Juniper Blue Chip (Juniperus horizontalis Blue Chip) is one of the most popular species. He comes from the North American Territories, and the name - "Blue Chip" symbolizes the highest value, reliability, prestige (the term came from poker and the stock exchange). To find out whether it is justified, it is worth getting to know this variety better.
Juniper horizontal Blue Chip
Brief information about the variety
- Colour: blue in spring and summer, purple in autumn and winter.
- Height: 25-30 cm.
- Crown width: 1.2-1.5 m.
- In which regions is it growing: the entire territory of Russia.
- Landing features: in a sunny place or in partial shade.
- Immunity: tall.
- Life span: 200-300 years old.
Description of the plant
The Blue Chip Juniper is also called horizontal or creeping. A low-growing shrub reaches 25-30 cm in height, 1.2-1.5 m in width. Branches are dense, slightly raised up. Their arrangement is shaped like a star.
The needles are scaly, with short needles.
In spring, the plant takes on a bright blue color, and by the end of autumn - purple.
The root system of the shrub is well branched and placed close to the surface. Cones are small, rounded, 0.5 cm long (rarely appear).
Growing regions
The Blue Chip juniper tolerates drought and frost equally well. It can be grown throughout Russia.
In the extreme northern regions, it is better to insulate the plant for the winter, and in the southern regions, cover it with a net from sunburn or plant it in partial shade.
Landing
When buying a Blue Chip seedling, choose specimens with a closed root system (in a container or burlap) and a damp earthy clod. New growth should be visible on the branches.
Pay attention to the stems (no damage) and color (in a healthy plant, it is uniform, without dark or white spots).
Landing place
The shrub likes good light or light partial shade. It can be planted in the sun, but not in direct sunlight. In full shade, it also grows, but becomes duller in color.
The plant prefers loose, fertile, slightly acidic soils, does not tolerate salinity.
Landing technology
Choose a healthy plant for planting
For planting, a hole is dug 50-70 cm deep, and the elongated soil is mixed with peat and sand in equal proportions (you can add fertilizer for conifers).
The width should be one and a half times greater than the size of the earthen clod of the bush. A bucket of water is poured inside and allowed to soak. If the soil is dense, a drainage layer is laid on the bottom (gravel, expanded clay, sand or broken clay brick).
Placing the plant, make sure that the root collar remains at ground level. The bush is watered and then sprinkled with soil mixture, gradually tamping.
The trunk circle does not completely fall asleep, leaving 4-5 cm for mulching. Mulch is placed on top - peat chips, sawdust or crushed bark.
Care
Despite its decorative effect, Blue Chip is a rather unpretentious variety. Care measures include proper watering, mulching, feeding and sanitary pruning.
Regular care will create not only favorable conditions for growth, but good disease prevention.
Watering
Juniper loves moisture, but not excessively. When watering, it is necessary to focus on weather conditions and soil conditions.
On average, the plant is watered once a week using 6-10 liters of water (depending on size and age). In dry periods, evening sprinkling should be done.
Top dressing
According to the descriptions of gardeners, the shrub responds well to feeding. During the season they are made 1-3 times (without fail - in spring, if necessary - in summer and autumn).
Usually they use ready-made complexes of minerals for conifers and organics. The humus is spread in the trunk circle to improve soil structure and attract beneficial bacteria.
The needles can be sprayed with Epin if the plant has not endured the winter, damage or other stresses.
Mulching and loosening
The soil is loosened as necessary and not very deeply (4-6 cm). The trunk circle is mulched to reduce evaporation, facilitating maintenance and improving air access.
As mulch, sawdust or chips, needles, peat chips, dry leaves, and crushed bark are used.
Pruning
Every spring, the shrub is sheared for sanitary purposes: dry and damaged shoots are removed, as well as twigs that have lost their decorative effect.
If desired, it can be formed (in a cascade, in the form of a star or a flower). But even without shaping, the plant looks impressive in landscape design, since it grows beautifully in a natural way.
Preparing for winter
Blue Chip variety is frost-resistant
Possessing high frost resistance, an adult shrub tolerates winters well without shelter. However, in the northern regions it makes sense to insulate the trunk circle with a thick layer of peat. Young plants can be covered with spruce branches.
In February and early spring, when the sun is especially bright, the bushes are covered with a loose net to prevent burns. It is advisable to thaw snow and ice at the roots at this time.
Reproduction
The most popular way to propagate juniper is by layering. To do this, the soil on the site must be properly prepared: dig it up together with peat, sand and fertilizers. After digging, the soil is thoroughly loosened and moistened.
On the parent bush, a rather long shoot is chosen. A place for rooting is prepared on it: they are freed from the needles, a small incision is made (you can sprinkle it with a root formation stimulator), and then they are bent to the ground and "pinned".
For fastening, a bracket, hairpin or ordinary wire is used. The roots appear within a year, after which the twig is cut and transplanted.
Diseases and pests
Blue Chip can be affected by rust and root rot. Prevention is proper care, mulching and top dressing, spraying with Bordeaux liquid and foundation.
At the first signs of the disease, regular treatment with fungicides is necessary (Arcerid, Topsin, Vectra, etc.).
Of insects, aphids, scale insects and putin mites harm the bush. The latter is taken out with special drugs - acaricides (like Karate or Aktellik). Insecticides are used against the first two (Karbofos, Fitoverm, Konfidor, Aktara, etc.).
Application in landscape design
Juniper horizontal Blue Chip is widely used in landscape design.
It is often used to strengthen slopes and walls, create living borders and a solid "carpet".
The shrub looks great in rocky gardens, rock gardens, flower beds and combined compositions. Often it is planted near water bodies and in city flower beds.
This plant is suitable for container growing, provided it is formed regularly. Such bushes look very impressive, decorating balconies, terraces, roofs, building facades.
Due to its bright color, it is often used to create colorful compositions and bright accents.
Reviews
According to the description of gardeners, in most cases there are no problems with the Blue Chip juniper: planting and care does not require much effort; the shrub rarely gets sick and tolerates winter well.
Juniper horizontal Blue Chip 🌿 review: how to plant, juniper seedlings Blue Chip
Juniper horizontal Blue Chip. Brief overview, description juniperus horizontalis blue chip
Juniper horizontal "Blue Chip" - video review from Greensad
Another advantage of using this plant in landscape design is considered by many to change the color of the needles. In summer it is blue, and from the end of autumn it is purple. This each time enlivens the site and brings novelty to the picturesque picture of the garden.
In addition to its decorative appearance, gardeners appreciate the unsurpassed aroma of the shrub, its ability to purify the air and its medicinal properties. It not only adapts to the urban atmosphere, but also significantly improves its ecology.