Juniper berries are one of the best grown plants for any landscape. They are popular as ornamental shrubs and trees. These are very acceptable shrubs belonging to the juniper genus with over 67 species. It is the ideal choice for different landscapes and nothing can be said about its habitat, as it grows in both low and high canopies, various pyramidal and vertical parallel zones.
Juniper Fertilizer – Juniper generally requires light feeding and benefits from it all year round. Fertilize juniper with a slow fertilizer in early spring or after 60 days of frost with an NPK solution such as 16-4-8 or 14-4-8. You can also fertilize it with iron-based plant foods, which promote the greening of junipers.
There are several varieties that reach a height of 120 feet and you can also find short bushes that only grow 5 to 6 inches. It is perfect for hedges, lawns, screens, business parks, computer parks, college floors and coatings.
The foliage is dark to light green in color, some are red, silver, blue and yellow and there are also hybrid junipers which come in red-green.
Now let’s get to know the different questions you might be asking yourself to get answers.
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Why should I fertilize my juniper?
The most common reason for fertilizing juniper is to keep it healthy for years to come. The first years you will have to pay it every 6 months, because they will get nutrients that will help them to take root. Juniper can reach new heights and grow all the branches only because the owner gave it a nutrient-rich fertilizer in the early stages.
Juniper berries are evergreen, so in the fall they may lose color to darken, and then a new season begins when your tree will again need fertilizer for proper nutrition. If you feed them correctly, you will grow a bigger and healthier tree.
How to fertilize juniper?
In general, a juniper needs a light diet and benefits from it throughout the year. Fertilize juniper with a slow fertilizer in early spring or after 60 days of frost with an NPK solution such as 16-4-8 or 14-4-8. You can also fertilize it with iron-based plant foods, which promote the greening of junipers.
New leaves may not last all winter and may die. So it is better to take care of the plant after the first frost. Some people also use a balanced 10-10-10 or 20-20-20 fertilizer, taking 2 tablespoons per gallon of water. You need to spread the fertilizer around the plant. I do not recommend spreading fertilizer directly on the trunk or main trunk.
If you live in an area that gets a lot of rain, make sure the rain doesn’t wash away the slow-release fertilizer. Apply it on sunny days and not on rainy days. There will be one or two days when it rains very little so you can easily feed your tree that day.
One of the benefits of juniper is that it adapts to excess water, which is the main problem for any plant today. Other than that, keep them healthy on sunny days and water them well. Don’t let foliage change color to indicate watering, water your juniper at the right time.
Should I fertilize juniper with already nutrient-rich soil?
It depends on whether your juniper needs fertilizer or not. If you added fresh, nutrient-rich soil, you won’t need it until next spring. If you see less green foliage, you can add it in early spring or late winter.
Nutrient rich soil has a high NPK value which is suitable for any tree. If you give it more than too much fertilizer, your juniper may die or show signs like brown or black leaves. Some leaves may drop or die after a few weeks. So don’t give it to him if he already has the fertilizer.
What is the best fertilizer for juniper berries?
There are several fertilizers on the market today. Choose the best fertilizer based on iron, nitrogenous components essential for the green growth of juniper. The best fertilizers like Jobe’s and Miracle Gro are the ones I’ve used on junipers, bushes and cones.
Here is the list of the best fertilizers for all junipers:
Juniper Fertilizer Spikes
Juniper fertilizer spikes are one of the easiest methods of delivering the proper nutrients to shrubs and trees. They are pushed straight into the soil, and after regular watering, the fertilizer spikes continue to distribute nutrients to the soil, primarily to the root of your juniper. This helps them to be fed all year round without too much work. It’s a simple way that saves the extra work of applying liquid fertilizer. Slow-release fertilizer usually takes a while to reach the soil, and they don’t have enough nutrients for a juniper, or you’ll just keep pouring in fertilizer to keep them happy. These fertilizer spikes are a do-it-and-forget method where the spikes are driven into the ground with a hammer or drill and wait for next year’s magic. Remember to always pour water in hot summers.
