After the initial thinning, creeping and semi-upright junipers can be pruned as normal. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. To find out more about this highly skilled technique, Monty travels to Dorset to meet Jake Hobson, a leading expert in this field. Early spring is the ideal time to do this. The "how-to" is a little more complicated. These types of shrubs are trimmed so that the foliage is left only on the tip of each branch in a manner that resembles a pom-pom or puffball. Tree branches look like clouds (hence the name). Begin training your juniper to the shape and height you want while it is still young. The cloud-shaped foliage needs to be at varying heights to add visual interest. Create a layered effect by pruning the length of the branches from top to bottom – shorter branches on the top of the juniper and longer branches on the bottom of the juniper. Upright Juniper Pruning. Don't cut into the collar, but angle the cut right above it. So what is ‘cloud pruning’? Using cloud pruning can keep a juniper shrub from becoming larger and taking over your landscape. How to Cloud-Prune a Juniper. Amid the current public health and economic crises, when the world is shifting dramatically and we are all learning and adapting to changes in daily life, people need wikiHow more than ever. At first, when you go to choose the plant that you are going to use, make sure it has some interesting branch formations. Select a mature juniper bush that has from three to five healthy branches with good foliage on the ends of the branches. Linnie, do catch up….Cloud computing is SO yesterday. Step 2. The only exception to this rule is pines, which should be pruned before the candle growth develops in the spring. There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. If you can’t find a junction, simply cut the branch to match the overall shape and height of the bush. Take note: to cloud prune your masses into clouds, choose a small bonsai hand pruner cleaned with alcohol beforehand to avoid spreading diseases, and then start cutting the branches that stick out of the cloud. Cut the branch where it meets the parent stem or at a branch junction. Make a rough cut of the plant to shape it into a cone. Hollywood Juniper is a large shrub or a small tree that is known for its rustic and artistic appearance and unusually twisted and upright branches. As the name suggests, cloud pruning creates the visual effect of foliage of a tree floating like a cloud above the graceful forms of branches. Yesterday I did the stage 2 prune - pulling and tying every branch down to around a right-angle to the trunk. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. It was an ugly lump of gray conifer in the front yard. Use pruners and the hand saw to cut and trim all twigs and foliage off the chosen branches. Cloud pruning is a traditional Japanese method of pruning trees, typically used in the art of bonsai, but also frequently seen in landscapes all over the world. Then draw, in strong simple lines, what you would like the finished hedge to look like. Scary stuff! You can easily prune your juniper tree to control its shape and encourage new growth! Cut branches at a 45-degree angle to the trunk of the juniper. It's best not to cut older juniper branches if you can avoid it. Doing this helps to prevent disease in the bush and allows more light to reach the buds at junctions toward the center of the tree. Every day at wikiHow, we work hard to give you access to instructions and information that will help you live a better life, whether it's keeping you safer, healthier, or improving your well-being. Pruning an upright juniper is essential to keep it looking its best. But occasionally you will need to prune a Wichita Blue Juniper to maintain its size and promote healthy growth. This article was co-authored by Lauren Kurtz. Never use shears to shape the tree as they can damage the branches and stop growth. Get your tools ready. Cloud Pruning a Conifer: When I first moved into my house a few years ago there was only one thing that annoyed me about the place. Conifers are trees and shrubs that have needle-type leaves and produce cones instead of flowers. Cutting the leader will encourage additional leaders to form. After you trim the branches to the junctions, keep an eye out for new growth. With all due respect to beauticians and barbers, pruning junipers is a lot like giving a haircut. Doing the cloud pruning: step by step Step 1 . This will help us to properly prune to enhance the appearance of our flower bed.". Examine the plant for long branches that originate under other branches and can be removed without leaving a bare spot. It’s easier to see the dead zone in the early spring when there isn’t much new growth. "Basic Elements of Pruning"; Nick Federoff; 2006. Once all of the visibly dead branches have been cut, shape the tree by pruning protruding branches at the top of the tree and on the sides. They are vigorous plants! This technique is especially popular in the Far East and in USA but has yet to really catch on here. Prune evergreens according to their growth habits. Shorten any of these back to make them more bushy when new growth emerges in the spring. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Three to four times a year, trim the foliage to the original shapes. "We have lots of ground junipers on our property. Instead, prune lightly and regularly, just before new growth begins in spring. Sep 30, 2020 - Explore Laura Lynn's board "pruning junipers", followed by 305 people on Pinterest. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Tree ties tend to be sturdier than twine, but they’re more expensive. How to Prune Conifers. Upright junipers are tall, shrubs/trees that … See more ideas about cloud pruning, beautiful gardens, garden design. Using cloud pruning can keep a juniper shrub from becoming larger and taking over your landscape. Leave 1 to 2 feet of foliage at the top end of the selected branches, however. Shape the remaining foliage on the top of each major branch into horizontal ovals or circular, using shears and pruners. But while hair will grow back in a couple of weeks, junipers in Utah grow only in the spring. Be careful not to trim the branches too close to the center of the tree! That being the case, pruning before the growth flush allows new growth to cover any mistakes you might make. September 2020 update. Ideally the cuts should be made when the plant is young as the pruning cuts will disappear with age leaving behind attractive bark. In the springtime, it’s easier to see the general shape of the tree and cut the branches without having to worry about accidentally harming new growth. The initial wiring is in place; this is very rudimentary at this stage. The best fast growing trees for a natural fence→, Evergreen shrubs with tiny flowers and red berries→. Please consider making a contribution to wikiHow today. If the dead zone makes up the majority of the plant, dig up the juniper and replant a new shrub in its place. When to Prune. Sometimes, if the juniper is very mature, the dead zone will be extremely large. How to Prune an Overgrown Juniper While overgrown juniper pruning has its limits, it is possible to trim your plant down to a more manageable shape. Useful in hot sunny sites Propagation Propagate by seed or semi-hardwood cuttings Suggested planting locations and garden types Low Maintenance Wildlife Gardens How to care. Cloud topiary is a popular, traditional form of pruning shrubs in Japan. The best time to prune your junipers is in the winter or early spring. Yes, Junipers do not do the skin any good at all. Cloud pruning is a traditional Japanese method of pruning trees, typically used in the art of bonsai, but also frequently seen in landscapes all over the world. Using secateurs or a pruning saw, remove unwanted branches and twigs from the centre of the plant so that the main branches are bare. Use pruners and the hand saw to cut and trim all twigs and foliage off the chosen branches. Start pruning your juniper tree by removing dead limbs and branches with loppers. In landscapes, cloud pruning should be done on mature trees. As a result, you can get just fantastic-looking juniper. The twigs and foliage should be trimmed as close to the main branch trunk as possible. It is best to allow these plants to assume their natural shape. Please consider making a contribution to wikiHow today. She earned a BA in Environmental and Sustainability Studies from Western Michigan University in 2014. Caring for it can be a real challenge. It depends on the age of the tree, but varies between 0.5 and 7.6 m (1.6 and 25 ft). Aim for organic shapes and avoid repetition. For more tips on how to prune your juniper, including how to thin creeping and semi-upright junipers, keep reading! Last Updated: March 29, 2019 Shape the remaining foliage on the top of each major branch into horizontal ovals or circular, using shears and pruners. Your support helps wikiHow to create more in-depth illustrated articles and videos and to share our trusted brand of instructional content with millions of people all over the world. This video is about cloud pruning - how to create a shape and how to maintain it afterwards. It was a thick mess of twigs and foliage, about 1m tall and 1.5m wide. References. 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