Juniper Mint Julep (Mint Julep) is among the low-growing evergreen shrubs. The hybrid was bred in an American nursery by crossing two species - Cossack and Chinese. It is widely used in landscape design when decorating areas near office buildings and landscaping private household plots.
Description of Juniper Mint Julep
Botanical characteristic
Juniper, or juniperus, is a low-growing shrub from the cypress family. Has a spreading crown formed by arcuate curved branches with hanging ends that grow at an angle of 45 °.
The branches are covered with dense scaly needles with a spruce-mint scent. It is found in shades ranging from light emerald to dark green.
The plant is not demanding on soil and moisture, frost-resistant.
Depending on the region of cultivation and care, an adult shrub grows up to 2 m in height, up to 3.5 m in diameter. At the same time, unlike the parental species, it does not spread like a Cossack one, and does not stretch up like a Chinese one.
Blue-gray cones, 1.2-1.5 cm in size, are formed on the branches. All vegetative parts are poisonous, producing toxic essential oils.
Average life expectancy is about 100 years.
Refers to dioecious. Sex is determined during the flowering period: in the male bush, the microstrobilis are yellow, in the female bush, pale green.
Landing features
The most suitable time for planting is April, when the ground warms up.
Choosing a place and a seedling
The light-loving shrub prefers sunlit places with dry, moderately rich in nutrients, slightly acidic or neutral alkaline soil.
It is resistant to urban conditions. Suitable for planting in rocky areas.
The juniper Mint Julep can have not only conifers, but also deciduous plants as neighbors in landscape design, but you should avoid planting it near fruit and berry crops.
In the selected location, groundwater should not pass too close to the surface of the earth.
Slight shading is allowed, but when growing in the shade, the crown will be less lush.
It is better to buy seedlings for planting in large fruit nurseries. The young bush should have a closed root system or be in a container. The average price starts at 450 rubles.
The bush does not cope well with the transplant, therefore they plant it immediately in a permanent place.
Landing technology
The optimum distance between shrubs is 0.5-2.0 m. The depth of the planting pit is up to 0.7 m.
It is prepared 2 weeks before the expected date of planting of the seedling and make 2 times more earthy coma, laying out drainage from a mixture of sand with broken brick or expanded clay with a layer of 0.2 m on the bottom.
Coarse sand is poured on top. In the process of planting, the root collar of the plant is not buried.
The soil mixture is prepared from peat, sand and turf, taken in a 2: 1: 1 ratio.
Care after landing
Juniper must be properly cared for
Caring for the crop after planting consists in watering, which is carried out as needed, timely application of top dressing, the formation of a bush and shelter for the winter.
Watering and feeding
The planted bush is watered abundantly for the first week. Watering continues in hot weather, because the juniper does not tolerate drought well.
Watering is recommended in the evening, with settled water, 1-3 buckets. In addition to watering in the morning or evening hours, sprinkling is carried out with an interval of 3-5 days.
Fertilizers are applied once a season. Usually shrubs are fed in spring, from April to May. Ready-made mineral complexes are suitable for feeding, which contain potassium, phosphorus and nitrogen in increased amounts.
Initially, the bush is fertilized in the second year after planting. Subsequently, an adult juniper is carried out with an interval of 2-3 seasons.
Loosening and mulching
The trunk circle needs to be mulched. In the spring, mulch is removed, because pathogenic bacteria accumulate in it during the cold season. Before laying a new layer, the soil is loosened.
When caring for a bush, loosening is carried out regularly, especially after rain or watering and in preparation for winter, so that air can flow to the roots.
Pruning
Sanitary pruning of Mint Julep juniper is planned for spring - broken, dry and diseased branches are removed.
They form a shrub throughout the season, remove shoots as they grow, while maintaining the required appearance.
Technology:
- the main formation is directed to the upper tier, but in a young plant it is possible to cut off the lower branches;
- the trunk is wrapped with copper wire and bent in the desired direction of growth, forming a central stem in 2-3 years;
- the design of skeletal branches begins after the end of the formation of the trunk;
- the lower tier of adult shrubs is usually not cut off, because they do not tolerate changes in appearance.
Average growth per season is about 10 cm high and 5 cm wide, depending on the region of cultivation. An active build-up of vegetative mass occurs in the spring-summer.
Preparing for winter
For the winter, juniper is provided with additional protection against frost, despite its cold resistance.
For these purposes, an adult shrub is sprinkled with a peat layer 10 cm thick, and a young one is covered with spruce branches.
In order to avoid injury to the branches under the weight of the snow cover, in the fall, the branches are pressed towards the trunk, wrapped with tape or rope.
How to propagate
The species is propagated by layering and cuttings. It is difficult to grow a full-fledged bush from seeds.
For reproduction in the summer, a strong shoot is cut off by 10 cm in length, which is rooted in an individual container. Planting the cuttings requires nutritious soil, similar to that prepared for an adult plant. Greenhouse conditions are created for the seedling until it takes root.
The stimulator Kornevin helps to accelerate the growth and development of roots; it is recommended to lower the shoot into it before transplanting it into the open ground.
Damage by diseases and pests
The tree is susceptible to fungal diseases
Most often, Mint Julep is exposed to fungal infections, including rust and shute, while:
- the risk of rust increases with the neighborhood of roses;
- a symptom of shute is transverse dark red or gray-brown lines.
Pathogens spread by insects living on fruit and berry crops.
The first sign of a fungal pathogen in juniper is a change in the color of the needles.
Treat fungal diseases by applying fungicidal agents. Treatments with copper sulfate with a concentration of 1%, as well as spraying with a HOM solution prepared from 40 g of the drug per 10 liters of water, are effective.
The most common pests are aphids, mites, moths, scale insects and sawflies. The main methods of dealing with parasitic insects are timely insecticide treatment - Karbofo, Fitoverm, Decis.
Gardeners' opinion
Reviews of gardeners growing juniper varieties Mint Julep indicate the slow growth of the plant in the regions of the middle lane in comparison with the rates stated in the description.
Many summer residents prefer bonsai-style pruning for landscape design.
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To create a creeping composition, they use the method of attaching the trunk to the surface of the earth in the required direction. If you want to grow a tall, but compact bush in width, use vertical supports.