Juniper is an evergreen coniferous shrub of the Cypress family. There are many varieties of plants, but a variety with an interesting name, Dream Joy, is especially popular. Juniper is hardy and undemanding, therefore, it attracts the attention of gardeners. Scaly Dream Joy (Squamata Dream Joy) - a great option for decorating a suburban, personal plot. Read about how to plant juniper in the garden, how to care for a plant, how to propagate it and use it in landscape design.

Botanical Description

Dream Joy is a dwarf representative of scaly junipers. This variety does not grow very fast - its annual growth is a maximum of 15 cm. The adult shrub reaches a height of 0.5 m with a diameter of 0.9–1 m. The crown is sprawling, the branches are asymmetrical. The shoots are straight and only their ends are slightly inclined to the ground.

Juniper has short and prickly needles. Green needles with a gray or blue tint. In young plants, the needles are light green in color with a yellow tint. Needles change color with age - they darken. Due to the fact that young and adult needles of different color needles, junipers of different ages in the garden look more attractive, bright and colorful.

Since Dream Joy is a very compact plant, not very fast growing, it can be planted in areas where there is not much free space. The shrub will not rapidly grow in width and occupy a large area. The variety is resistant to severe frosts - it easily tolerates a decrease in temperature to -34 ° C and does not need to be protected from the cold. Dream Joy also tolerates dry periods well, without water for a long time. Rare watering with a small amount of water to the bush is enough for normal development.

Did you know? Juniper is rich in vitamins, minerals, organic acids, essential oils and other beneficial substances. Pine cones have anti-inflammatory, general strengthening, antimicrobial, analgesic, soothing properties, therefore they are widely used in medicine.

Landing

Even a novice gardener can cope with the planting of a juniper bush. The first stage is the acquisition of a seedling. Planting material in nurseries should be chosen very carefully: young plants should be healthy and strong, without external damage and signs of pest or disease damage. It is best to buy seedlings in containers with nutritious soil mixtures. Thanks to this, the root system of the bush will be protected from drying out. Immediately before planting, it is recommended to put juniper in a solution that stimulates the growth and development of roots. Cornevin is perfect for this. Leave the roots in the solution for 2-3 hours, and then proceed to planting in open ground.

Video: Planting and caring for juniper

The composition of the soil Dream Joy unpretentious. The shrub will grow on both stony and sandy lands. However, the most suitable option is aerated and well-drained sandy loam soil or loam. It is necessary to plant scaly juniper bushes in the soil of a neutral or weak acidity level.

Dream Joy will feel comfortable in areas with good lighting. In addition, thanks to the sunlight, the plant will look even more beautiful on the street: the color will sparkle with new flowers.

Important! Juniper should not be planted in the ground with high humidity. Places with groundwater close to the surface of the soil are not suitable for planting a bush.

So, follow the step-by-step landing instructions:

1. Prepare the landing pit. Its width and depth should be the same - 0.5 m.
2. Lay out the drainage layer. Its thickness varies depending on the type of soil: if sandy or sandy loamy soil - you need to make a layer 10 cm thick, if the loam is at least 20 cm. Expanded clay, sand or broken brick is recommended as drainage.
3. Earth that has been dug out of the pit must be connected to humus and sand. Mix from the calculation of 50% to 25% and 25%.
4. Place a certain amount of prepared soil mixture over the drainage. Carefully remove the seedling from the container and place it in the pit so that the root neck is buried in the same way as in the container.
5. Fill the hole with the remaining amount of soil mixture. Water the plant. The earth around it should not be tamped - let it settle naturally.

The best time for planting is spring (April or May). It is also possible to plant a bush in the fall - in October

Juniper Care

It is necessary to take care of juniper correctly so that it grows strong and healthy. Standard care, because the plant is undemanding.

