The original Horstmann juniper with a vertical crown and spreading branches is a real decoration in landscape design. Ornamental needles are a type of common juniper and are valued for their good winter hardiness, survival on all types of soil.
Juniper Horstmann - features of cultivation
Brief information about the variety
- Colour: dark green
- Height: 3m.
- Crown diameter: 1.5-2 m.
- In which regions is it growing: suitable for cultivation throughout Ukraine, in the south of Russia. When planting in Moscow, the Moscow region, the Leningrad region and middle latitudes, the ephedra needs good insulation for the winter.
- Landing features: scheme: 1.5x2 m, prefers sunny places with a little shading.
- Immunity: good winter hardiness and disease resistance, subject to all agricultural rules.
- Life span: about 200 years old.
Characteristics of the variety
Ornamental needles Horstmann (full name juniperus communis horstmann) cannot be confused with other varieties, since they have an unusual crown shape and long needles.
The description includes several distinctive features:
- medium-sized plant - maximum height is 3 m, diameter is 1.5-2 m;
- shoots are brown, spreading or hanging, densely covered with greenery;
- needles are long (10-12 cm), emerald, prickly;
- cones are round in shape, green at the beginning, after ripening they acquire a gray-blue tone, size 0.5-0.7 cm;
- grows rapidly - forms 15-16 cm of growth per year.
This culture easily takes root on any type of soil, has a high winter hardiness. Suitable for cultivation throughout Ukraine, in the south of Russia. When planting in Moscow, the Moscow region, the Leningrad region and middle latitudes, the ephedra needs good insulation for the winter.
The plant has a lifespan of about 200 years.
Growing rules
It is not difficult to grow this variety of common juniper, the main thing is to choose a high-quality seedling, a good planting site and provide the necessary care.
The optimal time for disembarkation is the end of April or the beginning of May, when the soil warms up and the outside temperature reaches 13-15 ° C.
The choice of planting material
It is better to buy a seedling in a specialized nursery. You need to choose plants with a closed root system, then when planted in open ground, the tender roots will not dry out.
You can take bushes in containers or with a lump of earth wrapped in burlap.
When choosing, you should pay attention to the appearance of the bush:
- the aerial part should be lively, uniform green;
- any cracks in the bark, breaks, mold, black and red spots are a sign of unhealthy material that may not take root after planting;
- the optimal crown height for plants aged 2-3 years is 60-70 cm.
Site preparation
The tree does not tolerate direct sunlight
Horstmann's juniper likes to grow in a sunny location, with a little shade at lunchtime. Under the open scorching rays, the needles quickly turn yellow and crumble.
The soil is suitable for slightly acidic or with a neutral level of acidity. You can plant a bush on loamy ground with the addition of sand (2 buckets are added per 1 m²).
Weeping ephedra will grow well on sandy loam soil, which is sprinkled with clay - 2 buckets per 1 m².
Two weeks before planting, weeds are removed, the remains of last year's vegetation. If the site is acidified, add 350 g of calcite or dolomite flour, then dig it up and level.
Landing technique
With a group disembarkation, holes are pulled out at a distance of 1-, 1.5 m, keeping a distance in a row - 2 m.
The depth of the holes depends on the length of the roots - it should be 2-3 times more. Deepen in such a way that the root collar remains 4-5 cm above the surface of the soil, otherwise the risk of rotting of the near-stem zone and the death of the seedling is inevitable.
A drainage layer is laid on the bottom - pebbles, crushed stone or broken brick. Then, half fill with a nutrient mixture of sod land, sand, coniferous sawdust mixed in a 3: 2: 1 ratio.
An earthen lump is lowered, all the voids are filled with a fertile composition, tamped, watered abundantly - 10 liters of water are consumed per plant.
To avoid rapid evaporation of moisture, the near-trunk zone is mulched with pine chips or garden soil.
Care requirements
The whole care of a coniferous plant consists of several operations.
Watering
In the first months after planting, conifers need regular and frequent watering, especially if the summer is dry and hot.
Moisturizing frequency is once a week. This will contribute to the intensive growth of the root system and green mass. No less important water recharge irrigation in the fall. The bushes are watered at the rate of 20 liters of water per copy.
The moisturizing procedure is carried out a month before the onset of stable autumn cold weather. Moisture-infused junipers will tolerate wintering well and will not freeze.
Mulching and loosening
The loosening procedure is carried out one day after each watering. It helps to maintain good air and moisture permeability of the soil. This variety has a superficial root system, so the soil is loosened to a depth of 3-4 cm.
Regular application of mulch after the procedure prevents the growth of weeds, protects the bushes from drying out.
Top dressing
Top dressing will increase plant immunity
Juniper Horstmann grows well without fertilizers, but to increase immunity against diseases, resistance from winter cold and decorativeness, many gardeners periodically feed it.
The first feeding is carried out the next year after planting - in early spring.
