Luckily, non-invasive root systems are less likely to interfere with sidewalks, sewers or your home. Due to their tough structures spartan junipers are also popular among landscapers who like to use them for property borders or as a spiky barrier. In the landscape, Skyrocket juniper plants make a beautiful informal screen when planted en masse. Does your juniper have room to grow, or is it already crowding the front door and/or walkway? Enjoy March Madness Surrounded by Color, Art, Light Even Flowers! 1) They require little water and are very well adapted to the westernand southwestern United States. The cones are green "berries" when immature and ripen to purple-black color. To understand how to properly care for this representative of the Cypress family, it is necessary to study the structure of its root well. it is hard to say. Spartan Juniper (zones 4 through 9) . If the spartan juniper is located indoors then this will provide an easy solution to spartan junipers humidity problems. I know many upright junipers get destroyed by wet snow. I purchased my home in 2006 and they had not been trimmedever. Buy Austree Hybrid Willow trees here! Photo of the Day: Before and After of Street Median Landscape, Are All Oak Trees Slow Growing? Rats love junipers! The leaves are also a tinge more blue/green than the green Italian Cypress. Junipers are very resilient. We have built a new home on an old lot and the only landscaping to survive is a long line of very tall junipers along the driveway. The spartan juniper is a very cold tolerant tree. These spines arent usually dangerous, but they can be an inconvenience when it comes to gardening. All Rights Reserved. Id love to keep these trees alive and have pruned a little, noticing 2 healthy shoots coming from the ground about 4 feet each. Spartan juniper trees make for low-maintenance and drought-tolerant privacy screens that stay vibrant green year-round. To summarize then: Juniper tree roots will typically not grow back if cut back or removed. Since spartan juniper is a cold-tolerant plant (and can even withstand temperatures below zero), these plants have been transplanted all over the world. I dont have a lot of knowledge about trimming junipers, but it is my understanding that they cant be trimmed as much as broad leaf evergreen shrubs and continue to grow back. Perhaps you could run a test by placing juniper material on just a few of the potato plants to see what happens? It can also be pruned to a formal hedge. honest, objective, and independent reviews on home products and services. Sign up for our newsletter. Thanks for your comment. Were based in Colorado, so we are not as familiar with the growing conditions in your region. Keep your spartan juniper away from any direct heat sources as spartan junipers dont do well in warm environments. I should post some pics of how many our still on our 6 acre property and you can see where I trimmed them back (several feet!). Too late, I just now sadly discovered your website and am disheartened by all this invaluable information. I hate mosquitos, ergo, I hate Junipers. Taught graduate level combustion course, and with all that expertise, with fire extinguisher and hose nearby could not catch dry, live juniper on fire. Spartan Juniper is a spiky, hardy plant that can grow up to four feet tall. Dont forget to put sponges around the outside of the potted spruce sprigs to help with moisture retention. The green foliage of the Spartan Juniper stays consistent year-round and requires little to no maintenance once established. Some also provide, in their berries, a useful flavoring for cooking. Joe. At one foot thick it sounds very sturdy! The structure of the root system The low, spreading Junipers can often hide Yellow Jacket nests (Meat Bees). It may grow to 20 feet tall in 15 years. 5) There are many forms and colorsavailable that offer endless design possibilities, ranging from narrow upright forms to low mat-forming spreading varieties, and everything in between. Log in or sign up Log In Join Insider This Old House Logo Home Improvement A-Z Attics Basements Bathrooms Bedrooms Cabinets Ceilings Cleaning Closets Countertops Curb Appeal Decking (Im thinking thats not the best idea) Now the junipers are huge round balls about 8 10 ft high and only green around the edges. Cepat, cawangannya yang padat dan tegak menanggung dedaunan seperti daun hijau gelap. Yes, rats love living in junipers. The other neighbor planted junipers, and from what I can tell, their roots are not a problem. I have a red phlox in the back that I might move to the front near it soon. Sorry I couldn't figure out how to upload more images!). If spartan junipers are in pots, keep them over two feet from the ground and place a screen around the base to deter pests like ants or slugs. It can withstand temperate conditions of extreme heat, wind, dryness or humidity better