Vance Wood
Lord Mugo
There are a few things that should be kept in mind about Junipers. They are really tough---to a point. But; they can be slow to recover from major damage. Now to specifics: This tree was drastically reduced down to probably 10%. This is a little too drastic a reduction to start a tree with, then it was wired as well. Wiring is also a stressful procedure and wisely delegated to a future time after the tree recovers from such a reduction. Procumbens in particular have a real problem of fracturing at the joints; limbs to trunk and branches to limbs. They can fool you in a surprising way. They seem very flexible but if care is not taken the branches can break fracturing the cambium layer without actually breaking the bark. You wont know you have goofed till the branch dies. The combination of all of this may have caused the demise of your tree. More frustratingly; none of this could have caused the death of the tree and it just may have died for no reason listed above.
