Rescued Juniper Project

[BckCntry]

I saw this juniper neglected in a shady breezeway and thought it would be worth asking about. The old lady couldn’t believe her luck that someone was willing to haul it off and offer her $20 to do it!



It was rarely watered, didn’t see much sunlight, and spent 15 years in this one pot.



What’s the proper path to get this tree healthy and vigorous? My plan so far is to repot this spring, remove dead branches, and get it adequate sun and water. Other than that, I’m not quite sure how to encourage back budding and denser foliage?



Any ideas on the type of juniper it is?

 

[plant_dr]

The plan you already spoke of is probably the best thing you can do for the tree. When you repot, make sure it gets really good drainage. Cleaning dead branches/ needles out will let more light into the interior which will help promote new growth in there. Don't cut all dead branches off completely, leave a few strategic ones here and there that you might use as jins later.

 

[Shibui]

Not sure how cold USDA 6a gets but I would give it a bit of fertiliser over winter. At worst it will be wasted but may actually build up some strength for the coming repot.
Building density in junipers seems to be plenty of nutrients so they can bud readily, plenty of light (turn the tree regularly so all sides get good light), strategic pruning to focus growth on desired zones and regular light trimming to stop the outer tips taking all the strength.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

I let my junipers wake up and start to grow in spring before repotting. This seems to work better than repotting too early. Junipers are near the last of my spring repot trees.

 

[Vance Wood]

Looks like it is probably a Phitzer Juniper, a strain of Chinese Juniper.,

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

I have pfitzer/media junipers, but they usually have flat tops and/or drooping branches. Even when kept in the shade for 20 years.
I don't know if the 'spartan' cultivar of juniperus chinensis ever reached the states, but that would be my first guess. That one has coarse foliage, like the pfitzeriana's, but it grows more upright.

 

[thomas22]

Looks like California Juniper ro me but I realize that's unlikely for many reasons.