Trimming Upright Juniper - Knowledgebase Question

Calgary, AB
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Question by dpaglinawan
October 21, 2000
When can I trim my witchita tree? Is it anytime of the year?


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Answer from NGA
October 21, 2000
It's best to prune in late winter or early spring. Pruning in the fall can interrupt the plant's natural hardening off process in preparation for winter.

Upright junipers sometimes overgrow their sites and must be reduced in size. You can make thinning cuts within the canopy to reduce plant size without destroying the natural shape. You can also shear, but shearing is recommended only when you desire formal shapes. Like pines and spruces, junipers do not generate new
growth from old wood, so you should never severely prune more than one-half of the foliage. You can reduce
the length of individual branches by cutting them back to a lateral branch. This technique maintains a natural
appearance while it decreases the size of the shrub.

Here's some general info about this shrub:

Witchita Blue Juniper (Juniperus scopulorum Witchita Blue)
Height: 15 to 20 feet
Full sun with preference for adaptable conditions.
Spread: 4 to 8 feet to drier
This is one of the upright junipers with a broad and pyramidal spread to the
branches. It has bluish, silver color to needles and is dense, as are most of
the upright junipers.

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