Content
Chinese juniper Kurivao Gold is a coniferous shrub with an asymmetrical crown and golden shoots, which is often used as a decorative element in the design of local areas. Belongs to the Cypress family. It is found naturally in northeast China, Korea and southern Manchuria.
Description of Chinese juniper Kuriwao Gold
Juniper Curivao Gold is a vigorous coniferous shrub. The height of a ten-year-old specimen is in the range of 1.5–2 m, older ones stretch up to 3 m. The branches are spreading, so the diameter of the juniper reaches 1.5 m. The shoots are wide and grow upward.
Young shoots of the Chinese juniper Curivao Gold, shown in the photo, have an interesting golden color that stands out against the background of green scales of needles. There are many small cones on the Kurivao Gold bushes.
The branches tolerate pruning well and produce up to 20 cm of growth annually.Thanks to this, you can bring any design idea to life and trim the bush, giving it the desired shape.
Loams and sandstones are suitable for planting. The soil acidity level should be minimal. The seedling tolerates drought and urban air pollution well.
Juniper Curivao Gold in garden design
Chinese juniper is often used in the design of a garden or local area. Ephedra is interesting in group planting with other evergreen seedlings. Single planting of Kurivao Gold juniper is possible.
The bush will fit well in a rocky garden and rock garden. Juniper trees decorate terraces and entrances. Kurivao Gold combines favorably with perennial herbaceous plants. This variety of Chinese juniper is recommended for creating bonsai. It is used to create hedges.
Planting and caring for juniper Curivao Gold
In order for the seedling to please the eye for many years and be a real highlight of the landscape, it is necessary to take into account some requirements regarding planting and caring for Chinese juniper.
Preparing seedlings and planting area
Chinese juniper tolerates drought well, but does not develop well in heavy, clay soils. When groundwater is close and on clay soils, it is necessary to take care of the drainage system when planting. To do this, lay a twenty-centimeter layer of expanded clay, gravel or broken brick at the bottom of the planting pit.
The seedlings do well in sunny areas with partial shade. Without shading, the color of Chinese juniper becomes less rich.
When planting in groups, it should be taken into account that the diameter of an adult plant reaches 1.5 meters, so the distance between neighboring specimens should be at least 1.5-2 m.
The size of the planting hole depends on the purchased seedling. Having assessed the volume of the earthen clod on the juniper, dig a hole. Sufficient depth for planting juniper is 0.7 m.
Landing rules
For planting, dig a hole 2 times larger than the size of the pot in which the seedling is located. It is necessary to ensure that the root collar does not end up underground when planting. It should be located slightly above the ground.
The pit is filled with a mixture of compost, peat and black soil, taken in equal parts. Add complex mineral fertilizer. Seedlings purchased from a nursery most often already have a supply of fertilizers necessary for full growth. In this case, fertilizer should not be added to the planting hole. Such seedlings need to be fertilized the next year after planting.
The seedling is placed vertically, covered with soil mixture, and the soil is compacted to create a funnel around the juniper. It is necessary to ensure that they do not grow near a seedling with a diameter of 70 cm. weeds or lawn grass. The trunk circle must be free so that the juniper roots receive the necessary nutrients and oxygen. To improve air exchange, the soil in the hole is periodically loosened.
Watering and fertilizing
Young juniper needs watering. Depending on weather conditions, 1 to 3 buckets are poured into the hole weekly. In case of severe drought, the amount of water is increased, preventing the soil from drying out and cracking.
Mature shrubs are watered no more than 2-3 times per season. On hot days, sprinkling can be done; the procedure is postponed until the evening hours, since after sunset the risk of burning the wet crown is minimal.
Fertilize the soil once a year. The event is held in the spring in April-May. Complex compounds are used as fertilizers, for example, Kemira-universal. Adult juniper bushes do not need fertilizing; adding organic matter is enough.
Mulching and loosening
In spring and autumn, the hole is mulched with compost to improve the soil structure and prevent the roots from freezing.
