A Cut Above- How to Trim Juniper Shrubs
As a member of the Cypress family, Junipers are fantastic shrubs for a reason. They are deer resistant, easy to grow, and stay green all year round. The downside is that without pruning, they can reach heights of twelve to fifteen feet. Trimming Juniper shrubs help to keep them functional and eye-catching.
How to Trim Juniper Shrubs
When using handheld pruning shears or long-handled loppers, You should cut branches at a forty-five-degree angle. The goal is to remove limbs that are bare or have dead greenery. Junipers should be inspected periodically throughout the year to look for problem areas. It is much easier to remove branches as needed, as opposed to doing it all at once.
Cut any unwanted new branch growth just above the bumpy area that encircles it. That will help the shrubs recover faster from pruning.
Trim any new green shoots before they get too long. Since they are young and tender, it may be possible to pinch them off with the fingers. That should not be done during late summer, as the shrub needs new growth to stay healthy.
What to do with Overgrown Junipers
Overgrown Junipers can be challenging to tame. If they are not trimmed correctly, they will not produce new greenery. For this reason, it is best to do them in stages throughout the growing seasons. You should remove no more than one-fourth of the branches during a single cutting session.
If a limb is trimmed past the area where the greenery ends, it will not re-grow. The center of the Juniper also won’t re-grow limbs. Care should be taken when cutting to avoid pruning these spots. If the shrub is seriously out of control, it may be best to replace them.
Pruning shapes
Since Junipers are fast growers, they are ideal candidates for shaping. That must also be done in stages, or the shrub can become damaged. It takes approximately three growing seasons to cultivate a juniper into a shape.
At the end of the first and second seasons, You should remove one-half of the new growth. That encourages the shrub to grow thicker each following season. At the start of the third period, You can prune them into an actual shape. Templates can be created using a large piece of cardboard to ensure unity. They must be maintained by regular maintenance, with the outside edges being trimmed each year.
If well maintained, Junipers don’t take a lot of work. It is easier to trim them a few times each year in small amounts rather than deal with overgrowth. By investing a minimal amount of care, Junipers will earn their keep and continue to thrive.
