The Juniper ground cover is a perennial native plant, easy to propagate, and attractive to birds. You can use these tips to help you spread this hardy and beautiful ground cover. Keep reading the article to know, How to propagate juniper ground cover?. The Juniper was introduced in the late 1960s. This tree, also known as the Japanese Maples, has a wide range of uses: for shade, privacy, and aesthetics. When it comes to ground cover, the Juniper does not only provide a green screen but is also one of the most durable and attractive plants.
In this article, we will learn to propagate Juniper ground cover for the first time or to give it another chance.
Overview and Propagation of Juniper Ground Cover
Juniperus horizontalis is a shrub or small tree in the cypress family. It is native to northern North America, mainly Canada and Alaska, and also grows locally in Montana to Maine, and in Wyoming and northern Illinois. The plant can tolerate fierce conditions and thrive in extremely hot summers and cold winters.
In the right conditions, these easy-to-grow plants can be planted at any time between early spring and late fall. The best time to plant is in the spring when the temperature is rising.
Springtime offers an opportunity for plants to establish themselves before the heat and humidity of summer sets in. This means your yard will start fresh for the season.
Propagation of Juniper Ground Cover
Creeping juniper can be grown from seed or cuttings. Growing via cuttings is faster and produces a plant that is identical to the original. Many gardeners choose to propagate their plants this way because it’s more convenient.
How to Grow Juniper From Cuttings?
To grow, you take a softwood cutting from a mature tree, and then allow it to sit for a few weeks. In the meantime, you may prune the plant to get rid of unwanted branches or dead wood. When the plant has healed and grown to a new size, you can dig it up and plant it in your garden.
Prepare a planter with seed-starting mix (one that does not have soil, but rather peat moss, vermiculite, or a combination), and create a hole where the cutting will go with a knife or a pencil. Remove any leaves at the base of the cutting, and water the cutting.
Cut a few small slits in the bottom third of each seedling container. Carefully push a growing medium around the base of each seedling until it is firmly set in the container.
Add water and mix the soil with a small trowel or your hands. Make sure to break up any clumps of soil.
The cutting should root after one to two months. Once it does, remove the plastic and move it to a window. By the next spring, you should be able to plant the cutting outside. This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.
Types of Juniper Ground Cover
Low-growing junipers are easy to grow and spread quickly. This evergreen, woody shrub has gray-green leaves, bluish foliage, and small white flowers in spring. In zone 9, it can grow 4 to 6 feet tall with a spreading growth habit. The variety “Wilton” is more common in zones 4 to 10, reaching heights of 6 to 8 feet with a 6 to 8-foot spread.
Juniperus procumbens “Nana” is a compact shrub that can grow up to 1 to 2 feet in height and width. It has soft blue-green foliage and grows well in zones 7-11. Juniperus conferta or Shore Juniper is ideal for sandy and poor soils. If you live in zones 5 to 10, you can grow Shore Juniper.
The Golden Triangle is a popular ornamental grass that can grow in many different types of soil and all kinds of conditions. This variety offers a range of colors and patterns and is easy to grow.
Juniper Ground Cover Care
The blue rug juniper (Juniperus communis) is an evergreen shrub with an upright, spreading growth habit. Junipers are easily grown and require little maintenance. Juniper is well-suited for shady areas or areas that get partial shade. You can easily neglect them and still have thriving foliage throughout the year.
Sunlight
Juniper shrubs are evergreen plants that require full sun for their best performance. If you plan to plant these in a shady area of your yard, make sure the area is well-drained.
Water
Juniper bushes are ideal for cooler climates. They are drought-tolerant, making them an ideal ground cover in warmer climates. When planting for the first time, you’ll want to give them ample water. Once established, they’ll be able to survive for longer periods without a drop of water.
Soil
Creeping juniper is one of the most common native trees in the United States and Canada. It’s a member of the cypress family and grows in a range of habitats including swamps, stream banks, and other wet areas. The plant requires sandy soil that’s well-drained with medium moisture. It can’t tolerate wet soil, so either make sure your soil has adequate drainage, or add some extra perlite or sand to increase porosity.
Fertilizer
Evergreen ground cover plants don’t need a lot of fertilizer. Don’t fertilize the first year when they’re establishing themselves. Use a well-balanced fertilizer that’s prove effective for other plants. Fertilization is an act of adding nutrients to the soil to ensure healthy plant growth. It’s done in the fall before the winter and spring frosts have killed off most of the plants.
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