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Lying juniper Nana is a variety that compares favorably with other varieties with its compact size. The short stature makes it easier to care for the shrub, and also allows it to be used to create borders, decorate tall crops and small flower beds. This species gained great popularity for its unpretentiousness and resistance to typical diseases of coniferous plants.
Description juniper recumbent Nana
Lying juniper Nana (juniperus procumbens nana) is a dwarf creeping shrub, the height of which does not exceed 40 cm. The bush grows 130-150 cm wide. The needles of this variety are soft, small. Its color varies from bluish-silver to greenish-blue tones.
Like many varieties of juniper, Nana is a long-lived plant with a slow growth rate. The annual growth of the shrub is only 30 cm, due to which the plant retains its shape for a long time after pruning. This quality is highly valued in landscape design. juniper can go long periods of time without crown formation.
A distinctive feature of the Nana variety is its immunity to low temperatures, which makes it possible to grow shrubs in most of Our Country, including in the northern regions. In addition, the plant tolerates a long drought well.
Juniper Nana recumbent in landscape design
As you can see in the photo below, Nana lying juniper is often used to decorate city parks and playgrounds. This is because the variety is quite resistant to air pollution.
Most often, juniper Nana is grown as follows:
- as a ground cover crop to decorate slopes;
- as part of rock gardens;
- for landing on roofs and balconies;
- as part of coniferous groups along with spruce, pine, arborvitae, etc.;
- for the design of undersized borders;
- in the form of homogeneous compositions;
- for placement on terraces in containers;
- as decoration in rocky gardens.
Planting and caring for juniper recumbent Nana
Planting and caring for juniper lying varieties Nana does not cause any particular difficulties. The plant is quite unpretentious and does not impose serious requirements on the type of soil. On the other hand, in order to fully unleash the potential of this variety, it is recommended to follow some general rules when choosing a site for planting a plant:
- Juniper Nana thrives best in acidic, well-drained soils.
- This species does not grow well in conditions of lack of light, so it should be planted in open sunny areas.
- Shrub growth can be inhibited by planting in a lowland – with this arrangement, it is likely that moisture will stagnate in the ground after heavy rains. An increased level of soil moisture often provokes root rot in junipers.
Seedling and planting preparation
Although Juniper Nana rooting well in almost all types of soil, it is sometimes better to slightly correct the area before planting. If the soil on the plot is clayey and heavy, you can dilute it with a sand mixture. To do this, fine-grained sand, soddy soil and peat are mixed in equal proportions.
Rules of landing
Saplings with open roots are planted in spring or autumn. If spring is selected, planting can be done immediately after the snow melts. The earlier the shrub is planted, the better. Seedlings with closed roots are also planted in spring, autumn, even winter is suitable.
The procedure for planting Nana juniper is as follows:
- For group planting, landing pits are placed at a distance of 90-100 cm from each other. The diameter of the pit is 70-80 cm, the depth is 60-70.
- At the bottom of the pit, drainage is placed about 10 cm thick and a fertile soil mixture of sand, soddy soil and peat, taken in a ratio of 1: 1: 2.
- After that, the seedling is lowered into the pit, gently straightening its root system.
- Juniper roots are sprinkled with earth and lightly tamped down.
- Then the bush is watered abundantly.
If desired, juniper Nana can be sprinkled with a mulch layer. Sawdust, peat, dry grass and leaves, as well as wood chips are used as mulch.
Watering and top dressing
Juniper variety Nana tolerates drought well, so it does not need frequent watering. It is recommended to water adult plants no more than 1 time per month. In conditions of prolonged rains, watering is completely stopped.
Despite the fact that Nana juniper develops well without additional dressings, if desired, nitrophoska or special mixtures for coniferous crops can be added to the soil. Plants are usually fertilized in the spring.
Mulching and loosening
Loosening the soil in the region of the near-stem circle is necessary in order to ensure a better supply of air to the root system of the shrub. In this case, it is not recommended to loosen the soil too deeply, because. in this case, thin roots can be damaged.
It is not necessary to mulch the Nana juniper, but it helps to better retain moisture in the soil. In addition, the mulch layer protects the juniper from hypothermia in winter. In summer, mulch inhibits the growth of weeds.
Trimming and shaping
Juniper Nana is sheared no more than 2 times a year. The procedure is carried out in the last days of April and in July. At the same time, all dry, damaged and diseased branches are first cut off, after which they begin to form the crown. Cut the variety in the direction from the bottom up.
Preparation for winter
The description of the juniper variety Nana indicates that the plant tolerates low temperatures well, so adult plants do not need additional shelter for the winter. Only young bushes up to 2-3 years old are insulated in autumn. To do this, use garden fabric, which is well breathable. The trunk circle is sprinkled with spruce branches.
Reproduction of juniper procumbens Nana
The juniper procumbens Nana is propagated by cuttings or layering, but the first method is preferable. The harvesting of cuttings is carried out at any time of the year, but it is best to cut the bushes in the spring months – so young bushes will be able to survive the winter in the open field without any complications, because. their root system will have time to strengthen before the onset of the first frost. Cuttings cut in August must be moved indoors, otherwise they will freeze in winter.
The procurement procedure is as follows:
- Juniper Nana is a creeping species, therefore, any branches are selected as planting material, except for those that grow vertically.
- The selected branches are carefully cut with a sharpened knife or garden shears. A blunt tool leaves behind torn cuts that take a long time to heal and greatly weaken the bush. Before cutting, the blades must be disinfected with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.
- The cuttings are cut along with the “heel” – a piece with old wood, which is located at the point where the branch is attached to the main shoot.
- The resulting planting material is cleaned from below, removing needles by 4-5 cm from the surface of the shoots. This is necessary for the best development of the root system of future bushes.
- It is impossible to postpone the transplantation of cuttings. Cut shoots must be planted in open ground on the same day, no more than 3 hours later. It is advisable to do this as quickly as possible, in extreme cases, you can lower the planting material into the water for 1-2 hours.
- Planted plants in loose, permeable soil. Nana juniper develops best on soils with a high level of acidity, so you can not fertilize the area with wood ash or eggshells before planting.
Reproduction of juniper Nana using layering is not so widespread, but the procedure is quite simple. In order to form a layering, it is necessary to bend the young shoot to the ground and lightly dig it. At the same time, it is important to fix it so that it does not unbend. When the cutting forms a full-fledged root system, it can be finally separated from the mother bush and transplanted.
Diseases and pests of the horizontal juniper Nana
Lying juniper variety Nana practically does not attract insects. Occasionally, aphids, moths, or sawflies can infect bushes, but any insecticide can easily cope with these pests.
The variety is also extremely rare. Outbreaks of diseases occur mainly with gross violations of the rules of agricultural technology or during prolonged rains, when the humidity of the air rises sharply. Under such conditions, a fungus actively develops, which causes the rapid death of the juniper bark and provokes the development of rot. In order to get rid of fungal infections, the bushes are sprayed with Bordeaux mixture or blue vitriol.
Conclusion
Even a novice gardener can grow juniper lying Nana – this is one of the most unpretentious coniferous crops that can develop well even with minimal care. Compact forms, attractive appearance and undemanding shrub have earned him great popularity, but the list of its advantages does not end there. If desired, you can independently squeeze fragrant essential oil from the Nana juniper shoots, which has a lot of useful properties.
Reviews of juniper lying Nana
