round, interfering with adjacent growth of other plants and trees. At first, when you go to choose the plant that you are going to use, make sure it has some interesting branch formations. Wichita Blue Juniper (Juniperus scopulorum) is a popular plant for hedges and borders because it holds its shape naturally without much pruning. Start young. Be careful not to trim the branches too close to the center of the tree! Examine the plant for long branches that originate under other branches and can be removed without leaving a bare spot. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. But while hair will grow back in a couple of weeks, junipers in Utah grow only in the spring. There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. It’s important to work before new growth begins so that you don’t have to worry about damaging new branches. Cloud pruning is an art form that is widely practised in Japan. Pruning an upright juniper is essential to keep it looking its best. Scary stuff! It depends on the age of the tree, but varies between 0.5 and 7.6 m (1.6 and 25 ft). The "how-to" is a little more complicated. This video is about cloud pruning - how to create a shape and how to maintain it afterwards. This will help us to properly prune to enhance the appearance of our flower bed.". You can find them at most home improvement stores or garden centers. It was a thick mess of twigs and foliage, about 1m tall and 1.5m wide. Quite simply, it is trimming a bush or conifer so that the foliage looks like clouds floating on the ends of branches. The cloud-shaped foliage needs to be at varying heights to add visual interest. Gardenerdy tells you how to care for your Hollywood Juniper … Never use shears to shape the tree as they can damage the branches and stop growth. Pruned plants in this style is trendy. Use pruners and the hand saw to cut and trim all twigs and foliage off the chosen branches. Yes, Junipers do not do the skin any good at all. 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. This technique is especially popular in the Far East and in USA but has yet to really catch on here. For more tips on how to prune your juniper, including how to thin creeping and semi-upright junipers, keep reading! Prune junipers annually to correct their shape. The sideways growing twigs are what you want to keep. If you are working during the springtime, there likely won’t be much new growth to avoid. It is best to allow these plants to assume their natural shape. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. See more ideas about garden design, plants, cloud pruning. Junipers trees are a type of hardy evergreen that can grow almost anywhere in the world. Please consider making a contribution to wikiHow today. Pruning Junipers. Use pruners and the hand saw to cut and trim all twigs and foliage off the chosen branches. It’s easier to see the dead zone in the early spring when there isn’t much new growth. Use pruners and the hand saw to cut and trim all twigs and foliage off the chosen branches. For example, if the length of a protruding branch is 24 inches (61 cm), you should prune 6 to 8 inches (15 to 20 cm) off of the branch. The cut-off, unchosen branches should include all dead and scraggly looking branches. Doing the cloud pruning: step by step Step 1 . In a few years, you will get a unique form of juniper. If you attempt to shorten it, you will end up needing to prune the sides as well. Upright junipers are tall, shrubs/trees that … With all due respect to beauticians and barbers, pruning junipers is a lot like giving a haircut. This article was co-authored by Lauren Kurtz. Cloud pruning can transform an overgrown, unsightly juniper shrub into an attractive, sculptured work of art. Pruning is a matter of cutting the branches so that a more desirable plant is attained through compact, controlled growth. Start pruning your juniper tree by removing dead limbs and branches with loppers. Using secateurs or a pruning saw, remove unwanted branches and twigs from the centre of the plant so that the main branches are bare. Conifers are trees and shrubs that have needle-type leaves and produce cones instead of flowers. Another type of pruning is the formation of a cloud or as it is called Niwaki. Select three to four main branches with lots of green mass, remove the remaining branches. Jun 8, 2019 - Explore Lisa Beth Ruggerole's board "cloud pruning", followed by 265 people on Pinterest. 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. To start cloud pruning, take off any shoots or growth from the bottom of the branch, and any that sprout directly upward. Ideally the cuts should be made when the plant is young as the pruning cuts will disappear with age leaving behind attractive bark. Since junipers and other conifers produce new growth in spring and fall, and do not grow much in summer, prune them in early spring in warm regions or early summer in cooler regions. Proper juniper pruning will prevent irreversible damage to the health and beauty of your specimen. Begin training your juniper to the shape and height you want while it is still young. Leave 1 to 2 feet of foliage at the top end of the selected branches, however. Lauren Kurtz is a Naturalist and Horticultural Specialist. Hedges also surround my yard, but it is formed of thuja.eval(ez_write Shape the remaining foliage on the top of each major branch into horizontal ovals or circular, using shears and pruners. % of people told us that this article helped them. Junipers can certainly be pruned, but unfortunately there is no way to discourage new growth by pruning. By using our site, you agree to our. There are rules that you have to follow. Unfortunately, some have been allowed to grow to 30 - 40 feet. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. Make a rough cut of the plant to shape it into a cone. The key to pruning juniper is to leave areas with dormant bud on each branch you trim. Sometimes, if the juniper is very mature, the dead zone will be extremely large. Do not use wire to do this unless you are also using tree straps around the branches. Lauren has worked for Aurora, Colorado managing the Water-Wise Garden at Aurora Municipal Center for the Water Conservation Department. Winter pruning is a great option because it ensures that the plant is pruned before new growth begins. Step 3 Prune branches just above the ring of bumpy tissue known as a branch collar, where branches meet larger stems. If a juniper gets pruned too far on the top, will it come back? If your garden has a Japanese or Chinese theme then cloud p… 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. See more ideas about cloud pruning, beautiful gardens, garden design. Copyright 2020 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. 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. If you are wondering how to prune an upright juniper or have other questions about upright juniper pruning, read on. In this case, it’s okay to cut into the dead zone because the branches are already dead, and there will be more space for new growth to expand on the outer area of the bush. When to Prune. This video is about cloud pruning - how to create a shape and how to maintain it afterwards. It will survive, but it will be weakened. 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. How to Prune Conifers. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. How to Prune Junipers & Coniferous Evergreens. How to Cloud-Prune a Juniper. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Junipers can be trimmed any time from spring until the first freeze of the year. Upright Juniper Pruning. Cloud pruning, when done right, creates some beautiful results. Cut all unwanted branches to ground level. References. Cut branches at a 45-degree angle to the trunk of the juniper. This requires pruning individual stems rather than shearing. 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. It's best not to cut older juniper branches if you can avoid it. Last Updated: March 29, 2019 Cloud pruning OTOH is all the rage….. In landscapes, cloud pruning should be done on mature trees. You can easily prune your juniper tree to control its shape and encourage new growth! Juniper is a coniferous plant belonging to the cypress family. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/6a\/Prune-a-Juniper-Tree-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Prune-a-Juniper-Tree-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/6a\/Prune-a-Juniper-Tree-Step-1.jpg\/aid9874315-v4-728px-Prune-a-Juniper-Tree-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"