Junipers (Juniperus spp.) are needle-leaved evergreens that are used in many landscapes. … Insufficient and excessive watering as well as dog urine can cause the juniper’s needles to turn brown and drop, but two diseases and two pests can also cause these symptoms. When left untreated, they can kill a juniper.

Do junipers need a lot of water?

Watering. Evergreen junipers are extremely drought tolerant and prefer their soil on the dry side. … Junipers need weekly watering for the first summer to develop an extensive root system. After the first summer, most junipers can rely on natural rainfall and fog for moisture.

Why are junipers turning brown?

There are many reasons a juniper might turn brown. Fungal tip blights, cankers, mechanical damage, and salt injury are some of the most common causes. Several juniper samples with tip blight were submitted to the Plant Disease Clinic this spring. Phomopsis and Kabatina tip blights are two common diseases of juniper.

What diseases do junipers get?

DiseasePathogen/CauseCedar-quince, cedar-hawthorn, and Japanese apple rustGymnosporangium clavipes (cedar-quincerust) Gymnosporangium globosum (cedar-hawthorn rust) Gymnosporangium yamadae (Japanese apple rust)Cercospora blightCercospora sequoiae var. juniperiTwig blightKabatina or Phomopsis

Is my juniper dead?

If the branches are flexible and full of sap, they’re still alive. If they’re brittle and dry, they’re dead and won’t come back. Some of the “brown” junipers that are still alive will put out new growth in the spring, but it will be from the tips of branches.

Why is my juniper ground cover Brown?

Though it is known as being quite hardy, the creeping juniper can begin to brown for a variety of reasons, including improper watering, poor soil conditions and pests. Blight can be a serious problem for creeping juniper and cannot only brown but can eventually kill the shrub.

Do junipers need full sun?

Plant juniper shrubs in a location with full sun or light shade. When they get too much shade, the branches spread apart in an effort to let more sunlight in, and the damage to their shape can’t be repaired. Junipers grow in any type of soil as long as it is well-drained.

Can you overwater junipers?

Junipers may suffer from overwatering; branches might even die and turn brown. If drought is severe, a deep watering of about 1 inch will help plants retain their healthy green growth, but water should never stand under their low-growing branches.

What is the best fertilizer for junipers?

Incorporate fertilizer into the soil or spread it around the plant, but avoid directly placing fertilizer into the planting hole. Established junipers will benefit from a complete fertilizer such as 16-4-8 or 12-4-8 applied at a rate of 1/2 lb. per 100 square feet in early spring and again in late summer.

Will juniper grow in shade?

Junpers for Shade Common juniper (Juniperus communis) and single seed juniper (Juniperus squamata) can tolerate partial shade even in cool-summer areas, but should never be planted in dense shade. Single seed juniper grows in USDA zones 4 through 9. … Common juniper grows in USDA zones 4 through 8.

Article first time published on

How do you care for potted junipers?

Junipers growing in pots appreciate a moist but well-drained soil. Constantly soggy soil can and often will cause root rot or other harmful or deadly plant diseases. Therefore, I suggest using a quality potting soil or potting mix, or a 50/50 combination thereof and a container with a drainage hole(s).

How do you treat juniper fungus?

Select a fungicide labeled for use on junipers containing one of the following: mancozeb, thiophanate-methyl, or copper fungicides. See Table 1 for examples of products. Apply all chemicals according to directions on the label. Kabatina Twig Blight: This disease is caused by the fungus Kabatina juniperi.

How do you get rid of juniper fungus?

  1. Separate the hosts. The rust fungus cannot survive in the absence of one of the hosts.
  2. Remove rust galls. Juniper galls and the resulting orange gelatinous extrusions (above) should be pruned out in late winter or early spring.
  3. Fungicide sprays also are available but seldom are necessary.

Why is my juniper turning light green?

Juniper needles turning a slightly lighter green, or a more grayish green usually means the tree is getting desperate for water. Waiting for the color change to water is not a good idea, since letting it go just an hour or two too long can cause permanent damage to the tree, often its death!

How do you treat juniper twig blight?

Phomopsis Twig Blight Management Avoid sprinkler irrigation if possible. Prune out infected branches during dry weather. Apply a fungicide whenever new growth begins and conditions are wet. Spring and fall growth must be protected.

