Juniper Trees are easy-care, easy-growing evergreens that come in virtually every shape and size. Looking to plant a privacy screen? There’s a Juniper for that! Want a classy container plant? Junipers have you covered. Need a low-maintenance landscaping specimen? Look no further!
This species is characterized by young foliage that emerges needle-like and sharp. Some varieties retain this needled texture, while others mature to awl-shaped leaves that are fanned and arranged in groups. Some varieties are sterile, while others produce attractive waxy blue seed cones, called Juniper berries. These berries were used historically to flavor foods and, notably, gin. Both the foliage and wood of Junipers are known for their piney fragrance.
Looking for a low-growing variety? Check out Groundcover Junipers to browse those selections.
With beautiful green foliage that lasts year-round and the ability to thrive in some of the most difficult areas it is hard option to pass on. Tall Juniper trees are perfect for screens, hedges and foundation plants.
Most varieties are naturally pyramidal, so you can leave the trimming shears in the shed. Many selections also max out between 12-16 feet tall at maturity. Therefore, you can rest easy knowing that they won’t eclipse your entire landscape.
Although not as fast-growing as a Green Giant Arborvitae or a Leyland Cypress, Juniper Trees are no slouches when it comes to quick growth. Additionally, their moderate mature height means that they’ll get to the size you want them to be relatively quickly and then they’ll stay that size.
Junipers are compact in nature, so they really shine when use as privacy screens. Their thick foliage is perfect for dampening street noise, filtering dust and pollutants out of the air, and blocking out heavy winds. Plus, the fact that they’re evergreen means that you’ll have coverage all year long!
If you’re looking for dense, pyramidal green foliage, you should look at either the Spartan Juniper or Green Hetzi Columnar Juniper. Both of these varieties reach approximately 15 feet tall at maturity.
The Spartan tends to be the narrower growing of these two. If you want the classic Blue Juniper tree foliage color in your landscape, check out the Blue Point Juniper. This beauty brings that bright blue color all year long.
Juniper Trees grow well in Full Sun exposure. This is the best way to ensure that they have healthy and uniformly dense foliage. They tend to struggle with less than 6 hours of direct sun exposure.
They are generally tolerant of most soil types, so that isn’t usually a major concern when choosing a planting location. However, good drainage is important to ensure that they don’t experience root rot. If they’re planted in poor quality soil, consider applying a nitrogen-rich fertilizer a couple of times during the growing season to help provide your plant with the nutrients it needs to grow. This becomes generally unnecessary once the plant has reached its full growth potential.
Spring and Fall are the ideal times to plant Junipers. The mild temperatures in these two seasons allow the plant to acclimate to the landscape before extreme Summer or Winter temperatures set in.