Content
To create a unique garden design, various trees and shrubs are used. Juniper Skyrocket is widely used, as the plant, which soars vertically, looks great among garden crops. There is another advantage of this evergreen rocky juniper Skyrocket (Juniperus scopulorum Skyrocket) - by releasing phytoncides, the plant cleanses the air of harmful impurities.
Description of juniper Skyrocket
In the natural environment, relatives of the plant can be found on the mountain slopes of the United States of America and Mexico. This is a winter-hardy and undemanding evergreen coniferous crop. It was this wild juniper that was taken as the basis for the creation of the rock variety Skyrocket in the last decade of the 19th century.
You should pay attention to the height and growth rate of the Skyrocket juniper: in 20 years the plant grows up to 8 m. In its natural state, juniper can reach 20 m.
The evergreen coniferous tree is very beautiful in appearance. The name itself translated from English means “heavenly rocket”. It actually resembles a spaceship rushing upward.
Rock juniper Skyrocket has a strong but flexible trunk. The roots are located close to the surface, which creates some problems in strong winds. The plant sways, which weakens the root system. As a result, the tree tilts, and correcting its shape is not so easy.
Needles with a bluish tint. The branches are located in close proximity to the base. Juniper shoots that are more than 4 years old grow quickly. Rock juniper Skyrocket has a crown with a diameter of about 1 m. If you do not prune, the plant will lose its decorative effect and will look untidy.
At first (2-3 years) after planting, growth is almost imperceptible. Then every year the length of the branches increases by 20 cm in height and 5 cm in width.
Differences between Blue Arrow and Skyrocket junipers
If a gardener first encounters two varieties of juniper, namely Blue Arrow and Skyrocket, then it may seem to him that the plants are identical. This is exactly what unscrupulous sellers play on. To avoid getting into trouble, you need to know how these plants differ.
Signs | Blue Arrow | Skyrocket |
Height | Up to 2 m | About 8m |
Crown shape | Pyramidal | Columnar |
Coloring of needles | Light blue with a bluish tint | Green-gray with a blue tint |
Scaly | Small | Medium size |
Hairstyle | Smooth, even without a haircut | When neglected, the plant is shaggy |
Branch direction | Strictly vertical | If you don't trim the tips of the branches, they deviate from the main trunk. |
Winter hardiness | good | good |
Diseases | Resistant to fungal diseases | Stability average |
Juniper Skyrocket in landscape design
Landscape designers have long paid attention to the rocky Skyrocket. This plant decorates parks, alleys, and squares. Many gardeners plant evergreen coniferous trees on their plots. In the shade of a plant that produces phytoncides, it is pleasant to relax in the heat, since the diameter of the crown of the Skyrocket rock juniper allows you to hide from the sun.
Since the purpose of the plant is universal, landscape designers recommend rock juniper for growing in gardens with rocky soil:
- trees can be placed individually;
- use in group plantings;
- along the hedge, like a living fence;
- on the alpine slides;
- in Japanese rock gardens;
- Juniper looks great as a vertical accent in floral arrangements.
The crown of the Skyrocket juniper (just look at the photo) has a regular and clear geometric shape. If English or Scandinavian style is used in gardens, then juniper will come in handy.
Planting and caring for Skyrocket juniper
According to reviews from gardeners who grow this unique plant on their plots, there are no particular difficulties. After all, Skyrocket juniper is an unpretentious and unpretentious plant with high winter hardiness. The rules for planting and caring for conifers will be discussed further.
Preparing seedlings and planting area
For planting to be successful, you need to take care of high-quality planting material. When choosing Skyrocket juniper seedlings, you should consider their size.Planting material with a height of no more than 1 m takes root best. Adaptation to new conditions is faster, and the survival rate is high.
If you managed to get seedlings that are 2-3 years old, then they should have a closed root system and should be grown only in containers. Living and healthy plants have flexible trunks and branches.
When purchasing plants, you should only contact reliable suppliers or nurseries. Many online stores also sell Skyrocket rockweed seedlings. Private owners often offer certain varieties of juniper for a lot of money. But in this case, without knowing the description and characteristics of the plant, you can run into a forgery.
Seedlings with an open root system are placed in water. Plants in containers are watered generously.
For planting, select a well-lit area with no drafts. Despite the fact that rock juniper is unpretentious, you need to prepare a seat. Delete weeds with a well-developed root system, dig up the planting site.
