Spartan Juniper for Sale - Buying & Growing Guide

Planting and Care

by Mary Van Keuren | Gardener (30+ Years Experience) – last update on June 8, 2022

Planting instructions

Site your tree in well-draining soil that receives at least 6 hours of sun a day. It should be at least 5 feet from any buildings, and not under any low-hanging overhead cables. Unpot your tree and tease out any encircling roots, as they can girdle the tree and slowly kill it. Dig a hole that’s as deep as the root ball and twice as wide. Throw a few handfuls of a well-rotted compost or manure in the hole, and mix some with the dirt you dug up. Place the sapling in the hole so that the top of the root ball is level with the ground, and fill in around it with the soil, tamping down as you go to eliminate air pockets. Water thoroughly. Apply a 2-3 inch layer of an organic mulch such as bark chips to conserve moisture and hinder weeds.

Watering and nutrients

During its first month, water your Spartan Juniper twice a week. After that, scale back to once a week for the rest of its first year. Once it is established, it will only need supplemental watering during very dry or hot weather. For its first few years of growth, fertilize your tree in the fall with a slow-release organic product such as a 12-4-8 or 16-4-8 formula. After that, you can taper back your feeding to once every two to three years.

Pollination

Junipers are monoecious, meaning that the male and female reproductive organs can be found on the same tree. These reproductive parts are in cones, and when fertilized through the action of the wind, they produce small seeds, which, in this case, are called juniper berries.

Pruning

The Spartan Juniper needs no regular pruning. Monitor it for broken, diseased, or dead branches, which should be pruned out when you see them. If you wish the tree to assume a shape other than its natural tall pyramidal form, you can train it to topiary-like forms such as a spiral through the use of judicious trimming.

Pests and diseases

There are a few common insects that may appear on your Spartan Juniper, including bagworms, scale insects, and aphids. None of these should cause permanent damage to a healthy tree if the infestation is light, but they may cause a browning of needles and more to a weakened tree. Horticultural oil may help with scale insects, while releasing beneficial insects such as ladybugs can help fight insects such as aphids. Junipers may experience twig and tip blights, which are fungal and may cause dieback. Prune out infected branches and apply a copper fungicide as directions indicate.

Achieving maximum results

The Spartan Juniper is possibly one of the most flexible trees you could find, fitting easily into a variety of garden types from Mediterranean to cottage. It can serve as a specimen tree, be part of a windbreak, and be used as a container plant. Spartan Juniper adapts well to being grown in a pot, where it will max out at much shorter than its usual 15-20 feet height. For example, two Spartan Junipers in matched terra-cotta pots flanking a front doorway would make for a handsome display. To attain the best results, choose a container that is roughly twice the size of the root ball. Fill the container with a good quality potting soil, and plant as per directions above. Be aware that container-grown plants may need more water than those grown in the ground, and regular fertilizing is also recommended throughout the life of the tree.

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Customer Reviews

Anonymous

Verified Buyer November 26, 2020 at 3:18am

Great trees

The trees are very healthy but a little on the short side. However if they are like the trees I have purchased in the past they grow into great trees.