Did you planted your juniper in full sun location?
Did you planted your juniper in well-drained soil?
Do you water your common juniper regularly?
Do you feed your common juniper regularly?
Do you prune your common juniper frequently?
Do you keep your common juniper free of pests and diseases?
Common juniper is a sun-loving evergreen that should receive full sun for the majority of the day. If a common juniper does not receive enough light you may notice stalled or stunted growth. Common junipers cannot survive in full shade conditions.
Common junipers can grow in a variety of soils as long as the medium provides good drainage. They are highly adaptable to a wide range of soil conditions and they are not particular about soil pH - growing well in soils that are highly alkaline to highly acidic.
When grown in their native range (USDA zones 2 through 7), common junipers do not require any supplemental watering. These plants cannot withstand being waterlogged or sitting in standing water, so appropriate drainage is imperative for the common juniper.
Common junipers are considered ‘light feeders’ and do not require regular fertilization. If desired, established common junipers can benefit from a yearly feeding in the late winter to early spring with a slow-release shrub and tree fertilizer, but this is not necessary.
Pruning isn’t really recommended, especially since much of the appeal of a juniper bush is its distinctive natural bearing, sometimes spiking up in a column, sometimes spreading along the ground. If you must prune it to reduce or balance the branches, do it at the beginning of summer and avoid cutting too near the trunk, and prefer light pruning instead of cutting back severely.
Good job! You are taking good care of your common juniper.
Watch out for diseases such as juniper blight, twig blight, and cedar apple rust - all of which can be handled with prompt and aggressive pruning. Common pests of the common juniper include bagworms, juniper scale, aphids, and more. Checking the shrub over semi-annually for signs of pests and using an insecticide when needed should keep any major infestations under control.
https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-grow-and-care-for-common-juniper-5080172
https://www.nature-and-garden.com/gardening/juniper.html
Sreten null
Hi! I’m Sreten Filipović. I graduated from the Faculty of Agriculture at the University of Belgrade, with a master's degree in Environmental Protection in Agricultural Systems. I’ve worked as a researcher at Finland's Natural Resources Institute (LUKE) on a project aimed at adapting south-western Finland to drought episodes. I founded a consulting agency in the field of environment and agriculture to help farmers who want to implement the principles of sustainability on their farms. I’m also a founding member of the nonprofit organization Ecogenesis from Belgrade whose main goal is non-formal education on the environment and ecology. In my spare time, I like to write blog posts about sustainability, the environment, animal farming, horticulture, and plant protection. I’ve also published several science-fiction short stories.
You can find me on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/sreten-filipovi%C4%87-515aa5158/
