Juniper proves to be easy to care for. Nevertheless, you should not lose sight of the annual cut, because an old juniper rarely tolerates radical pruning measures. Gentle contour cuts and isolated branch removals with the appropriate tools are better.
Old junipers should be pruned with care
Shorten shoot tips
Older plants are regularly pruned and shaped to keep them compact. If you have created a special shape from the plant when it was young, you must continuously shorten protruding shoot tips. Since the juniper grows slowly, an annual topiary is sufficient. This measure also applies to old shrubs that have been planted solitarily or in hedges.
Remove disturbing branches
If a branch disturbs the overall picture, it can be removed completely. It is important that there are still enough green shoots growing above and below the cutting point. This measure can also be carried out specifically to create a large outdoor bonsai. Remove only those branches that grow in a bend in the main axis. This gives smaller shoots more light, so they grow bushier.
Avoid radical cut
The juniper does not tolerate an intensive pruning back into the old wood. The wood would only continue to grow at the green ends. Regular shape and maintenance cuts are better so that the shrub grows compactly and develops dense branches. To do this, you should grab the hedge trimmer (€77.00) every year just before they sprout in spring.
How to cut correctly:
- bring young plants into shape every year
- Cut off branches directly at the branch fork
- leave no stumps
- Better to cut a little too little than too much
tools
Whether you reach for the electric hedge trimmer or the manual shrub shears (€68.00) depends on the shape. The shoots of hedges and pillars can be cut to a uniform length with hedge trimmers. Electric tools facilitate the annual maintenance cut of trapezoidal hedges.
If you value natural growth, remove individual branches and shoot tips with mechanical scissors. You don't have to follow any special patterns, you can rely on your intuition. It is important that the blades have been sharpened and thoroughly cleaned. This prevents the interfaces from becoming entry points for diseases and pests.