How to cut a Cossack juniper

Pruning of the Cossack juniper is necessary, first of all, in order to maintain the attractive appearance of the shrub, however, the lack of care practically does not affect the development of the plant. The variety is one of the most unpretentious representatives of its family and is distinguished by high rates of drought resistance. The resistance of the Cossack juniper to air pollution is especially highly valued in landscape design – this characteristic allows the shrub to be used to decorate city parks, alleys and playgrounds.

Is it possible to cut Cossack juniper

Juniper is a long-lived plant, the key characteristic of which is low growth rates. Thanks to this quality, the shrub tolerates a haircut well and keeps its crown shape for a long time, however, this cannot be fully attributed to the Cossack juniper. The variety is considered one of the fastest growing species.

The lack of pruning does not have any significant negative impact on the health of the plant, however, it is recommended to periodically correct the crown of the Cossack juniper, since the variety is quite branched. On a regular basis, usually only broken, dried or diseased branches are removed, without affecting healthy shoots. Intensive pruning is resorted to only when it is necessary to change the decorative shape of the juniper, stop the processes of growth to the sides, or change the direction of growth of the branches.

Thus, it is possible to cut the Cossack juniper, but this is not necessary if the decorative effect of the bush is not a priority.

Terms of shearing and formation of Cossack juniper

The formation of the crown of the Cossack juniper begins to produce from the age of two. Pruning is carried out both in autumn and in spring, in April and September, respectively. It is permissible to form a crown at a later date – in May or October.

In no case should juniper be pruned in the summer months, especially in June and July – this is a period of intensive growth and sap flow. In winter, the procedure is also not carried out, since the cut shoots do not heal at low temperatures. The recommended average daily air temperature during the pruning period should be at least +4°C.

Cossack juniper is cut at intervals of 6 months, not more often, while the emphasis is on the sanitary type of pruning. When determining the intensity of pruning, it is necessary to focus on the average annual growth of the shrub – if the shoot formation reaches 10 cm per year, then the branches are pruned by only 2 cm.

Pruning Cossack juniper in spring

In the spring, pruning of Cossack juniper is best done on a cloudy day. Immediately before starting the procedure, it is recommended to refresh the bush through moderate sprinkling. Branches cannot be cut dry, especially on a hot sunny day, as this is fraught with drying out of wounds. At high temperatures, moisture quickly evaporates from the cut surface, which leads to sunburn – the ends of the branches darken and curl.

In addition, moistened shoots are much more convenient to cut, since garden shears are not so blunt in this case.

Pruning juniper Cossack in autumn

As a rule, intensive pruning of the Cossack juniper is not carried out in the fall – after such a procedure, the bushes are weakened and do not always endure the winter safely. At this time, only pruning of the sanitary type is permissible, when damaged and diseased branches are removed from the shrub, slightly thinning the crown.

Types of pruning Cossack juniper

It is customary to distinguish the following types of pruning suitable for Cossack juniper:

1. Sanitary. This type of pruning does not affect the shape of the bush, only bare, damaged or diseased branches are cut.
2. Formative (or topiary) implies a deeper processing of the bush. Pruning is aimed at changing the shape of the juniper, adjusting the crown in case of strong thickening or growth, as well as stimulating shoot formation, due to which the shrub acquires a more lush and rounded appearance.
3. Plucking. In this case, only the ends of the branches are cut. The purpose of this procedure is to increase the density of the bush.

When choosing a decorative form for the Cossack juniper, it is necessary to take into account the peculiarity of the natural silhouette of the bush – it is impossible to make a high spiral or arch from a creeping plant. On the other hand, the short stature of the bush and rounded shapes make it possible to give the juniper the appearance of a compact pillow or ball lying on the ground.

If the Cossack juniper is planned to be grown in the form of a complex figure – a person, animals, etc., pruning begins with giving the bush a basic shape: a triangle, square or ball. All subsequent figures are gradually formed from it, gradually giving the shrub a more detailed outline. At this stage, many gardeners use special templates for cutting ornamental horticultural crops. Juniper is cut along the guide lines of such structures.

Topiary haircut of Cossack juniper

Topiary crown pruning (also shaping or thinning) is aimed at controlling shoot formation and correcting excessive bush density. Creeping varieties of juniper, which include the Cossack, are cut with an orientation to the most well-located branches. All excess shoots are removed. The following year, only young growth is cut, but not more than 20% of the total length of the shoots.

Formative pruning must be carried out at least 2 times in the spring months. In March, young branches are removed – this is necessary in order to stimulate the processes of lignification of the shrub. So, juniper better adapts to low winter temperatures. In addition, it is necessary to cut off all bare shoots – those from which the needles fell off. Such branches do not form dormant buds, which means that they will not be able to re-cover with needles.

Sanitary pruning

This type of pruning is mandatory for all types of juniper. It comes down to removing all damaged and diseased shoots, while healthy branches are not affected in the process.

Gardening tips for cutting and shaping Cossack juniper

In order to minimize stress on the plant during pruning, it is recommended to follow some general recommendations that are suitable for almost all varieties of juniper:

1. It is better to cut a little less than to damage the branches by cutting too deep – this is one of the most important rules that applies not only to conifers. It is necessary to remove the shoot and sprout buds only after the shape of the bush has been carefully considered. If you cut off a large number of buds, this can adversely affect the development of the shrub – it will slow down or completely stop its growth. Sometimes too intensive pruning leads to the death of the plant.
2. The bare branches of the Cossack juniper, from which the needles fell off, do not have dormant buds, as is the case with most deciduous crops. They will not be covered with needles again, so such branches are cut off “on a ring” – completely, under the very base, or a very small stump is left. If this is not done, the exposed shoot will dry out over time and spoil the appearance of the juniper.
3. At one time, you can not cut more than 1/3 of the total volume of green mass. Otherwise, the shrub may weaken and not have time to recover before the onset of winter. This is especially true for varieties with slow growth rates – significant “bald spots” will be noticeable on them, which will overgrow only after a few seasons.
4. Cuts should be made at an angle of 45°C. If you cut the branches across, then the bush will heal slowly.
5. To give the shrub a neater appearance after pruning, it is recommended to cut the shoots to the nearest fork, and not just the ends.
6. For better healing of the branches, all sections must be disinfected. Most often, for this purpose, they are treated with garden pitch.
7. The garden tool for cutting should be well sharpened. Dull scissors “chew” the ends of the branches, so the cuts are sloppy and fibrous. After such pruning, the shoots heal for a long time. In addition, pruning with a blunt tool increases the risk of juniper infection.
8. All tools for working with shrubs must be disinfected without fail. To do this, they can be wiped with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.
9. For greater density of the crown, the shrub is cut off by young growth.
10. Shortly before cutting, you should feed the juniper with mineral fertilizers. The plant responds especially well to nitrogen fertilizers, which help the bush gain green mass. After pruning, the bush is also fed, but moderately.
11. In order to stimulate the growth of the crown, you can spray the Cossack juniper with the Epin solution.

You can learn more about how to prune Cossack juniper from the video below:

Conclusion

Pruning of the Cossack juniper is necessary to give the plant an attractive appearance. The shrub keeps its shape for a long time due to insignificant growth rates, however, shoots that stand out from the total mass can give the shrub an untidy appearance. In landscape design, plant varieties are used primarily to create hedges and decorate rocky slopes. Also, shrubs are planted singly or in small groups to decorate the lawn.