Every amateur gardener creates comfort in his backyard. For this, various flowers, shrubs, trees are used in various combinations and compositions.
Creating beauty on the site, do not forget about the famous coniferous shrub - juniper. It looks great on lawns, near flower beds and among its relatives. He is very much appreciated by landscape designers for originality, practicality and combination.
Description and features of the shrub
Juniper is an evergreen shrub with various crown shapes, plant heights and color shades. And the variety of its varieties allows you to expand the possibilities of landscape imagination in the garden interior.
Gold Star Juniper deserves special attention, and we will tell you more about it.
This variety looks incredibly harmonious in all sorts of options. The people call the juniper bush Gold Star "golden star". And this name was not given to the shrub by chance. Its spreading crown is shaped like a star. It is very unusual and usually attracts attention.
Gold Star juniper description - enoughpopular plant - go on forever:
- So, this coniferous shrub of medium height, on average, reaches 60 cm. In adulthood, it can grow up to one meter.
- In addition, the juniper average Gold Star has a chic spreading crown. The shape of a shrub in diameter is not more than a meter.
- Needles scaly or needle. But the presence of a combination of two types of needles at once on one bush is not uncommon.
- The color of the shrub is extraordinary - its center is dominated by a green color, and spreading shoots have a yellow-gold color. It all looks majestic and attractive.
The peculiarity of juniper is not only its beauty and uniqueness, but also its useful properties. He is able not only to purify the air, but also to disinfect it. The essential oils produced by coniferous twigs are very useful for colds and infections.
It should be noted that gardeners' reviews of the Gold Star juniper variety are only positive. In general, coniferous shrubs are appreciated by amateurs for their decorative qualities, ease of care and compatibility with various plants.
Planting a juniper bush
Planting juniper is best in the spring, when the frost has passed and the weather has become more stable. Autumn planting is also allowed, but experienced gardeners still recommend not to risk it. A young bush needs time to get stronger and take root before frost.
Before planting, you should make sure that the bush is he althy. To do this, on the advice of gardeners, you need to inspect the branches, onwhich should not have any foreign spots and growths.
If you want the color of the Gold Star juniper to be saturated, you need to choose the right place to plant it. In general, it is classified as a shade-resistant plant, but its brightness and beauty directly depend on the lighting. So it is better to choose a place sunny, without drafts.
It is also important to take into account the width of the future, already adult, bush, so that later there would be no problems with the growth of the crown. A hole must be dug of such a size that the planting does not damage the root system. As experienced gardeners advise, you need to treat the root with a growth stimulator in advance, and after planting, pour plenty of water.
Care and conditions of detention
Gold Star Juniper, planting and caring for which, according to reviews, is not too difficult, is rather undemanding to the soil. But the soil for planting, of course, must be nutritious. If there is a problem with fertile soil, then when planting, you can add humus and peat.
Juniper loves moist soil, but in moderation. The first few years it is worth additionally watering the bush. After a hot day, it will not be superfluous to pamper the juniper with a refreshing evening shower. And it is better to mulch the near-trunk space with special shavings or at least mowed grass and sawdust.
The plant, as experts say, perfectly tolerates the winter period. But young bushes, for the first two winters, it is better to cover. This is especially true of the place at the base of the trunk.juniper. You can use spruce branches, dry foliage.
The first 2-3 years they also build arcs over the bush and cover it with non-film material. Polyethylene is used for shelter, it is highly discouraged!
Reproduction
Many are interested in the reproduction of juniper medium Gold Star. Description of the ways we bring to your attention.
Basically, juniper is propagated by spring cuttings. The cut of the latter is carried out either before the awakening of the kidneys, or at the very beginning of this process. It is important to leave the so-called heel. For beginners, it is better to tear off a branch with your hand. By increasing the area of the cut in an oblique form, there is a greater likelihood of rooting of the cutting.
For root formation cuttings create greenhouse conditions - on average, 22°C. Rooting cuttings statistics shows 50% successful survival. It is better to plant them in open ground after a couple of years.
Medium juniper Gold Star can also be propagated by layering. This is a fairly easy, labor-intensive process:
- For this purpose, a he althy shoot is chosen, preferably a young one, and bends down to the ground.
- Dig a shallow hole under the slight bend.
- Add humus or peat to the soil.
- Fix the deflection of the layer and dig it in with earth.
- In a year, the cuttings will take root, and it can be planted as an independent plant.
Cutting
Gold Star medium juniper lends itself perfectly to pruning and shaping. It is usually carried out at will.give the bush a certain shape. And sanitary pruning is to remove deformed, old or diseased shoots.
Diseases and pests
Most often, the presence of diseases and pests on the juniper is the result of improper plant care. We list the common diseases of the Gold Star juniper, the description of which we have brought to your attention:
- juniper moth;
- juniper shield;
- spider mite;
- aphid.
Also, the bush can be affected by rust. This disease is characterized by swelling, with fungal coatings.
You can save juniper at the initial stage of the disease. All affected branches must be removed. And the places of cuts are processed with garden pitch. In this case, the bush must be sprayed with special solutions, copper sulfate or Bordeaux mixture.
