Rules for planting and caring for juniper Andorra compact

Juniper Andorra Compact is the shrub that will please the eye with the pleasant color of fresh greenery even in winter. Thanks to this property, a compact, evergreen shrub with thick green needles has earned the love of design specialists and simple amateur gardeners.

Juniper Andorra Compact: Description

This juniper is characterized by an average growth rate. Plant height reaches forty centimeters, width is 2 meters. Horizontal juniper Andorra compact has a flat-circular, rosette-shaped crown. Very thick branches are arranged in a horizontal position and slightly raised up from the ground. The needles are thin and short, located on the shoots tight. In the summer, the needles acquire a gray-green shade, changing to purple in winter.

The plant is light-loving enough, but can tolerate a slight shading. Prefers dry, fresh and well-drained soil, although it can grow in poor (acid or alkaline). Preferred is not too fertilized soil.

Juniper has a superficial, weakly branched root system, but nonetheless it grows quite widely. This species is resistant to frost, summer heat and tolerates urban conditions.

Landing features

For juniper Andorra compact landing is the stage to which you need to pay maximum attention. To carry out the correct landing without knowledge of certain rules will be quite problematic. The first - is the choice of time for landing. The best period is the beginning of April - the end of May. The second - This is the choice of a suitable place.

Soil requirements

In order for juniper to grow well, before planting the soil must be freed from all weeds, especially perennials.

The use of expensive fertilizers is not necessary, they can be replaced with ordinary black soil or with any meadow or garden soil. The most important aspect of planting juniper Andorra Compact is the thorough preparation of the substrate, the main components of which are acid high-moor peat with a level of acid-base balance (pH) not exceeding 4.5.

Soil with a higher pH should be acidified. This is done with the help of mulching of the trunk circle of shredded pine bark and spruce fir trees, which can be collected in the nearby forest.

Some gardeners replace organic matter with garden sulfur, citric or phosphoric acid, or with battery fluid (electrolyte).

Place to grow

As stated above, the plot should not be out of sunlight. In order to avoid transplantation, the place where juniper will grow should not be in the shade of higher plants. Thanks to its compact size, Andorra can be planted in a flower bed next to other plants. This species is an excellent neighbor, as it does not affect the development and growth of other cultures. Ideal for growing on slopes, alpine slides and retaining walls.

How to plant a shrub

The first thing to start with is to prepare the landing pit. The depth of the pit should be 2 times the root system, together with the earth clod. After planting it should be poured abundantly.

Pristvolny circle should be mulched peat, humus, bark or mowed grass. The layer of mulch should be 10 centimeters, this thickness will prevent moisture loss and at the same time protect the roots from winter frosts and summer heat.

Also the mulch restrains the growth of weeds. Plus, the soil in the pit for a long time will be loose, which is necessary for the juniper of this species.

Peculiarities of care

Just like any other juniper, the Andorra compact view needs timely care. Compliance with the basic rules of care will allow you to admire the bright and saturated color of the plant at almost any time of the year. For the winter, the soil of the tree circle should be dusted with a 10-centimeter layer of peat, and the plant itself should be covered with spruce leaves. In order for the branches not to break off from the snow layer in the winter, in the fall they need to be tied to the trunk with a rope.

How to water

Watering is especially important for juniper in the first months after landing on a permanent place. It is recommended to water the plant at least twice a week, until it takes root completely.

After rooting, juniper is able to get all the necessary nutrients directly from the soil. Subsequently, watering is necessary only during the drought period. In order to prevent the rapid evaporation of moisture from the top layer of soil, it is possible to produce mulching. This procedure implies a shelter of soil near the shrub bark or pine chips in a layer of 5 centimeters.

Fertilizer and dressing

The first feeding is carried out at the stage of preparation for planting. Any mineral fertilizer for coniferous plants is added to the soil of the planting pit.

This will lay the foundation for active growth and development of the root system. Spring feeding is carried out in April - May. It is best to use nitroammofosku (20 g of substance per square meter). Autumn feeding is carried out in September - October. During this period, potassium-phosphorus fertilizers are called (Granfosk, Cafom, etc.).

Pruning plants

Trimming is carried out in early spring (in March). With the help of a secateur, all old, damaged and dry branches are removed. It is also necessary to cut off the tips of frozen shoots.

After trimming, the shrub needs to be fed and thoroughly treated with a fungicide. Due to this, new shoots will grow more evenly, plus the whole juniper will receive good protection against fungal infections.

Breeding

Reproduction occurs two ways:

• grafting;
• seeds.

As a rule, gardeners resort to cuttings. This is explained by the fact that seedlings grown from seeds, much more often lose their varietal characteristics. In this case, such a bush grows much slower.

The best time to conduct cutting is the period from mid-April to early May. It is recommended to take cuttings from an adult plant that has reached the age of 8-10 years. For cuttings taken shoots with a length of 10-15 centimeters. The selected branch can be simply broken off without cutting it off with a knife. After that, the "heel" of the broken off branch is trimmed from the bark, and its lower needles are cut by 2-2.5 centimeters.

The resulting cutting at an angle of 30-50 ° is stuck in a pot filled with a mixture of sand and peat, watered, and then covered with polyethylene. The pot should be put in a place where bright light will not affect the cutting.

Do not forget sometimes (at least once a week) to spray the cutting with water. After a month and a half, the sapling takes root quite well, and it can be transplanted to a temporary bed.

Diseases and pests

Junipers are rarely affected by diseases and pests. Nevertheless, the plant is subject to the following diseases:

• Rust. Orange growths 0.5 centimeters long, turning after a rain into fleshy formations.
• Schutte. Small round bodies in black. It leads to weakening, and at high humidity may cause the death of the plant.
• Biaretella cancer. The main symptoms are darkening and shrinking of the bark. Over time, the wood dies off.
• Alternaria. It leads to darkening of the needles, and a velvety patina appears on the branches.

The main plant pests are:

• Aphid. Insects suck the juice, which leads to stunted growth and twisting of damaged shoots.
• Shchitovki. Stick to the needles, which then dries and falls. The vital activity of these pests can lead to the death of a young plant.
• Spruce spider mite. It entangles the needles with a rare cobweb, the needles themselves are covered with yellowish spots, later it acquires a brown tint and crumbles.
• Juniper sawfly. Insect damages needles and young shoots, eating away their internal tissues.
• Caterpillar Juniper Shoots Moth. Eats the insides of shoots.

To protect the culture from the harmful effects of various diseases and pests, you need to choose the right preparation for the treatment of the plant. In the spring and summer periods, you can use insecticides such as:

• "Enjo";
• Aktara;
• "Actellic".

To protect against diseases, fungicides should be treated, including:

• "Horus";
• "Fast";
• Ordan;
• "Ridomil Gold".

In addition, if you find any changes on the bush, then immediately get rid of the affected part.

Horizontal juniper is an excellent plant for decorating a garden plot and creating landscape compositions. With timely care this shrub will long enough to please you with its luxurious greens.