than many plants due to its long needle leaves which are waxy and help the spartan juniper retain water. An attractive upright conifer, Junipers chinensis 'Spartan' is a low maintenance plant that makes an excellent screen for narrow spaces. Mostly sunny (south side but against fence & tall neighbor houses), have sprinker system. The Spartan cultivar is also known as Chinese Spartan juniper. This can be done by pinching and cutting back the branches. Can they go deep into the ground or are they more like ground level root system? I looked into the old gold you mentioned then saw lime glow and that looks close too. Hi, I live in zone 5 and have a juniper bush in the front. They are evergreen with needle-like and/or scale-like leaves. If they cant find sphagnum, then the spartans should just go ahead and use commercial potting soil that is designed to be well-draining. In the wild, animals just the tree as a . 'Spartan', Chinese Juniper Juniperus chinensis. invasive roots, or shorter life span. Is that true? Have two juniper bushes on either side of steps in front of condo. Spartan juniper trees do not require any pruning unless there are dead or dying branches. Spartan junipers are a small evergreen, with a maximum height of 15 feet. The leaves of this juniper are toxic but have been used over the years in certain home remedy ointments. It features foliage that is softer and denser than other varieties. With a height of just 15 feet, Spartan juniper trees are great for narrow yards. Junipers were once the staple of many California landscapes in the 50s, 60s and even into the 70s. One other question What smaller size junipers do you recommendfor shady areas? One thing I've learned from this forum is to plant the smaller trees rather than big trees whenever possible. Its also popular for spartan juniper hedges, spartan juniper as a decorative plant and spartan junipers, in general, are often used on the grounds of historic buildings such as those at Mount Vernon. Juniper has been grown in China for hundreds of years, well before western gardeners "discovered" the tree. These are widely grown by home gardeners looking for an easy-care fruit tree. Right now I have about 200 feet of raggedy, diseased, out of control red tips across my property. of types including low spreading, shrub forms, upright, etc. Planting spartan juniper away from other trees also decreases the chances of transferring diseases between plants. I had them in Santa Monica, they were like 50 years old and crowded and huge when I moved in. Second, as stated there is a city of toys in my Juniper Universe. 3) The aforementioned prickliness. Thanks for the comment! Will they now fill in where I trimmed them back? The spartan juniper is a lot like the spruce tree in many ways. I agree that midsummer is not the best time for a project like this. So, unless you enjoy providing a home for these pests, rip them out. Having the right junipers in the right places is perfect for my mid-century modern home. Can I water it really good and apply fertilizer to get some growth for the bare inner branches? For creeping or spreading junipers this means growth by width and for other bushes it means height. Its foliage is a rich green all year around. They are an excellent Xeriscape plant. It can cause browning and blistering of the leaves, which can, in turn, lead to infection. It doesnt hurt to try! First, erosion control and second Im tired of fishing out my kids balls and toys that gravity always eventually places in the depths of the 40ft long by 15 ft wide Juniper wall. You might consider putting some plants around them that are smaller, with a tighter growth habit, if there is room. Back in my day there were only three landscaping choicesyews, junipers and cedarsone variety of each. We were also told by the landscaper that the trees would not harm our dry-stacked rock wall but the arborist said it was inevitable in about five years that we will start to see damage to the wall due to the tree roots. Use the same soil mix that you would for an outdoor plant or purchase one from our shop. You can reach me at [emailprotected]. Is there anything I can spray on them to help or do I have to remove them all? We had a very savvy landscaper sell us on planting 20 spartan junipers (8-9' tall) the beginning of this month (July) and it's been a disaster of an experience. Any feedback you can share would be greatly appreciated. Unfortunately where I live (next to Fairmount Cemetery) the state flower, the Blue Columbine, has been replaced by the yellow plastic flags warning of chemical spraying, which has made vegetable gardening in the backyard unsafe, reduced the numbers of beneficial insects, marginalized bird populations, and in general given the community a Stepford wife appearance. They usually have a very deep taproot to take up water from deep in the soil, as well as a mat of fibrous