It’s easy to maintain and care for the Blue Point Spiral Juniper because it’s highly adaptable and thrives in most well-drained soil types. Holiday-ready and freshly festive without much fuss (plus year-round interest)? Check. The Blue Point Spiral Juniper is the ideal gift for the season.

Planting
Start by planting the Blue Point Juniper in well-drained soil and in a sun-soaked, full-sun site (the area should receive 6 hours of direct sunlight daily). Though Junipers thrive in average soil, you can incorporate a few inches of organic materials, including compost, manure and leaf mold if you have poor soil with clay or sand.

Follow normal planting directions for the plant by digging an adequate hole for the size of the root ball and backfilling existing soil. Next, spread a 3- to 4-inch layer of mulch around the base of the Juniper, beginning about 3 inches out from the main trunk and extending about 12 inches in total.

Watering and Fertilizer
Once established, you can water the Blue Point occasionally, increasing the watering schedule to be more frequent in extreme heat.

Avoid overly waterlogged areas, but water the Blue Point deeply and regularly during the first growing season to establish its root system – reduce watering frequency once the plant is established.

For maximum growth, apply an all-purpose, water-soluble fertilizer to the root zone each month. We recommend using 10-10-10, but if you’d like to use an organic fertilizer, mulch with a layer of organic compost around the plant’s root zone.

Pruning
The Blue Point Juniper can be pruned annually in early summer for more precise shaping and to maintain its spiral. You may make small cuts intermittently throughout the year if a branch becomes overgrown or out of shape, but for best results, follow the tips below.

First, tie a long piece of ribbon to the top tip of the plant. Wrap the ribbon around the Juniper in a spiral pattern, working from top to bottom on its silhouette.

Next, cut the foliage between the spirals of ribbon, using the ribbon as a guide for spacing and shaping. Ensure that you use a pair of bypass pruners or lopping shears (long-handled) to cut entire branches back to the trunk as necessary.