If you like to grow medicinal plants yourself, then you should also plant juniper (Juniperus) in your garden. You can read here how it works and what you need to consider when caring for it.
A so-called Alpine juniper (common juniper) is ideal for garden design in our latitudes. Because on the one hand juniper is quite robust and hardy, and on the other hand it can be used to create a Mediterranean flair in the garden as well as rustic romance. Juniper columns are very suitable for planting hedges, for example, and even offer year-round, evergreen privacy! But they are also good as a garden room divider.
Other types of juniper are meanwhile also being imported from the Mediterranean region, from Asia (Chinese juniper) and America, etc. After all, more than 60 types of this cypress family are known today.
Common juniper - small plant profile
| Juniperus communis | |
|---|---|
| Growth Speed: | 10 - 15 cm a year |
| Growth: | 500 - 800 cm |
| Root system: | Deep Roots |
| Location: | Sun to partial shade |
| Floor: | low in nutrients, dry |
| » Show more pictures and dates | |
There are male and female plants
Did you know that juniper has a male and a female plant? Yes, that's right. These can usually be distinguished by the shape of the flower:
- The male juniper flower consists of stamens that stand together.
- The female juniper flower consists of three adjacent seed buds. Berries form on the female stem in the first year, but they do not ripen (remain green). You can only harvest the black juniper berries from the second, sometimes even after the third year of planting (harvest time - early autumn).
No matter which plants you choose: We will tell you here how you should plant them in the garden and what you have to consider when caring for the cypress plants.
Plant juniper andcare - How it's done
Extension:
The juniper, which grows up to 10 meters high, is usually offered as a ball plant. You can plant these plants either individually or as a hedge row in a sunny to moderately semi-shady location. However, you should always keep a distance of approx. 70 to 100 centimeters. The best season for planting conifers is spring, but you can also plant juniper in early autumn.
» Tip:
Of course, you can also propagate juniper yourself using cuttings. But you have to be very patient here, because juniper grows extremely slowly.
In terms of soil conditions, juniper is not particularly demanding, but it clearly prefers dry soil. However, it is best to enrich the soil with compost before planting and water it well.
Maintenance:
Fertilize juniper:
You should fertilize the juniper from time to time, whereby working in compost around the trunk is often sufficient. However, specialist shops even offer special juniper fertilizer, which you are welcome to use if necessary. By the way: juniper fertilizer is also often used for bonsai juniper plants.
Pruning:
You can cut back or shape the juniper in spring or autumn. It is advisable to first carefully remove the dead wood before you start with the actual pruning. If possible, only cut off the juniper at the branch forks and only cut back the green branches, which can then also prevent pest infestation on the juniper.
»Tip:
Juniper pruning is an extremely prickly affair, which is why you should work with solid clothing and gloves!
Control pests:
Juniper is rarely attacked by pests. Only the pear rust (fungal disease) occurs more frequently at some locations, but can be brought under control again quickly with various sprays (fungicides).
»Tip:
Only small infested areas on the juniper can be cut off generously and disposed of in the household waste (not on the compost!) to prevent the pear trees from spreading avoid.
Usage Tips
Juniper - especially the juniper berry - is one of the medicinal plants and can be used in many ways. Among other things, for respiratory problems, digestive problems andWomen's complaints, but also infections and joint pains, etc. You can use the juniper to make syrup, tea, tinctures and essential oils.
You can also use the juniper berries, which you can harvest in early autumn, in the kitchen, for example in sauces for game dishes and to flavor sauerkraut. But spirits manufacturers also like to use juniper berries to produce various types of schnapps.
Important:
The dosage of juniper berries in food should be kept as low as possible. If you have kidney disease, you should even avoid juniper altogether.