Young seedlings of Kurivao Gold need loosening of the soil, which is carried out after watering or rain. The soil around the seedling must not be allowed to turn into a hardened layer; this immediately impairs air exchange and negatively affects the appearance of the juniper.
Loosening should be shallow so as not to damage the root system of the seedling. The procedure allows you to cope with another task - eliminating weeds. During loosening, the grass is removed from the tree trunk along with the roots. Laying out mulch protects the tree trunk circle from the appearance of weeds.
Trimming and shaping
The Chinese juniper Kuriwao Gold is loved by many landscape designers because of its unpretentiousness and the possibility of pruning. The crown can be formed in accordance with any idea. Kurivao Gold responds well to haircuts, and the crown becomes fuller and more beautiful.
The first time pruning is postponed until early spring. In March, when the temperature has risen above +4 °C, but active growth of branches has not begun, the first pruning is performed. The second time it is allowed to prune the shoots in August.
Preparing for winter
Young juniper bushes can freeze in winter, so the seedlings require shelter. An adult Chinese juniper can do without shelter, but the layer of mulching material under it should be increased in the fall.
To cover Kurivao Gold, they use spruce branches and burlap. To protect the branches from heavy snow, a protective structure in the form of a tripod can be installed above the bush. In the fall, the tree trunk circle is dug up, water-replenishing watering is done and insulated with a layer (at least 10 cm) of mulching material: peat, sawdust.
In the spring, burlap is also used to cover the crown against sunburn.
Reproduction of Chinese juniper Juniperus Chinensis Kuriwao Gold
There are several methods for propagating Chinese juniper:
- seeds;
- cuttings;
- layering.
The most commonly used method is cuttings. This method allows you to simultaneously obtain the required number of seedlings in a short period of time. Young but bark-covered shoots, 10 to 20 cm long, are separated from the mother bush so that part of the trunk with bark remains on them. Work is carried out in February.
The bottom of the shoot is cleared of needles and placed in a root growth stimulator (Kornevin) for several hours. A mixture of humus, sand and peat in equal parts is poured into the planting boxes. Curivao Gold cuttings are buried 2-3 cm into the ground, the boxes are covered with film and taken out to a lighted place. Water regularly; if the air is too dry, additional spraying is used. The film is removed after rooting.Chinese juniper seedlings are planted in open ground next year.
Planting using the layering method is as follows:
- loosen the soil around an adult juniper;
- Additionally, humus, peat and sand are added to the soil;
- the side branch is cleared of needles and bark in several places and bent to the ground;
- the bent branch is secured with metal pins and sprinkled with earth;
- water regularly;
- the next year they are separated from the mother bush;
- transplanted to a permanent place when new shoots appear.
Propagation by seeds is a long and troublesome process, so it is rarely used.
Diseases and pests
A danger to young seedlings of Curivao Gold is a fungus caused by excessive soil moisture. First, the roots turn black, then the top dries and the juniper dies. It is very difficult to cope with the fungus, so the plant is dug up and burned. Prevention consists of controlling soil moisture. Over-watering should not be allowed.
It is not recommended to plant Chinese juniper Kurivao Gold near apple, pear and hawthorn trees. These crops have rust that can spread to juniper. If traces of rust appear on the conifer, it is necessary to trim off the affected branches with a sterile pruner and destroy them. Treat with fungicidal agents.
Alternaria is indicated by needles that have turned brown with a black coating. The reason for the development of the disease is dense planting and lack of ventilation between trees. Affected shoots are cut off and burned. As a preventive measure, spraying with drugs (Hom, Topaz) is used.
The danger to Chinese juniper Kuriwao Gold comes from insect pests:
- moth;
- juniper honeydew;
- juniper scale;
- gall midges.
Fufanon and Actellik are used to process Chinese juniper Kurivao Gold. They spray not only the crown, but also the ground around the seedling. Special insecticidal agents are also used to control ants and snails.
Conclusion
Chinese juniper Curivao Gold is an evergreen coniferous shrub used in landscape design. The plant does not lose its attractiveness in winter; adult specimens are frost-resistant and therefore do not require shelter.
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