Junipers are unpretentious to growing conditions and care, it is enough to feed them twice - in spring and autumn. This will saturate the tree with essential nutrients and ensure development and a healthy appearance.
What top dressing is suitable for juniper
Required items
Depending on the season, junipers require different ingredients:
- in spring, nitrogen is needed in high doses, it acts as a source of energy for the awakening of the plant after winter, activates vegetative processes and the growth of new shoots;
- in summer, copper, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, zinc and iron should be present, which have a beneficial effect on the color saturation of the needles and increase resistance to environmental factors;
- in the fall, preference is given to a diet with a low nitrogen content, in order to slow down the growth of new shoots, which do not have time to lignify and freeze, and to increase the bush's resistance to upcoming frosts in winter, they choose such autumn fertilizers where there is magnesium, which prevents yellowing of the upper layer.
Fertilizers
Fertilizers for juniper are divided into 3 types: organics, minerals and ready-made complexes.
Organic
It is allowed to use it already in the preparation of the planting pit, before planting the seedlings, adding humus to the mixture of peat and turf, taken in equal proportions.
In the future, you can feed the juniper with such a composition throughout the entire growing season.
Mullein and bird droppings are not suitable for feeding, which have a detrimental effect on the condition of plant roots and lead to burns and subsequent death.
Manure in various forms is used as fertilizer only in spring, because in its chemical composition, it contains a large proportion of nitrogen, leading to an increase in leaf mass, which is not important for junipers.
Ephedra respond well to the introduction of dressings prepared on the basis of biohumus. Dissolved in water, they are actively absorbed into plant cells, activating photosynthesis, and act as a stimulant for the development of the root system.
Organic matter is introduced by irrigation with aqueous solutions, which are better absorbed by the roots.
Dry fertilization is not recommended, because under the influence of sunlight, it significantly loses its beneficial properties.
Minerals
Along with organic matter, juniper needs minerals for proper growth.
Their deficiency is replenished by introducing nitroammophoska when preparing the soil for planting a seedling: they lay the drug at 200-300 g per 1 bush in the planting pit.
This amount of fertilizer is sufficient for the coming year.
With subsequent care, they are fed every spring (40 g per plant).
Additionally, you can fertilize a crop planted in depleted soil throughout the growing season, depending on the external state of the tree.
In autumn, magnesium deficiency is observed in the form of yellowing of the upper part. Top dressing must be applied to strengthen the bush before the winter cold.
Complexes
Fertilizers increase plant immunity
Ready-made complexes often contain additional elements that provide plants with protection from infection by fungal diseases and attack by pests.
- Khvoinka. Suitable for fertilization in spring and summer. The composition contains an increased proportion of nitrogen (13%). Designed for watering at the stage of active vegetation. The dosage is 20 g per 20 liters of water.
- Kemira. Includes essential nutrients in equal proportions. Purpose of application: improving the quality of the soil before planting and nutrition during the growing season. Dosage - up to 40 g per 1 planting hole, up to 60 g per 1 bush when feeding during the season.
- Fertile fertilizer. Contains a high proportion of nitrogen. Activates the growth of shoots. It is intended for application in spring, before planting, and as a top dressing throughout the growing season. Dosage - 100-200 g per 1 planting hole, 30 g per 10 liters of water for irrigation during the season.
- Green needle. Contains a high proportion of magnesium and sulfur. Promotes rich color of needles. Suitable for treatment with yellowing crown. Dosage - 50 g of granules per plant.
Homemade recipes
Feeding for cypress can be made independently from home remedies.
Mulch
You can enrich the soil under the juniper by mulching the trunk circle.
Mulch:
- maintains the optimal acidity of the soil;
- delays introduced useful substances, preventing their leaching and weathering;
- improves the composition of the soil, contributing to the development of soil microflora;
- protects the plant from the emergence of weeds that draw off food.
For preparation, hay, straw and humus mixed to a loose state are suitable, which are laid out in a layer up to 10 cm in the area of the trunk circle. The protective layer is changed after loosening and weeding. The mulch laid down for the winter is pushed aside in order to avoid the onset of decay processes and the development of fungal diseases.
Compost
Overripe compost can be a good top dressing. It is made from dry grass and food waste. Sprinkle the finished product on the soil under the juniper, forming a layer of 10 cm.
Fertilization rules
It is required to feed the juniper at a young age. Fertilization is started from the second year after planting, because at the stage of planting a seedling at a permanent place of cultivation, the nutrients introduced into the planting pit are enough for the first time.
Adult bushes are fed one time at intervals of 3 years. This gap is shortened if external signs of a lack of some elements are found - growth retardation, tarnishing of needles, weakness of new shoots.
Basic feeding rules:
- the optimal time is from spring (late April) to early summer (June), at the stage of swelling of the buds until they open;
- application area - near-trunk circle, at a distance of 0.15 m to the trunk;
- bookmark depth - from 0.1 m;
- interval - 4-5 weeks;
- dosage - in accordance with the instructions.
How to properly care for a juniper?
SPRING FEEDING FOR CONIFEROUS PLANTS,
Fertilize cypress with preliminary moistening of the soil. After feeding, the juniper is watered abundantly.
Typical mistakes gardeners
When feeding a juniper, gardeners often make a number of mistakes:
- do not take into account the requirements for the conditions of growing crops, incl. necessary indicators of soil acidity, which leads to the wrong selection of useful components;
- ignore the dosage prescribed by the instructions, causing burns to the roots;
- do not adhere to the timing of the procedure and do not maintain the interval between them, which causes an oversupply of fertilizers.