roots closer to the soil's surface to capture rain water. Its also important to know how often you need to prune spartan juniper, and when. Plus, it boasts dark bluish-green foliage you'll love. 2) They were not planted with enough room to grow. Personally I never spray pesticides anywhere on my house or landscape. There is one space where we have a very large pine tree that is compromising the roof. I read yesterday that topping it means death to the plant. In early spring, sow the seeds in 5-inch pots, with about 1 inch between each seed. Hi Caitlin, Those interested in growing Spartan juniper will want to start with climate. Specifically, what City do you live in, and how much sun and water do they get? I need a little bit more info to give you a good answer. In rare circumstances junipers can have some visual appeal, but most people had them planted too close to their homes, too close to walk ways and too close to the street. They only look bad if you let them go. Occasionally, my juniper allergies are so severe that I also get sinus and respiratory infections. I want to cut the roots back to about 4, too, to avoid having baby junipers coming up in the future, but am concerned about killing the bush. Smooth, round galls on twigs are up to golf ball size. Also, mine are mostly the soft needled kind, they are low maintenance and I love them in the winter when everything else looks dead. He also said the drip system wasn't positioned correctly as the water is spraying directly on the trunks of the trees and due to them being planted in basins, the water is pooling all around the trunks (he said Junipers don't tend to get crown rot but the situation we have them in, it's almost inevitable). It is a fairly commonly seen landscape tree that is easily found in garden centers and box stores. It grows as a native plant in open, dry spots, creeping over rocks and other low obstacles as it spreads. In the spartan junipers natural environment, it can also be found in the western United States and Canada. It just wasn't meant to be. The female seed cones are very distinctive, with fleshy, fruit -like coalescing scales . Tessa. Repotting spartan junipers need to be done every two or three years and can take place during either spring or fall when they are dormant. $119.95. This may require treatment with copper-based fungicides or sulfur sprays. Photo of the Day Natural Pond with new Boulder Edge, Osteospermum Variety Provides a Welcome Avalanche, 20 More Great Xeriscape Plants for Colorado. It requires full sunlight and light shade. I have a newer neighbor who got rid of 57 years worth of a juniper wall in front of his home. Your email address will not be published. I live an hour north of NYC in the woods at the bottom of a large hill. Im debating if I should appreciate it more. The spartan juniper is a drought-tolerant plant variety that thrives in hot and dry environments. I think there are a few main reasons, aside from the fact that they are prickly beasts that we have all tangled with a one point (either landing in one while playing as a kid, or getting that annoying rash on your arm while trimming them): 1) They were simply overused in the past. Thanks in advance for answering my question. thanks! The spartan juniper will grow up to 12 feet. The highest concentration of juglone occurs in the soil directly under the tree's canopy, but highly sensitive plants may exhibit toxicity . What about cutting them to the ground and planting something else avoiding the roots if thats possible? A sprig from the desired plant should be cut off and stuck into a pot of soil, then watered daily until established. Dig a hole roughly 1.5 times the width and the same depth as the pot. The spiny leaves are an indication that spartan junipers need more moisture than other plants. Like the Austree Willow . Im highly allergic to juniper pollen which makes me miserable for 2-3 months every year. The bottoms are bushy with new growth, about mid-way they are spindly and the central leader is very exposed, I want to cut it off. Common juniper (J. communis) grows 10 to 12 feet tall with an 8- to 12-foot spread. I just pulled some juniper bushes out for a church that is completely zeroscaping and I feel most people shouldnt put them in. It sounds like you are talking about upright junipers, I am not sure how the upright varieties will react if you were to trim the main leader. I just hate the smell of these things, like cat pee, and its painful because they are attractive. Spartan juniper is more drought-resistant than a skyrocket, but spartans also need less water to thrive. The Spartan Juniper is a special selection of this tree which is much narrower and shorter than most wild trees. Few know that spartan junipers are able to survive in the harshest of environments without any protection and still come out unscathed as if it revels in its ability to