It includes the following actions:

1. Watering. The juniper shrub does not require too much moisture, but its lack negatively affects the appearance of the plant. The Dream Joy variety can be watered several times a season - this will be enough. Moreover, if the weather is hot and arid, it is recommended to increase the frequency of watering. The main thing is not the amount of water, but regularity. It will not be superfluous to spray the crown of the plant with warm liquid. So that the juniper does not get burns, watering and spraying should be done early in the morning or in the evening, when the sun does not shine too brightly.
2. Top dressing. The conifer practically does not need fertilizers. The only thing is that you can add them to enhance plant growth. To do this, three times a season (from spring to autumn) you need to feed the plant with nitrous agents. Organic fertilizers (cow dung, humus) are not recommended to be applied to the soil, as they negatively affect the root system of juniper.
3. Mulching. Mulch the soil around the bush immediately after planting. Due to this, moisture from the soil will evaporate more slowly. Suitable materials for mulching are peat, dry needles or hay. The reaction of the juniper bush to them is positive.
4. Loosening. The procedure must be carried out very carefully. Only the top soil layer needs to be loosened so as not to harm the roots of the plant, which are close to the surface of the earth. Loosening is carried out infrequently - a couple of times a season is enough. Thanks to the mulch, weeds will not bother juniper.
5. Pruning. This is the most important stage of care, since it is necessary to trim to give both an attractive appearance and plant health. Pruning should be carried out in early spring, until the vegetation period has come and sap flow in the branches of the bush has begun. In the process, all dried up, weak, damaged or diseased shoots are removed. In addition, the shape of the crown is adjusted.

Important! When cutting, use only sharp tools and treat the cut points with fungicidal solutions. This will help the plant heal quickly.

Juniper is resistant to cold, so you do not need to cover it for the winter. If the temperature drops below 35 ° C, it is still necessary to protect the plant. To do this, mulch the trunk circle with peat (10 cm) and cover the plant with spruce branches.

Video: How to properly care for juniper

Breeding methods

Juniper Juniper Dream Joy can be propagated in two ways - seed and vegetative. Their description is presented below.

The seed method is not popular. To propagate a plant by this method, certain skills and knowledge are required, and it will also take a lot of effort. It is used mainly by breeders involved in the breeding of new species and varieties of juniper bush. Plant seeds are subjected to prolonged stratification. It takes about 3 months. After time, the seeds are planted, but not all grow. Hatching seedlings are grown in greenhouses, and then planted in containers for seedlings. It is possible to proceed to replanting in open ground not earlier than in 3-4 years, when the seedlings are sufficiently strong.

The vegetative way is faster and easier. There are two options - cuttings and layering. The first involves pruning cuttings from an adult bush. This must be done in the spring, optimally in April. Cut fresh shoots of green shade, the length of which is 15 cm. At the same time, on the one side, a little old wood should remain on the shoots. Cuttings for 2-3 days are left in a container with a solution that stimulates root formation. Then they are transplanted into containers for seedlings, in open ground or a greenhouse, depending on the weather conditions. Cuttings should be watered regularly. Closer to fall, they will form a root system, and in a year you can plant finished seedlings.

The second option for vegetative propagation is the use of layering. To do this, select a branch that is located close to the surface of the earth, and clean it of needles 20-30 cm from the top. Below you need to make an incision and fill it with a root stimulant. A small depression is made in the soil, into which the shoot is placed. It should be fixed in the hole and covered with soil. Layers must be regularly and abundantly watered; drying must not be allowed. It will take him 6–12 months to form his own root system. After this time, layering can be separated from the parent bush and transplanted to another place.

Use in landscape design

Scaly Juniper Dream Joy is widely used for decorating and landscaping the site, because it has a beautiful appearance and pleasant aroma. The conifer is planted singly or in groups. Moreover, if several plants are planted, it is important to consider the distance between them. Each bush grows 1 m wide, therefore it is optimal that there is the same distance between junipers (or a minimum of 0.5 m).

Did you know? Juniper berries are used in cooking as a natural flavor. They are added to meat dishes, snacks and drinks to give an unusual aroma and spicy flavor.

The plant is low, so it can be planted in front of groups of other crops that are superior in height. Juniper can divide the site into zones. You can also plant bushes along the curb, fence, wall of the house. Dream Joy will decorate any garden, city park, square, a platform in front of the gates of a private house or cottage and many other places.

The shrub is evergreen, therefore, even in the fall it remains as beautiful without losing its amazing color. In combination with other conifers, juniper will look even better. The bush will perfectly complement various decorative flower groups. Juniper will decorate the lawn and rocky alpine garden, where it will be contrasted on green grass.. The plant in containers will also give an excellent look to any area.

Dream Joy is a decorative conifer used in landscaping. Everyone can plant the plant, since the planting process is not difficult. With proper care, the bush will delight you with a beautiful appearance for a long time. Thanks to the juniper, the site will become expressive and unusually beautiful.