Thinning juniper foliage

[Adair M]

A couple times a year, it's good practice to thin your junipers. Especially the strongest parts, like the apex.

The topic of pinching has been discussed too much already, so we'll by pass that.

But what should a thinned juniper apex look like?



This my Kishu juniper after thinning, taken from above. Right in the middle, you can see down the trunk to the soil. That means sunlight can get in there, too.

 

[Adair M]

Contrast that picture with this one I just took:



Much denser now! What has happened is the sun stimulated the weak growth on the interior to grow and fill in.

It's almost time to thin again. This time taking the outside growth and leaving the new inside growth.

 

[dirk hoorelbeke]

It's good to take pictures to evaluate... Must remember that. On junipers you sometimes see little difference when you pass them every day.

 

[Adair M]

It's good to take pictures to evaluate... Must remember that. On junipers you sometimes see little difference when you pass them every day.

When they get so thick you can't see thru them at all, it's really important to thin. The inner branches aren't getting any sun, and will die off.

 

[chansen]

If you thin now (in your climate), do you expect it to stimulate new growth? I have a san jose that needs to be thinned a lot, but I hesitate to do it at this time of year. I don't want to stimulate new growth by cutting, but I also realize you probably still have more time before they go to sleep for the winter.

 

[chicago1980]

@Adair M at what point in the season do you think foliage? My Shimpaku looks ready as it is a bush.

 

[Adair M]

@Adair M at what point in the season do you think foliage? My Shimpaku looks ready as it is a bush.

I've already thinned for the year. I do them late spring, and then again early fall. I can see that my Kishu has active growth going on now, but we're having an unusually warm fall.

 

[Guy Vitale]

I've already thinned for the year.

Is there a point where it would be considered too late? I'm in the Detroit area and just have not been able to get to my juniper yet. I've been wanting to thin and wire it.

 

[Adair M]

Has the tree gone dormant yet?

You can still thin. And this is a great time to wire.

 

[Guy Vitale]

No, it has not gone dormant in my opinion, the color of the foliage hasn't gone drab if that's how you can tell. Juniper is the one species I have little to no experience with.

I'll try and post a picture tomorrow, I bought it 3 seasons ago from a nurseries 'hospital' area at the end of the season, it was in rough shape so I have been working on getting it heathy. It's still putting out mostly the juvenile growth with some spurts of scale growth once in a while. But it has come a long way and is ready for some work.

 

[chicago1980]

Would you prune @Adair M ?

 

[Adair M]

It looks leggy. How much sun do you get?

You could go in and remove weak foliage.

Are you planning to style it? This is a good time to wire Juniper.

 

[0soyoung]

Would you prune @Adair M ?

Yes, I would.
He's much too tall.

 

[Dav4]

Would you prune @Adair M ?

It could be the picture, but the color of that juniper would mean spider mites if it was in my yard....I'd check and see. The warm, dry weather we've had has brought them back with a vengeance here in N. GA.

 

[Adair M]

It could be the picture, but the color of that juniper would mean spider mites if it was in my yard....I'd check and see. The warm, dry weather we've had has brought them back with a vengeance here in N. GA.

True.

 

[GrimLore]

I can see that my Kishu has active growth going on now, but we're having an unusually warm fall.

Same in Opelika and Here in South East PA. Has been like that actually since I started playing with Junipers a few years ago, different types as well. They just all seem to have a final push of sorts.

Grimmy

 

[chicago1980]

Yes I plan to style in a workshop on the 19/20th of this month with Mauro. Tree receives 12 hrs of direct sun.

 

[chicago1980]

It could be the picture, but the color of that juniper would mean spider mites if it was in my yard....I'd check and see. The warm, dry weather we've had has brought them back with a vengeance here in N. GA.

I will take a look today. Thanks.

 

[Guy Vitale]

I'll try and post a picture tomorrow

Trying to get more backbudding on this as the branches are long and leggy. Like I said this was a recovery project.

 

[leatherback]

I've already thinned for the year. I do them late spring, and then again early fall.

Hm.. In general, would you recommend to skip pruning if you have not gotten to it in late fall/early winter and wait till spring? I have not done so yet. (Winter here means, perpetual drizzle till march/april, and when it does stop to rain for a week, temps drop a few degrees below freezing)?

I have trouble getting rid of needle foliage, and have as such not trimmed the tree since.. March maybe? It is very dense.Plant is not growing, but still freshgreen