subject: Ground Cover Plants - The Benefits Of Growing Junipers As Ground Cover, Landscaping Plants [print this page] With increasing water shortages in hot, dry climates, lots of gardeners are looking for options to water guzzling lawns & flowers, & drought-tolerant ground cover plants are often thought of as a feasible answer to the issue. As drought-resistant plants, the ground cover varieties of Juniper, although not without some drawbacks, are often excellent candidates for the job.
There is a wide range of Juniper forms grown as landscaping plants, ranging from trees, shrubs, high-growing & low-growing ground cover plants. All are evergreen conifers, with needle-like foliage, & fleshy berrylike fruits in lieu of the wooden cones typical of coniferous plants.
The main disadvantages though, are that they are slow growing, while they require to be planted at a distance from each other that corresponds to the final width of the species or variety. This, in some cases can be considerable, as with the Bar Harbor Juniper (J.horizontalis "Bar Harbor") which spreads to about three meters. (9-10 ft)
Junipers constitute a stable element in the garden. Most species, but not all, are comparatively pest & disease-free, while established plants require virtually no care & maintenance through the year. If grown under suitable conditions, (more about that in a moment) they are probably amongst the simplest of plants to grow - ideal for the home gardener pressed for time.
It is a mistake to over-plant Junipers or to fill in the gaps with ephemeral plants such as annuals or short-lived perennials. There is no alternative but to wait & see & wait for the new plants to cover the ground, which can take a few years or so.
This leads to another drawback. Small specimens, planted at sizable distances not only look poor, but are basically taken over by weeds. On the other hand, the choice of planting sizable specimens ends up being pricey indeed, because Junipers, as slow growing plants, are not cheap.
To overcome the issues associated with planting comparatively small specimens, it is essential to spread a nice layer of organic mulch, such as decorative wood chippings, between the plants. This won't only improve the general appearance of the garden, but suppress weeds, & help to keep the root zone chilled - a substantial benefit in hot summer climates. The improved growing conditions that result from an organic mulch, help the Junipers to survive the first difficult year, & cover the area more quickly.
The Importance of Mulch
What Junipers Require
Junipers are tolerant of most soil types, including the alkaline soils typical of dry climate regions, but they must have respectable drainage. In hot summer areas, they prefer deep, widely spaced watering to frequent, shallow irrigation. Keep in mind that they are more susceptible to a lack of air in the root zone, than a lack of moisture.
Adding copious amounts of well-rotted compost in to the soil prior to planting, together with a respectable layer of organic mulch on top of the soil, will of coursework, improve the air/moisture balance in the root zone. Organic soil amendments ought to also take care of all the feeding requirements of the Junipers. The genus is sensitive to excessive nutrient levels, & so applying chemical fertilizers is undesirable.