Can junipers be cut back?

All junipers have dead zones at their center so severe pruning, including topping, is never a good idea. Instead, prune lightly and regularly, just before new growth begins in spring. The key to pruning juniper is to leave areas with dormant bud on each branch you trim.

Will juniper grow back from stump?

ANSWER: You are in luck! Juniperus ashei (Ashe juniper) trees do not regrow from cut stumps. If you cut the trees at about ground level the roots will die, and there will be no damage to nearby hardwood roots.

Can you trim juniper bushes?

While overgrown juniper pruning has its limits, it is possible to trim your plant down to a more manageable shape. One good place to start is the removal of any dead or leafless branches – these can be cut off at the trunk. You can also remove any branches that are overlapping or sticking out too far.

Can juniper grow in pots?

Junipers (Juniperis spp.) are slow-growing evergreens that thrive in containers with conservative pruning. Trees in containers have several advantages. They fit in small spaces and can decorate areas, such as patios, where trees can’t be planted.

How do you look after a juniper tree?

Choose a well-drained, soil-based compost and sow thinly in pots or other suitable container. Cover with a 3mm layer of horticultural grit or sand, water and leave in a cool spot. Keep moist until the leaves appear. Covering the pot with a plastic bag or sheet of glass helps keep in moisture.

Should you fertilize junipers?

To grow and look their best, junipers will benefit from fertilization and water (if and when needed). … Junipers are typically light feeders however will benefit from an annual feeding. Fertilize juniper plants in late winter or early spring before new growth begins to flush with a slow-release shrub & tree food.

How do you care for a juniper ground cover?

Juniper shrubs are tolerant of most soil conditions, but they need a well-drained soil for optimal growth. If you leave the soil moist, they’ll start to rot out from the roots, and die a quick death. This is especially important when growing juniper in containers.

How often do you water juniper bushes?

Irrigate newly planted specimens every week or two until roots have developed sufficiently, and keep plants moist during extreme drought and heat spells.

Can you use holly tone on junipers?

Holly-tone ® is a fertilizer designed to feed plants that prefer to live in acidic soils. Some examples of acid-loving plants are: azalea, dogwood, rhododendron, ferns, hemlock, holly, hydrangea, juniper, arborvitae, magnolia, Japanese Andromeda (pieris), pachysandra, vinca and many other evergreens.

Is miracid good for junipers?

Miracle-Gro Miracid Plant Food is one of our most popular recommendations for acid loving plants like Junipers. We would recommend to stick with it!

How do you know if your juniper is overwatered?

If the soil retains too much water over a long period, you have overwatered the plant. Juniper leaves tend to discolor when the plant is overwatered, with the color turning from green to brown or yellow. Other signs of overwatering include shrinking of the branches, softening of the trunk, and an unhealthy appearance.

Do junipers like wet soil?

Junipers tolerates a wide range of soils and soil conditions, except for constantly soggy or wet soils. … Though most junipers will grow well in clay soils, it’s a good practice to amend heavy clay soil with organic matter such as sand, gravel or bagged top soil.

Can Blue Star juniper grow part sun?

Blue Star juniper (Juniperus squamata ‘Blue Star’) is slow-growing and has a low, mounded habit. It grows only to about 1 foot tall in five years, but will eventually mature to 2-3′ high. … Like other junipers, it is cold-hardy, thrives in full sun to part shade, and requires good drainage.

Can Blue Rug juniper grow in shade?

Blue rug junipers prefer to grow in full sun, meaning at least six hours of direct sunlight on most days. However, these plants can tolerate some shade and actually prefer protection from hot afternoon sun to prevent foliage burns. However, if located in too much shade, blue rug juniper will grow thin rather than lush.

How much sun do creeping junipers?

Sunlight Requirements: These plants require full sun to thrive. If grown in the shade they won’t look as vibrant, and won’t reach their full spreading potential. Watering: Juniper is classified as drought tolerant. It can survive in drier conditions.

Do junipers need sun in winter?

Juniper bonsai trees are not as low maintenance as the juniper trees and shrubs most often found in gardens in the U.S., and they will require extra care during the winter. Bonsai Empire explains that juniper bonsai trees need plenty of sunlight and should not be kept indoors.