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Planting Blue Point Junipers #715001

Asked August 18, 2020, 8:05 PM EDT

Can small 3 foot tall blue point juniper trees be planted now in Mahtomedii? How far apart do I plant them for a privacy screen? Do I fertilize now or wait until spring? How can I protect them in the winter so they don’t freeze?

Washington County Minnesota

Expert Response

Hello. Happy to help.

Yes, it's a good time now to plant Juniperus chinensis 'Blue Point'. To help them get established and prepare them for successfully making it through their first winter it is important to have a good watering plant.

Water every day for the first 4 to 5 days; then ensure they get water whether mother nature provides or not every third day for a couple of weeks; then weekly for the next six weeks.   To ensure that the trees are well watered for the winter they should get at least an inch of water each week until the ground freezes which can be as late as December.

When the ground freezes mulch the trees with a thick layer of leaves you've saved from raking your lawn. Oak leaves are best because they don't flatten and get soggy when wet. Mulching them after the ground freezes will keep the ground from thawing and potentially heaving the trees out  when the ground freezes again through the several freeze/thaw cycles we get each winter.   It's always important to ensure that evergreens are well watered going into winter because the needles continue to transpire and lose moisture but the roots which are frozen cannot replenish the needles until the ground thaws.

Be sure to remove the leaf mulch in late winter so that the ground can thaw out allowing you to resume a good watering schedule through next year.

I hope this information helps.
eGardener Replied August 21, 2020, 7:06 PM EDT

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