Bonsai for juniper fertilizer
A juniper bonsai is smaller in size but requires a good amount of fertilizer which can be managed with a slow release fertilizer that slowly reaches the soil and root system so your juniper bonsai can be healthy. good health during the growing season. . I’ve told everyone before that using a fertilizer that’s low in nitrogen, high in potassium, and high in phosphorus will improve branching and plant size. To make your juniper bonsai healthier and greener, you need a nitrogen-rich fertilizer. There are also iron-based plant foods used on shrubs that make the foliage green and healthy.
Juniper Fertilization Rate
The juniper fertilizer ratio is 15-15-15 or 20-20-20 for large bushes. You can also use a fertilizer with a high nitrogen rate on junipers such as 16-4-8 and 12-4-8. For general growth, a balanced NPK ratio is best and for fruit and leaf growth, you can always opt for nitrogen-based fertilizers. They like to fertilize in early spring or late winter. Indeed, after spring, it is the growing season of the juniper. According to the instructions, you can apply the fertilizer, but don’t over-fertilize your bushes.
Creeping Juniper Fertilizer
Creeping juniper fertilizer needs slow-release fertilizer for its growth. Use a fertilizer at a 10-10-10 or 20-20-20 ratio for creeping juniper ground covers. It will certainly boost the overall growth including the foliage, stem and branches of the juniper. The instructions are that you should dilute the solution, for example two tablespoons of 20-20-20 fertilizer per gallon of water may work for growth and you can pour it directly onto the bush.
Spartan Juniper Fertilizer
Spartan Juniper fertilizers don’t like soil nutrition, but they do need a balanced fertilizer like 15-15-15 or 20-20-20 to keep foliage healthy and shiny. They also work very well with most fertilizers designed specifically for shrubs. For better growth and better branching, you should use this fertilizer every year. Slow-release plant foods can also work wonders for Spartan junipers and for people who want to feed the bush once a month and forget about it and the fertilizer soaks into the soil, making it richer in nutrients.
Not only that, but you can also try organic fertilizer with kitchen scraps, which is also one of the safest and purest types of fertilizer. I use these kitchen scraps to pick up fruit and vegetable peelings that have fallen in water for days and thrown on the floor. Or this waste can be dug up and dumped underground for a month or two and the soil made from it is full of nutrients.
Moonglow Juniper Fertilizer
Moonglow Juniper fertilizer has an NPK ratio of 10-10-10 or 15-15-15. Moonglow are taller pyramidal junipers, so they need good feeding in early spring or late winter. The foliage is silvery blue and they are the most attractive junipers with compact branches. They are perfect for any landscape with their tapered pyramid shape.
juniper nana fertilizer
Juniper nana fertilizer requires a balanced 10-10-10 fertilizer. Although Nana Juniper does not like heavy foods, but due to the health of their leaves and branching, they like to feed on plant foods. You can also use a high nitrogen fertilizer if you think your plant is not growing well with less foliage. Always fertilize them in spring or late winter. This is the best time for them to get plant food so they are ready to grow during their growing season.
on juniper
Junipers are an evergreen shrub or tree that comes in a variety of shapes and sizes. Junipers are popular conifers native to the African region and northern hemisphere and belong to the Cupressaceae family. These trees can be as tall as 130 feet or as small as 5 inch bushes. It has 60-67 species of conifers and shrubs. They are hardy in USDA zones 7 through 10 and can tolerate drought.
final thoughts
Our junipers are light eaters, but they still need fertilizer for their growth in the new season. I have listed all the fertilizers and you can use them according to your needs. If you plan to use it for the following spring, a slow or balanced fertilizer will work best. And for those who just want the color to turn greener on those juniper leaves, use the iron fertilizer mentioned in the article. This will help your juniper make up for its iron deficiency and make the foliage greener.
Hope you get all the information about juniper fertilizer. Happy gardening.
Read also :
Wichita Blue Juniper – Care Guide, Spread, Benefits
Gold Mop Cypress Companion Plants – Best Plants & Shrubs