The scaly juniper Meyeri Kompakta is an evergreen bush that has long been loved by many landscape designers and gardeners. Its popularity is due to the fact that the crown of the plant is quite elegant, so it is often used in creating various compositions, as well as ennoble buildings and squares.
Botanical Description
The juniper needles of a rather unusual color are silver-blue. The crown is quite thick and lush. The branches that are on the side give the bush a rather voluminous shape. In mid-May, the color of the plant becomes more pronounced.
The fruits of juniper are dark blue berries, similar to small cones. Top they are covered with a layer of wax. This species of coniferous plant grows very slowly. In order to take root in a new place, he may need about 3 years. Over a year, the bush grows by about 10 cm. An adult plant usually reaches a height of up to 3 m. The root system is branched, part of it is located on top.
Did you know? Juniper is considered a perennial plant, almost all of its species live for about 600 years.
Characteristic
Characteristics of Juniper Meyer Compact:
| Height | adult plants can reach up to 3 m |
| Crown shape | lush, dense, lateral branches hang down, the maximum diameter of the crown is 1.5 m |
| Frost resistance | tall, adapts perfectly to cold and windy weather |
| Growth rate | slow, about 10 cm per year |
| Needles color | silver-blue, during the period of active growth (in spring) the color becomes more saturated |
Landing
Success in growing juniper depends on proper planting and quality care. For a successful outcome, it is best to plant juniper with seedlings. Sowing seeds practically does not give the desired result. Shrub unpretentious to the soil, takes root on any. But it must be fertile, acidic and good air permeability.
Did you know? Juniper oil has a huge number of positive properties. Strengthens the immune system, anesthetizes and improves mood.
Seedling preparation
In order for scaly juniper to take root well and delight the eye with its beauty, you need to choose the right seedlings, therefore when buying, pay attention to some features:
- the trunk and root should be free of cracks and cuts;
- uniform crown color;
- fresh shoots;
- the presence of burlap and a lump of earth.
Before planting, seedlings must be soaked with water, for this you need to put an earthen lump in a container with water for 2 hours.
Site selection and preparation
To plant a bush stands in well-lit places. The soil must be moist and rich in nutrients. If the earth is heavy, add sand and coniferous earth. You can also do drainage. To do this, you need to fill in the hole with broken brick and sand at 15 cm.
In large plants, the root neck should be 5 cm above the planting pit. If the plant is young, then the neck should be level with the ground, otherwise the bush may not take root and dry out.
After planting, you need to water it well. Since juniper is unpretentious in watering, you need to make sure that the water does not stagnate. Water it once a week, on a hot day it should go up to 10 liters per plant.
Features of plant care
Juniper does not require special care, even an aspiring gardener can grow it. To grow a beautiful and lush bush, you need to know some of the nuances of care.
Which consist of the following activities:
- watering;
- loosening, getting rid of weeds;
- fertilizer;
- protection against diseases and pests;
- shelter for the winter;
- pruning.
Watering and feeding
It is necessary to make top dressing twice a year - in the spring and in the fall. It can be complex fertilizers or potash-phosphorus minerals. In hot weather, 10 liters of water should go to one bush, this procedure can be carried out once a week. On days when the air is particularly dry, it is recommended to spray juniper with water. Coniferous plants should not be fed chicken or cow dung, as it burns the roots of the plant.
Mulching and cultivation
Since the root system of juniper is on the surface, the earth around the seedlings needs to be loosened loosely. You need to do this after each watering, removing all weeds. Coniferous soil is good for mulching. Also, for the winter, you can use chips or sawdust.
Haircut and Shaping
The shrub lends itself perfectly to shaping. It is better to cut it at the end of March. Thanks to splendor and an elegant form, it is possible to cut a variety of shapes from juniper, to make unique miniature compositions. After cutting, the bush should be sprayed with fungicide - a means of protecting plants from fungus.
Wintering
The conifer easily tolerates winter, but it can freeze in severe frosts, so that the bush does not die, it must be protected from the cold. For shelter, you can use a spruce branch or burlap, with some of the branches to be open. It is recommended to tie the branches with tape so that they do not break from the snow. The earth is mulched with pine bark and peat. In early spring, all this must be removed in order to prevent rotting of the roots.
Important! If the buds of the bush are frozen, then the diseased branches need to be cut and treated with healthy wood garden putty.
Breeding methods
Juniper Mayeri can be propagated in several ways:
- Layering - This is the most popular way. The branches that grow below are pinned and sprinkled with earth, so it turns layers.
- Cuttings - they break off the branches of a young plant, treat them with a stimulator to form the root system and root them.
- Seeds - This is a difficult method, the result of which will be less successful, the plant will begin to appear only for 2 years.
Use in landscape design
Scaly junipers, including Meyeri, are very popular among landscape designers, because they are unpretentious in maintenance. They are used in the design of private plots, establishments, parks, squares, hedges.
Skillful craftsmen can easily give any shape to a lush shrub, creating real masterpieces. Juniper looks beautiful with other conifers. A correctly selected composition can decorate any area and give it elegance.
Diseases and Pests
Do not forget about diseases and pests that can easily destroy the conifer. If you saw cobwebs on the branches, then ticks settled on the bush, because of this, the needles can crumble. “Fitoverm” will help to cope with ticks.
Take a closer look
An aphid attack leads to slow growth and bending of the shoots, in order to get rid of it, you need to dissolve 1 tablet of the Iskra plant protection product in 10 l of water and spray the bush.
Juniper is also susceptible to fungal diseases.
Their symptoms are:
- dark red needles;
- black spots on the crown.
It is necessary to treat a fungus by means containing sulfur. Damaged branches must be removed.
The scaly juniper Meyeri Kompakta is an excellent option for ennoblement of private plots, country estates, luxury establishments or parks. The plant is unpretentious in care. Even with minimal care, the conifer will delight the eye all year round.