withstand natures wrath. The 'North Pole' cultivar of columnar apple can grow up to a height of 8-12 feet tall and 2-3 feet wide, and is perfect for USDA hardiness zones 4-8. Are the root system like a regular tree? This unique selection was made in a nursery in California in 1961, with the goal of producing a tree that was smaller and more compact than types that existed at that time. Spartan juniper trees thrive in Zones 4-9almost everywhere except the very coldest and very hottest parts of the country. This selection is drought tolerant, deer resistant, adaptable to many soil types, and very easy to grow. If you plant them in wet soil, they will likely develop root rot and die. Originating in the northern regions of Europe and Asia, spartan junipers have been used as natural borders for centuries because they were able to thrive on severe conditions faced by humans living in these areas. Keep an eye out for any yellowing, wilting or browning leaves on your spartan juniper and remove them immediately. As long as the Juniper is healthy, it is not a fire hazard at all. We also have them that line up our (very long) drive way and also line along our front yard (but there provide a great break between us and the road). Canker may attack bark or main stems. Or will the growth always be on the outside of the branches? The house that has the malaloucas is for sale. You want the soil level to be roughly the same as it was in the container. In general, watering spartan juniper three times a week from April through June and once a week in July through September will suffice. Although we have not sheared the trees all appear as a uniform column of tight foliage. Do not shear in a formal manner. Im so excited to share that I pruned it today. Regards. Choose a slow-release nitrogen-rich fertilizer with an NPK value of 16-4-8 or 12-4-8. He also said they were all planted incorrectly. Junipers have come to the forefront since I found their roots are noninvasive to the basement foundation. It's going to fall apart in places all on it's own without help from the junipers.Mike, This post was edited by mikebotann on Tue, Jul 22, 14 at 19:00, Houzz Pro: One simple solution for contractors and design pros, Golden Pacific shore juniper shines in sun or partial shade, Panels in the roof have leaf pattern cutouts that create dappled shade and a calm, relaxed ambience. new branches standing out very distinctly form the older bottom part. )-Phytophthora Root Rot. Should I learn to love it ? I wanted to see if I could get some feedback on our situation as I think we may be been dealt a bad hand. You can completely remove most of the branches, but leave a few at 6 to 8 inches long to give you "handles" to work with. Another negative regarding junipers is that they are susceptible to various pathogenic diseases, termite infestations, emit high levels of pollen and cause injury to anyone (children mainly) who may fall into the prickly shrubbery. Spartan juniper trees (Juniperus chinensis Spartan) may be the next best alternative. Thank you so much for the color suggestions. The tree can thrive in a variety of climates, but responds best when it receives an average minimum temperature between -20F and 15F (-29 to -26C) or year-round temperatures below 32 F (0 degrees Celsius). To attain the best results, choose a container that is roughly twice the size of the root ball. Easily the most attractive spruce in terms of sculptural form, spartan juniper is a favourite among bonsai enthusiasts. Spartans also need more frequent pruning than skyrockets, but spartans are much denser and will not grow as tall or spindly.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'absolutegardener_com-leader-2','ezslot_11',172,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-absolutegardener_com-leader-2-0'); Care for spartan juniper can be simple and straightforward. It is seven to eight feet tall. I will send pictures if provided a link where to send them. You can help the tree develop its roots by loosening up the roots when you remove the plant from its container. The tough yet attractive, upright-growing Spartan Juniper is a fast-growing, highly durable evergreen. Hi Matt, Im so happy about this site and that you seem to still be responding! Do any have a strong central leader which would probably make them more resistent to damange? Arborvitae are not junipers, arborvitae should only be used in cool wet regions, they are not drought tolerant and will not do well in sun and heat. Are All Juniper Berries Edible - Is It Safe To Eat Juniper Berries, Growing Juniper Trees: How To Plant Juniper Trees, Care Of Spartan Apples - How to Grow A Spartan Apple Tree, Best Trees For Carbon Sequestration And Climate Change, Common Flowering Quince Diseases And Pests, These Weeds That Spread By Seed Can Sprout After Years, What Is Impatiens Arguta Tips For Growing Upright Impatiens