia trifasciata): If the shoots turn brown from the tips, there may be an infestation of the juniper leaf miner. You should seek advice from a plant protection service when controlling.
- Rust Fungi (Gymnosporangium): Hawthorn rust, pear rust, or juniper blister rust are caused by various rust fungi. They can be recognized by the yellowish, tongue-shaped fruit bodies and swollen shoots. Here, too, the affected parts of the plant should be cut off and disposed of in the household waste. The fungi spread to other plants, such as pear trees.
Propagation
The best way to propagate juniper is to use cuttings. To do this, tear off a young shoot from the main shoot in late summer. This should already be slightly woody, but still green at the base. Use a sharp knife to cut off the tongue of bark that has formed when tearing off, and remove the tip of the shoot and the needles in the lower area. Then put the cutting in a mixture of universal soil and sand and place the whole thing in a bright place with high humidity at around 20 °C. The substrate should always be kept moist. Roots should have formed by spring so that the juniper can be repotted or planted out.
Tip: Use a cutting of the main shoot when propagating. The shoots of conifers remember their direction of growth. A side shoot will therefore not grow straight up after propagation.
Is juniper hardy?
A well-rooted juniper does not need any winter protection. Young plants can be protected with a layer of mulch. If you keep the juniper in the pot, you can place it on a block of wood and wrap it with burlap for safety.
Harvesting and using junipers
The common juniper (Juniperus communis) is mainly used in the kitchen. The cone berries of the female juniper are ripe as soon as they turn dark blue. That occurs two yearsafter pollination. They are used, among other things, for juniper tea or to refine schnapps. Other species, such as the Sade tree (Juniperus sabina), are poisonous in all parts. Juniper trees contain essential oils and are also used to flavor meat.
Tip: The Sade tree was also used in medicine in the past. There it was used, among other things, for cleaning wounds, for breathing difficulties and for abortions.
Is juniper poisonous?
Juniper species are slightly poisonous in some, sometimes in all, parts of the plant. The berries of the common juniper were used in medicine in the past. However, they also contain substances that in excess can lead to irritation in the gastrointestinal tract or on the skin. Juniper should not be consumed during pregnancy or if you have kidney problems. Excessive consumption of juniper is also poisonous for pets. The Sade tree is even classified as poisonous and can cause severe irritation and blistering through skin contact alone. Symptoms of poisoning after eating berries of the Sade tree include vomiting, diarrhea and bladder pain.
Juniper and heather bushes like to share the same sunny, rather dry and sandy location. The bell heather is also very popular in the garden and we show you how to care for it.