

Trim any branches that stick out from the basic pyramidal shape, clipping each back to the intersection with a lateral branch so the cuts are not obvious and a new tip will develop. Step back from the juniper and observe its shape. The dead and broken branches count toward the total 20 percent, and other branches should be chosen carefully so you don't disrupt the shape or leave gaping holes that allow you to see into the inner dead zone. Thin out as much as 20 percent of the total juniper foliage, cutting the branches back to the central leader or trunk to open up the remaining branches to airflow and sunlight.

If you cut only the green portion of the top, then a new central leader will develop cutting into the dead zone leaves a flat top that is undesirable for pyramidal plants. Cut the top of the Moonglow Juniper back to its joint with a lateral branch, if needed, to control the height, but do not cut down into the dead zone. Clipping the green tips of branches encourages a new flush of growth, but new growth will not develop from the tips of branches in the dead zone because this is old wood. If possible, avoid cutting branches so far back that you expose the dead zone - the area within a juniper in which branches are not actually dead, but they do not grow foliage because they are not exposed to light. Cut broken branches back to the nearest point of intersection with a healthy, unbroken branch. Leave at least a bit of green foliage on the branch, if possible, so it can produce vigorous new growth sometimes a branch is completely dead, so you can simply cut it back to the trunk. Cut any dead branches back to the point of origin on the parent stem or back to the central leader trunk. Prune the Moonglow Juniper in early spring after the last chance of frost and before buds set so that the new flush of growth has sufficient time to harden off over the summer before winter. (Use less fertilizer for junipers in a container.) The amount of chemical fertilizer used per plant will vary with the size of the plant and it's root system. More northern areas may wish to fertilize only once in June or July with fast release fertilizer. In the South, a late May application and another in July would be about right. Fertilizing at this time may stimulate new growth that will be too tender to withstand the winter. Fall is the time for junipers to begin preparing for dormancy. If chemical fertilizers are used on your Moonglow Juniper, applying a slow-release, balanced fertilizer once a year is probably the simplest solution.ĭon't fertilize Moonglow Juniper after August. Organic additions to the soil can also be combined with a shot of chemical fertilizer for maximum effect. Since an organic method of applying manure and/or compost around the roots, produces excellent results and also improves the condition of the soil, this would be an excellent first line of attack. Either chemical fertilizers or organic matter can be used successfully with Junipers. Fertilize Moonglow Juniper again in late summer to mid-fall. Upright junipers such as Moonglow Juniper grow best if they are fertilized lightly in the spring once frost has passed with a well-balanced, extended-release, fertilizer such as espoma Tree-tone or Holly tone to provide the extra acid that junipers crave. What type of fertilizer is best for my Juniper Shrub? The Rocky Mountain Juniper is a North American native tree and can be found growing throughout the country. You'll find this versatile plant adapts to about any hardiness zone. Moonglow Juniper is sometimes referred to as the Rocky Mountain Juniper. The tight short branches produce deep blue-green foliage color that is deer-resistant, and suitable for locations that may experience drought conditions, such as the southwest. Moonglows junipers fit well in smaller areas of the landscape and grow well surrounded by smaller shrubs due to its non-aggressive root system. If you live in a region of North America where snow tends to stick to the trees, we suggest this tree as a privacy tree. Due to its compact branching habit, it tends not to be bothered by heavy snow loads. It is a slow-growing evergreen that maintains a slender width while growing to an average height of 12 to 15 feet tall. Juniperus scopulorum Moonglow is an underused pyramidal shaped tree. Growing Moonglow Juniper in the Landscape
