Juniper is starting to get brown

[WNC Bonsai]

I have few pines growing on my property, can i use them instead of bagged mulch from stores?

Rake em up and pile em on. Poke a chopstick down into the soil and use it as a dipstick to see how wet the soil is, or not. This helps prevent the soil from drying out and buffers temperature fluctuations.

 

[Tima189836]

I have few pines growing on my property, can i use them instead of bagged mulch from stores?

Thats what he looks like now, but i still don't think i water him enough

 

[Paradox]

Keeping it up on the railing of your deck and just putting a few springs of juniper or whatever those are on top of the soil is not going to provide protection......

 

[Tima189836]

If the soil is still moist, it wont need water.
You shouldnt water junipers again until the soil is ALMOST dry anyway
They dont like sopping wet soil all the time, what we call "wet feet". It needs to drain

Is it okay if soild would be dry for few days?

 

[Paradox]

Is it okay if soild would be dry for few days?

No. If its totally dry for a few days, its not enough water and it will not be good for the health of the tree and in summer will probably kill it

 

[Paradox]

Also learn the chopstick method to help you learn when the tree needs water.
Stick a wooden chopstick or piece of dowel into the soil and leave it in the pot. Check it every day and water the tree when its ALMOST DRY.
If its still glistening wet, it doesnt need water. If its totally dry, you didnt water soon enough

 

[Tima189836]

Thats what he looks like now, but i still don't think i water him enough

Ive made a box that i will keep on top of him overnight, idk if its a good idea and do i need to use it or not, and I probably should make few holes in there for air circulation

 

[Tima189836]

Also learn the chopstick method to help you learn when the tree needs water.
Stick a wooden chopstick or piece of dowel into the soil and leave it in the pot. Check it every day and water the tree when its ALMOST DRY.
If its still glistening wet, it doesnt need water. If its totally dry, you didnt water soon enough

Got the chopsticks method done, they are in the ground now and its moist so i guess im fine then. thanks!

 

[Tima189836]

Keeping it up on the railing of your deck and just putting a few springs of juniper or whatever those are on top of the soil is not going to provide protection......

Well its warm outside, i put them there just to see if it makes sense to do that, i see that no, and for nights i created a box to put on top of it just to keep it warm, box does not have a bottom so ventilation will go thru the bottom, you think its even a good idea?

 

[rockm]

Well its warm outside, i put them there just to see if it makes sense to do that, i see that no, and for nights i created a box to put on top of it just to keep it warm, box does not have a bottom so ventilation will go thru the bottom, you think its even a good idea?

You don't need a box. You should just put the pot on the ground insuring there's room underneath to allow drainage. Cover the pot up and over the rim with bark mulch and leave it. Your tree is well capable of surviving winter temps. Keeping it "warm" is not great. Junipers are adapted to cold weather The box is going to cause more problems than is solves (if any)

 

[Orion_metalhead]

Like this:

Trees on ground and surrounded with mulch. I use cedar bagged mulch.