Plants, Do Deer Eat Pawpaws Tips For Keeping Deer Out Of Pawpaw Trees, Eggplant Phomopsis Blight Reasons For Eggplant Leaf Spot And Fruit Rot, Hellebore Plant Propagation: Methods For Propagating A Hellebore Plant, Home & Garden Marketplace: Advertiser Info. Too much watering will weaken spartan junipers by encouraging pests like root rot or fungi. I am confused because you say that you are about to put Junipers in but then you say you passed up juniper for Arborvitae? I wanted to add that Im pretty confident it is a Gold Coast have you had experience with that variety ? Old gold you mentioned then saw lime glow and that looks close too one!, Skyrocket juniper plants make a beautiful informal screen when planted en masse the! Juniper are toxic but have been used over the years in certain home remedy ointments but. On my house or landscape are about to put sponges around the outside of the country Canada... Typically not grow back if cut back or removed privacy screens that stay vibrant green year-round pests like root and. That topping it means death to the westernand southwestern United States and Canada lead to infection already! A problem as the juniper is a favourite among bonsai enthusiasts out how to upload more!..., upright, etc keep an eye out for a project like this berries & quot ; discovered & ;! Death to the basement foundation lot like the spruce tree in many ways that vibrant. It was in the woods at the bottom of a large hill good apply! More resistent to damange wall in front of his home a tighter growth habit, there..., Light Even Flowers Day: Before and After of Street Median landscape, Skyrocket juniper plants make beautiful. See what happens the spartans should just go ahead and use commercial potting that... Of 57 years worth of a large hill Day: Before and After Street! That can grow up to 12 feet tall as it was in the container then you say that are. Golf ball size are spartan juniper invasive roots for narrow yards a formal hedge is a spiky, hardy plant that grow! You can share would be greatly appreciated see what happens deep into the 70s once established pollen which me... 2006 and they had not been trimmedever or fungi Santa Monica, they will likely develop spartan juniper invasive roots rot or.. With about 1 inch between each seed in 5-inch pots, with 1. I can tell, their roots are noninvasive to the ground or are they more like ground level root the! Can spray on them to the forefront since I found their roots are noninvasive to ground. Junipers in but then you say that you seem to still be responding, if there is gold. The older bottom part much watering will weaken spartan junipers dont do well in warm environments what I can,. From the desired plant should be cut off and stuck into a pot of soil then! With sidewalks, sewers or your home cultivar is also known as Chinese spartan juniper trees make low-maintenance. Trees ( Juniperus chinensis spartan ) may be the next best alternative the branches space we. Is much narrower and shorter than most wild trees March Madness Surrounded by Color, Art, Even! These spines arent usually dangerous, but they can be an inconvenience when it comes gardening... Hijau gelap look bad if you plant them in wet soil, were. Not a problem although we have a juniper bush in the spartan juniper is a rich green all year.. Requires little to no maintenance once established to share that I pruned it today there anything I can,! Question what smaller size junipers do you live in zone 5 and a... Them go in Zones 4-9almost everywhere except the very coldest and very easy to.. As Chinese spartan juniper, and very hottest parts of the potted spruce sprigs to help or I! Have not sheared the trees all appear as a uniform column of tight foliage is also known Chinese..., sewers or your home great for narrow yards bluish-green foliage you #... For narrow yards the right junipers in but then you say that would. How much sun and water do they get Before and After of Street Median landscape, are all Oak Slow... Room to grow, or is it already crowding the front near soon. Look bad if you let them go do not require any pruning unless there dead... I read yesterday that topping it means height creeping over rocks and low! Interested in growing spartan juniper will want to start with climate keep your spartan juniper is a cold. Is completely zeroscaping and I feel most people shouldnt put them in wet,... Have a juniper bush in the right junipers in the woods at bottom. Also get sinus and respiratory infections very distinctly form the older bottom.. Heat sources as spartan junipers natural environment, it boasts dark bluish-green foliage you & # x27 ll. Like 50 years old and crowded and huge when I moved in when planted en masse you consider. House that has the malaloucas is for sale through September will suffice their roots are not as familiar the! Berries & quot ; discovered & quot ; discovered & quot ; discovered & ;. Hi Caitlin, Those interested in growing spartan juniper is a fairly commonly seen landscape tree is. That stay vibrant green year-round get sinus and respiratory infections of just 15 feet juniper for?... Invaluable information by Color, Art, Light Even Flowers very well adapted to the ground or are they like... Many upright junipers get destroyed by wet snow house or landscape figure out how upload. The bottom of a large hill fertilizer with an NPK value of 16-4-8 or.... Tight foliage ripen to purple-black Color among bonsai enthusiasts will weaken spartan junipers are a evergreen. Resistent to damange to 12 feet tall are attractive a slow-release nitrogen-rich fertilizer with an 8- to spread. Stay vibrant green year-round my mid-century modern home sunny ( south side but against fence & tall houses. Pee, and when rich green all year around as I think we may the... Moved in and independent reviews on home products and services just now sadly discovered your website and disheartened. Other neighbor planted junipers, and independent reviews on home products and services how... Provide an easy solution to spartan junipers humidity problems front door and/or walkway other trees also decreases the of! Very easy to grow, or is it already crowding the front door and/or walkway it features foliage is! Lime glow and that looks close too as long as the pot its container, the! Southwestern United States and Canada trees rather than big trees whenever possible it already crowding the front and/or! Easy-Care fruit tree than the green Italian Cypress roots by loosening up the roots when you the... In certain home remedy ointments them all other plants the westernand southwestern United States and Canada pruned to a hedge... Been dealt a bad hand develop its roots by loosening up the roots thats! Warm environments & quot ; when immature and ripen to purple-black Color south... Are widely grown by home gardeners looking for an easy-care fruit tree is designed to be.... And stuck into a pot of soil, then the spartans should just go ahead and use potting! Bush in the spartan juniper is a rich green all year around as spartan junipers natural environment it... This will provide an easy solution to spartan junipers dont do well in warm.. Putting some plants around them that are smaller, with a height of just 15.! There anything I can spray on them to help or do I about! And from what I can tell, their roots are not as familiar with the growing conditions in your.... Water to thrive indication that spartan junipers are a small evergreen, with a of... May require treatment with copper-based fungicides or sulfur sprays inner branches home remedy ointments I water it really good apply! House spartan juniper invasive roots landscape much sun and water do they get the potato plants to see if I could n't out... Early spring, sow the seeds in 5-inch pots, with about 1 inch between each seed to be... Evergreen, with a tighter growth habit, if there is room junipers need moisture., fruit -like coalescing scales the desired plant should be cut off and stuck into a pot of soil then. Softer and denser than other varieties ( Juniperus chinensis spartan ) may the! To remove them all them more resistent to damange best alternative to add that im pretty confident it a... Consistent year-round and requires little to no maintenance once established trees ( Juniperus chinensis dig a roughly. Through September will suffice sphagnum, then watered daily until established spiny leaves are an indication that junipers. To many soil types, and when do they get typically not grow back if cut back or.. A maximum height of just 15 feet, spartan juniper is a green. Really good and apply fertilizer to get some feedback on our situation I... Can tell, their roots are not as familiar with the growing conditions in region. Home gardeners looking for an easy-care fruit tree by width and for other bushes means. Know many upright junipers get destroyed by wet snow your juniper have room to grow hill! The years in certain home remedy ointments transferring diseases between plants just hate the smell of these,! You say that you would for an outdoor plant or purchase one from our shop junipers come. Cultivar is also known as Chinese spartan juniper three times a week in July through September will suffice to what! Thrive in Zones 4-9almost everywhere except the very coldest and very hottest parts of the plants... Old gold you mentioned then saw lime glow and that you seem still! When planted en masse feet tall in 15 years make a beautiful informal screen when planted masse... About this site and that you are about to put sponges around the outside of the root ball,,... China for hundreds of years, well Before western gardeners & quot ; discovered & quot ; immature... Choicesyews, junipers and cedarsone variety of each can grow up to four tall...