Alpine slides decoration - Andorra Compact juniper
Landscaping of embankments, alpine hills, sandy slopes is not complete without planting junipers with a creeping crown. Juniper Andorra Compact is a slow-growing shrub with a dense open crown about a meter in diameter and greenish-gray needles is the best suited for solving such problems.
Description Juniper Andorra Compact
Strong winds in open spaces forced the plants to adapt, made its crown squat and determined the name of the species - horizontal juniper. Cultivated varieties have preserved the natural appearance of their ancestors.
The dense crown of the horizontal Andorra Compact juniper consists of obliquely growing and slightly raised branches and reaches a height of 30-40 centimeters. Shoots covered with small scaly or needle-like needles, at the age of 10, form a kind of pillow with a diameter of about a meter. Due to its slow growth, the ephedra reaches its maximum size only after 15–20 years.
In summer, the crown is painted in silvery or light green, and in winter - in brownish-purple or gray tones. In the spring, when the evergreen shrub wakes up from winter dormancy, upward young shoots with rare whorled needles of a silvery shade appear above the crown. For the first time, round gray-blue cones appear not earlier than 7-10 years after the young seedlings are planted.
According to the description, the Andorra Compact juniper is a non-capricious, ornamental crop that prefers well-lit areas with drained light soil and deep groundwater. The ancestors growing in rather harsh conditions gave this juniper variety excellent winter hardiness. However, to maintain the bright color of the needles and active growth, the shrub needs sufficiently humid air.
Planting and care of Andorra Compact juniper
The purpose of the creeping small Andorra Compact juniper is small mountain gardens, wide borders, rock gardens and mixborders. Ephedra easily tolerates being in the air saturated with gases and dust, and is suitable for decorating squares and adjoining territories.
Planting shrubs is planned so that the plants are in the light or in light shade for most of the day. The shrub is not picky about the composition and acidity of the soil. To create curbs, seedlings are placed in a trench at a distance of 40-60 cm. In group plantings, about a meter of free space is left between the juniper and other crops. A powerful drainage layer is made at the bottom of the planting pit 50–60 cm deep. Backfilling is done with soil with the addition of mineral fertilizers for coniferous crops. If the soil is heavy, dense, it is mixed with loosening sand and peat.
An excess of fertilizer in the soil adversely affects the shrub. Its crown gets an incentive to grow in a vertical direction and loses its creeping shape.
After planting, the care of Andorra Compact juniper consists of:
- in wateringrequired in hot dry times;
- in spring dressings that stimulate the growth of the shrub and help it recover after wintering;
- in gentle loosening of the soil and mulching the space under the crown of young plants;
- in sanitary pruning of dried, snow-damaged or sun-damaged shoots.
All junipers are afraid of stagnant moisture and can hardly tolerate dry air. The Andorra Compact juniper shown in the photo is no exception. Therefore, an important measure of care is sprinkling of plantings on dry hot days.
Due to their high frost resistance, adult shrubs do not need additional shelter, and young plants on the eve of winter are abundantly mulched and covered with spruce branches.
The use of Andorra Compact juniper in landscape design
Horizontal junipers are shrubs with a height of 10 to 50 cm with a wide crown resembling a dense carpet or pillow.
Andorra Compact juniper is very popular in landscape design. Silver-green shoots spreading from the center:
- effectively frame large stones on the slide;
- look great next to blooming ground cover perennials;
- serves as a noble background for tall flowers, herbs.
In the garden there is a place for juniper near reservoir, at the edge of the path and in the center of the lawn. If the site has uneven terrain, shrubbery will help strengthen the slopes and prevent soil erosion from wind and rain. If desired, a small bush can be planted in a container and used to decorate a terrace, patio or balcony.
Video about Andorra Compact juniper seedlings