- 1). Water the juniper tree before removing it from the container.
- 2). Dig a hole deep enough so that the root ball is in the soil as the same level it was in the container.
- 3). Check to make sure that the soil you plant your juniper in is well drained. It cannot thrive in saturated soil or in boggy areas. If your soil is dense and heavy, mix gravel or grit into the soil when you dig the hole for the plant.
- 4). Spread the juniper's roots out a bit so that they make better contact with the soil, allowing the tree to establish itself. Gently disengage a portion of the root ball with your fingers and spread the roots out manually, or cut a short horizontal line with a sharp knife in a few different areas around the root ball.
- 5). Plant the tree in an area that gets full sunlight throughout the day, although a juniper will tolerate partial shade. Once you place your juniper into the hole, fill in the hole using a small shovel. Press the soil down firmly with your hands to get rid of any air pockets.
- 6). Water the juniper regularly during the first year of its life and during the second year if you live in a particularly dry climate.
- 7). Fertilize the juniper once a year in the late fall or early spring with a slow-release plant food. Test the soil to see if you need a high-nitrogen fertilizer. Dig into the soil around the base of the tree when applying the fertilizer to help it absorb into the soil. Water the area well after fertilizing.
- 8). Prune your juniper annually during the summer with pruning shears in order to keep a pleasing shape. Cut the existing branches back by one-third. If your juniper is overgrown, leave a wisp of green on the branches and cut it back near the main stem with a lopper.
- 9). Check your juniper tree for browning needles or dying tips. These are symptoms of different types of blight, the most common affliction that juniper trees encounter. Treat your juniper tree with the appropriate fungicide.
- 10
Watch for bagworms, caterpillars that feed on evergreens and carry a "bag" of silk along with them. Remove and destroy any bagworms you see. Treat the juniper tree with Bt, a bacterial insecticide, if you have a heavy infestation.
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