Wichita Blue Juniper

Thankfully, Wichita Blue Juniper Trees are very low maintenance and will only require pruning if you want to see a more orderly shape. The natural growth is already very handsome and pyramidal in shape. Prune Wichita Blue Juniper Trees in early spring after the last chance of frost and before buds set so that the new flush of growth has sufficient time to harden off over the summer before winter. Cut any dead branches back to the point of origin on the parent stem or back to the central leader trunk. Leave at least a bit of green foliage on the branch, if possible, so it can produce vigorous new growth; sometimes a branch is completely dead, so you can simply cut it back to the trunk. Cut broken branches back to the nearest point of intersection with a healthy, unbroken branch.

If possible, avoid cutting branches so far back that you expose the dead zone -- the area within a juniper in which branches are not actually dead, but they do not grow foliage because they are not exposed to light. Thin out as much as 20 percent of the total juniper foliage, cutting the branches back to the central leader or trunk to open up the remaining branches to airflow and sunlight. The dead and broken branches count toward the total 20 percent, and other branches should be chosen carefully so you don't disrupt the shape or leave gaping holes that allow you to see into the inner bare zone. Step back from the juniper and observe its shape. Trim any branches that stick out from the basic pyramidal shape, clipping each back to the intersection with a lateral branch so the cuts are not obvious and a new tip will develop. Trim individual branches as needed to maintain the shape at any time throughout the year. If a few branches become too long, you can cut them back to maintain the shape at any time, but severe or more thorough pruning should only be done in early spring.

You can also train your Wichita Blue Juniper Trees into topiary shapes, but this should be started with younger trees before they grow too wide and have natually shed their inner foliage.

When considering Wichita Blue Juniper Trees make sure your planting location will receive at least 6 to 8 hours of full sun per day. The soil should be well drained. Juniper blue point will thrive in even the driest of spots provided it gets the required amount of sun.

Junipers can not thrive in full shade, but Wichita Blue Juniper Trees are considered the most shade-tolerant variety and  can survive in a partial shade setting.  Keep in mind, very shady areas tend to dry out more slowly and this environment will not support Blue Point Juniper Trees.  If your partially shady area isn't too wet, it may be able to sustain a healthy Wichita Blue Juniper Trees, but adjust your watering accordingly. Another factor to consider is that the Wichita Blue Juniper foliage may not develop its full color without access to all-day sun exposure. Partial shade environments may produce a more open, shorter form as compared to the conical shape up to 8 to 12 feet tall when exposed to full sun.

Wichita Blue Juniper Trees are considered moderately fast-growing trees with a growth rate of 6 inches to 1 foot per year. They will ideally reach their mature height within 10 years of being planted.

Wichita Blue Juniper Trees will only grow to 6 to 8 feet wide and 15 to 25 feet tall, which is perfect for smaller yards and spaces near your home. Always allow a minimum of 3 to 4 feet of clearance between the trunk of the tree and any houses, walls, fences, utility boxes, or other large trees.

If you are planting a Wichita Blue Juniper Hedge, this can be done a variety of ways. For a close-knit hedge, plant each tree 4 feet apart and the branches will grow into each other. For a more spacious look where you can enjoy the pyramidal habit of each tree, plant them 8 to 10 feet apart. For a thicker wall, plant the trees into two lines that alternate, and allow for 6 feet of space between trees in all directions. This way you do not need to wait for the trees to reach maturity before the view will be sufficiently blocked.

The naturally prickly foliage of a Wichita Blue Juniper Tree is not a preferred snack for local deer populations, they are considered very deer resistant. While a hungry deer can eat almost any foliage, they would probably select your Wichita Blue Juniper Trees as an absolute last resort.

Since Wichita Blue Juniper Trees will stop growing once they reach 10 to 12 feet tall, they are considered a dwarf evergreen tree and are also great candidates for container gardens. We recommend that you use a large enough container and let the tree grow to at least 6 feet tall in order to not restrict the roots and risk killing your tree or breaking your container. Make sure the container has enough drainage holes to accomodate the drainage a drought-tolerant tree like a Wichita Blue Juniper Tree needs.

When fertilizing Junipers in pots, be careful to apply a fertilizer that will not burn the roots (such as a slow release or a liquid fertilizer).Never fertilize a plant with a chemical fertilizer if the plant looks sick or wilted. If a plant is struggling due to a disease or root problems, the fertilizer will only add stress to it's life. Try to cure the problem before adding fertilizer, ideally by replacing the soil in the container and carefully removing any rotted roots. Lastly, always read the label on your fertilizer bag, and follow the instructions.

If your Wichita Blue Juniper Tree is developing any light yellow foliage, consider what nutrients your soil may be lacking. While a proper soil test can tell you exactly what you need to add to the area, a balanced slow-release fertilizer such as Espoma Holly tone or Tree tone can help to turn the situation around. Be careful to use a very light touch, and even cut the strength back to a half dose in order to avoid overwhelming or burning the roots.

Evergreen trees with foliage similar to Wichita Junipers can turn brown for a wide variety of reasons. First, check for any bugs to rule out pests. If the foliage in the inner most part of the branches is the only part that is brown, your tree may simply be shedding its inner foliage - this area no longer gets light because of thick and healthy outer foliage, so the tree will shed around the trunk to create better air flow and to reserve resources.

If your tree is looking brown from the outside of the branches, or has lost its vibrant blue-green color, there may be bigger issues going on. Check how damp the soil has been recently. If your Wichita Juniper has developed root rot from sitting in water for too long, that is unfortunately very difficult to recover from. Let the area dry out completely and then only water very lightly as needed. Underwatering a tree that is still establishing its root system or letting it stay too dry in extreme heat can also cause a Wichita Juniper to turn brown and die. If it has turned completely brown, it is time to replace the tree.

Our trees and shrub heights are measured from the top of the root ball to the top of the plant. We do not include the root system in our measurements. You can be assured that if we sell a tree at 4 to 5 feet high that after planting the tree will be 4 to 5 feet tall after planting.

You might see our sizes listed as 4 to 5 feet tall. Simply put, trees and shrubs grow. We are always pruning our plants to promote better branching and fuller canopies. This ensures you receive a plant that has been properly pruned to ensure health and vitality. Doing this can often change the height by 6 to 8 inches. By grading trees into 1-foot increments it assures you that you get what you’re paying for. Oftentimes our trees are sold above the height we specify but we never ship a plant that does not make the minimum height we specify.