Under natural conditions, the plant is found on rocks, so be sure to add broken red brick, pebbles or crushed stone of large fractions. The soil is mixed with peat and humus to provide nutrition in the first 1-3 years. Only in this case the plant will quickly take root. But it will begin to grow only after the development of the root system.
Landing rules
It is best to plant plants with an open root system in the spring.With container juniper Skyrocket (the seedling is shown in the photo below) everything is simpler; it can be used at any time (spring, summer, autumn). The main thing is that there is no heat.
Stages of planting juniper:
- The hole is dug in advance, 2-3 weeks before planting. It should be spacious so that the roots are located freely in it. The depth of the planting site depends on the composition of the soil. If the soil is clayey or chernozem, dig a hole at least 1 m deep. In sandy and sandy loam soils, 80 cm is sufficient.
- Drainage is laid at the bottom of the hole, and a fertile layer is placed on top.
- When transplanting, the Skyrocket juniper seedling is removed from the container, being careful not to damage the root system. Juniper is planted together with a lump of earth.
- There is no need to deepen the root collar; it should rise 10 cm above the surface level.
- The juniper seedling is sprinkled with nutritious soil and compacted well to release air pockets.
- After this, the tree is watered abundantly.
- Experienced gardeners advise installing a support in the center to loosely fix the trunk and give the juniper stability.
- On the second day, you will have to add soil to the tree trunk circle, since after watering it will settle a little and the roots may be exposed. And this is undesirable.
- To preserve moisture, the surface around the Skyrocket rock juniper (in the Moscow region, among others) is mulched with peat, wood chips, and dry leaves. The layer must be at least 5 cm.
Watering and fertilizing
Rock juniper Skyrocket, according to descriptions and reviews, does not require abundant and regular watering. It will only need additional moisture if there has been no precipitation for a long time. Dry soil can cause the needles to turn yellow and the tree to lose its external beauty.
During drought, it is recommended to spray the crown to avoid drying out of the needles.
The plant needs feeding throughout its life, as it abundantly grows green mass every year. For nutrition, feeds intended for conifers are used.
Mulching and loosening
Since juniper does not tolerate drought well, to retain moisture, the soil in the tree trunk circle must be loosened from time to time and weeds removed. These events can be avoided if you mulch the tree trunk circle. This operation is carried out immediately after planting, then mulch is added as needed.
Trimming Juniper Skyrocket
As stated in the description, Skyrocket rock juniper needs pruning. It must be carried out annually. Young flexible branches grow 15-20 cm. If they are not shortened in a timely manner, they move away from the main trunk under the weight of the green mass. As a result, the juniper becomes unkempt, as people say, shaggy.
That is why branches are cut, but only in early spring, before the movement of sap begins. Otherwise, the plants may die.
Preparing the Skyrocket rock juniper for winter
Judging by the description and reviews of those who work with juniper, the plant is frost-resistant. But if it is grown in harsh climatic conditions, it is worth being on the safe side:
- In late autumn, before the onset of stable frosts, the trees are wrapped in non-woven material and tied with rope, like a Christmas tree.
- To preserve the root system in the tree trunk circle, increase the height of the mulch to 20 cm.
Reproduction
The Skyrocket variety is not propagated by seeds, since the method is ineffective.
It is best to focus on the vegetative method:
- Cuttings are cut 10 cm long. Harvesting is planned for the end of April - mid-May.
- The planting material is kept in a root formation stimulator for 24 hours.
- Then they are placed in a mixture of sand and peat (in equal proportions) for 45 days.
Diseases and pests of rock juniper Skyrocket
Like any plants, Skyrocket rock juniper growing in a summer cottage can suffer from diseases and pests. Damaged trees not only lose their decorative appearance, but also slow down their growth.
Among the pests it is worth highlighting:
- hermes;
- various caterpillars;
- scale insect;
- spider mite;
- miner moth.
It is advisable to begin pest control immediately, without waiting for them to multiply. In case of serious damage, no insecticides will help, since it is not so easy to spray coniferous plants.
Although Skyrocket is resistant to many diseases, it can be difficult to save from rust. This is the most insidious disease. You can recognize it by its spindle-shaped swellings, from which a yellow mucous mass is released. For prevention and treatment, juniper is sprayed with preparations containing copper.
Conclusion
If you want to plant Skyrocket juniper on your plot, don’t hesitate. After all, this plant is unpretentious and unpretentious. You just need to familiarize yourself with the agricultural technology of cultivation.
