How to Prune Blue Rug Junipers
When designing ground cover for your yard or business, the Blue Rug Juniper is a good choice. This low-lying evergreen makes a gorgeous landscape accent that is tolerant of cold and drought. In winter the foliage turns a bronze or purple shade with bright blue berries, adding to its charm. This evergreen responds well to pruning to control growth. When performed in early spring, pruning helps maintain a full, robust, creeping evergreen shrub. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Cut away any broken or diseased branches. Diseased branches may be brown or have cankers, areas on the bark that look burned. The tool you use will depend on the size of the branch. For tiny branches, use the hand shears, and for diameters of ¾ to 1 ½ inches, use lopping shears. Anything bigger than that will need the pruning saw.
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Make thinning cuts. A thinning cut reduces the density of the shrub, allowing for better airflow and sun to the center. Do this by removing crossover branches, ones that are growing in a direction that causes them to intersect another branch to create friction that leads to infection. Make your cuts at the point of origin. This is especially important for the Blue Rug Juniper; you do not want to leave stubs when thinning.
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Cut away side branches or anything growing in a wayward fashion and branches that appear to be going at odd angles.
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Selectively thin the center branches. This opens the shrub up and allows for better light penetration. The density of the plant works against it. You want to get light to center areas and reduce the mound or crown of the shrub.
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Cut away branches that are growing over paths or sidewalks. Trim any that may be hitting against buildings.
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Make heading cuts. The heading cut manipulates the growth of your shrub or trains it. The bud closest to the cut determines the direction of growth. This type of evergreen will not grow buds in older areas, called dead zones. You are going to make heading cuts to fill in the dead zones. Look for regions that do not have buds near the top, and cut them down to the first bud you see growing in the direction you want. Buds on the top and bottom of a stem will grow straight or forward. Buds on the left or right will spread to the sides. Make your cuts about one-quarter inch above the bud at an angle. Heading cuts will promote healthy growth. You should try to follow the natural path of your plant.
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Tips & Warnings
Avoid pruning in late summer. Flourished growth may be damaged by frost.