For intensive growth of the root system and green mass, nitrogen-containing preparations are used - nitrophoska, azofoska or urea. Prepare a solution according to the instructions - 1 tbsp. l. on a bucket of water. 3-4 liters of working fluid are poured under one plant.
The second time the juniper is fertilized in the fall - with a complex mineral composition of superphosphate and potassium salt (15 g per 10 l of water).
Consumption - 5 liters per one copy. To eliminate the risk of burning the roots, each dressing is combined with watering.
Pruning
This plant does not need a formative haircut. The only thing that needs to be done every spring is to remove branches damaged by diseases, frost and winds.
A sterile object (secateurs, scissors) is used for cutting. After the procedure, the wounds are irrigated with a solution of copper sulfate, then sprinkled with charcoal.
Shelter for the winter
Adult Horstmann junipers tolerate even the most severe winters. They are not covered, but only mulch the near-trunk zone.
Young plants - up to 3 years old, are sensitive to sudden temperature changes, prolonged thaws and severe frosts, so they need to be insulated.
First, they spud the trunk with peat or pine sawdust, then the aboveground part is carefully wrapped in burlap, covered with spruce branches or roofing felt. They remove the shelter in the spring, when the snow thaws and the heat of the street stabilizes at 10-12 ° C.
Reproduction
There are two ways to propagate this crop - by seeds and cuttings.
The first option is laborious, requires a lot of patience and does not always give the expected result. In addition, it is rarely possible to obtain a varietal specimen from seeds.
Therefore, most gardeners prefer the second method.
Harvesting and planting cuttings
Sprouting shoots is carried out at home. They are cut in summer (late June or early July).
Use the apical parts 15-20 cm long with a piece of lignified bark. So that the cuttings do not dry out, they are planted immediately after cutting into a moist and nutritious mixture of sand and peat (1: 1). Landing is carried out at an inclination of 45 ° to a depth of 3-4 cm.
For convenience, you can take plastic containers or seedling boxes. To exclude the risk of rotting shoots, several holes are made at the bottom of the container for the outflow of excess moisture, then 5-7 cm of pebbles or expanded clay are poured, loose, fertile soil upstairs.
Basic care
The shrub grows rapidly
For successful rooting, cuttings are watered with warm water and covered with foil. The mini-greenhouse is placed in a warm place with diffused daylight.
The optimum temperature is 18-19 ° C, humidity is 60-65%.
Germination can take 2 to 3 months. During this time of planting, it is necessary to periodically irrigate with warm water, loosen the soil superficially to avoid the appearance of an earthen crust, and also ventilate daily.
As soon as the first buds appear on the shoots, you can remove the shelter and transfer the plants to a warm room with a temperature of 20-23 ° C.
Young conifers continue to grow at home until next fall, then transplanted to a permanent habitat in the garden.
Diseases
Weeping ephedra is rarely damaged by diseases and pests; they can attack various infections only if an already infected plant is planted or if the rules of agricultural technology are violated.
Rust
A weakened plant is easily damaged by a fungal infection. Signs of rust are red and yellow spots in the form of growths or swellings on the surface of the trunk and shoots.
At the first symptoms, it is necessary to take measures - cut out the diseased parts, spray the sections with a solution of copper sulfate, then treat the crown and soil around the central conductor with Ridomil Gold or Bordeaux liquid.
At an advanced stage, it is recommended to remove the bushes from the site, otherwise all healthy plants will become infected and die.
Root rot
Usually deep-planted plants or those growing in waterlogged soil are infected with this sore.
If there is rot in the area of the root collar, the ephedra can still be saved - you need to dig it out, examine the roots (cut all damaged parts to healthy tissue, spray with copper sulfate, dry it, powder it with charcoal) and transplant it to a new place where there is no stagnant water.
Pests
Of the harmful insects, Horstmann is annoyed by aphids, scale insects, spider mites and moths. For prevention, it is necessary to maintain a distance between plants, use healthy planting material, remove weeds in time and loosen the soil.
At the very first signs of the appearance of parasites, a three-time treatment is carried out with one of the insecticides - Engio, Actellik or Aktara. The interval between irrigation is 7 days.
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Application in landscape
Due to its unusual shape and high decorativeness throughout the year, Horstmann weeping juniper is very popular in landscape design:
- this plant is used both in single and group plantings in combination with other conifers - thujas, spruces, junipers;
- such a variety is an excellent decoration in any composition on a flower bed, in a rock garden, mixborder or rabatka;
- bushes planted along alleys, curbs look beautiful;
- due to its rapid growth and good survival rate, needles are readily used in landscaping park areas;
- it is often planted along with cereals, mosses and other decorative deciduous plants;
- a composition of juniper surrounded by rose bushes looks especially impressive.
Reviews
Many gardeners are happy with this variety:
- the plant takes root well on any type of soil, and with regular watering, top dressing and loosening, it is practically not affected by diseases;
- good winter hardiness allows cultivation not only in the south, but also in the middle, central latitudes with unstable and cold weather;
- some use a large number of seedlings to create hedges, decorate inconspicuous areas along fences, farm buildings.