How to grow Blue Rug Juniper with detailed description

The products I use - kit.com/HortTube
This video is a detailed description of Blue Rug Juniper. Blue Rug is a ground cover Juniper that is typically used on slopes for erosion control. It has great blue-green foliage year around. Blue Rug is very drought, heat, and cold tolerant. Blue Rug can also be used as a container plant and will weep down over the edge of the container.
Blue Rug Juniper
Juniperus horizontalis 'Wiltonii'
Jim has over 30 years experience in the green industry and is the current owner of Earthworks Nursery.
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www.wholesaleplants.biz
30 Allen Rd. Clayton, NC 27520

[@tigergreg8]

Wow. I plan on planting this on a small steep bank in front of the house because I'm tired of mowing it sideways. This was so informative I bookmarked it for future reference when I plant. Thank You.

[@gis4giraffe]

Thank you! You cut right to the chase and everything you say is helpful. I really appreciate little wasted time in helpful videos and you don’t even waste time saying “um or so” a ton like some people. Thank you!

[@smilingbob6708]

Another great video. You get right to the point and very easy to follow .

[@JimPutnam]

+Smiling Bob Thanks for watching

[@brothmirepoix]

exactly all the info i needed when searching for a nice ground cover plant! thanks for the thorough video!

[@gemmrk]

Im in zone 9b but i still watch your vids more than anyones regarding many plants. Thanks for sharing. As always your info is always helpful

[@VeronicaMist]

So many great tips! All the important details. You’re obviously very experienced with these, thank you.

[@jacquepf7442]

Thanks, Jim! We came over from your ground cover vid. This is awesome! We know what to do now.

[@turtley8883]

Did you plant them and are they doing well? I'm considering

[@Dirtbiker-guy]

Looking for a good hillside ground cover for my new house and was considering the Blue Rug Juniper. Thank you for the information.

[@EdwardFielding]

Thanks Jim - very informative!

[@donnamorgan2313]

New subscriber here. - new to planting creeping juniper on my yard slopes. Very informative videos. Thank you so much for sharing!!

[@monkes55]

Jim’s a good man

[@JimPutnam]

Thank you

[@kil4101]

great vid.

[@arlenewoehl1371]

VERY helpful

[@stephencasillas539]

Thanks very helpful

[@judyanderson1448]

Most informative video. I have Blue Rug Juniper on a slope next to my lawn. White clover from the lawn is beginning to invade the juniper. Is there a weed spray that won't harm the juniper?

[@suzzannecantrell5810]

Hey, Jim. I appreciate your expertise in growing blue rug Juniper. I am about to plant about 40 to 50 2.5 quart plants in an embankment that I'm hoping will fill in eventually. It currently has the black plant shield with a mulch covering all over that area. Should I remove the plant shield in the entire area or only in the areas where I dig the holes? I don't want a bunch of weeds coming up between the plants until they fill the area in.

[@AliAli-zc5vq]

Very informative video I have a slope not to deep next to the sidewalk and more up is my grass, the front of this lawn is 14 or 16 ft the slope is about ft long. Thanks God isn't a big space. My grass has some fungus I guess it's necrotic ring spot, Ive just mowed to 1 inch, dethatched, raked and applied fungicide, I overseed but I'm getting tired from the slope and in looking for options. I guess blue rug juniper with much on the slope could work, what you think?. Thank you

[@joanneperry3345]

Hi I refer to your info often was wondering what your suggestion is to revive Blue Pacific Junipers. Planted between 6-8 years on a slope . They are loosing their " luster" I did fertilize with Hollytone in the spring we have had a lot of rain this year, they just look like they are losing color and do have some dead areas that I plan on pruning off. Any ideas should I fertilize or are the rootds too stressed?

[@kathrynbrittingham2021]

Jim thanks for the information. I've started cuttings and have a question . what do I need to do to cuttings to keep them over the winter. Water? Indoors? I live in central PA

[@robertawestbrooks9531]

❤❤❤thanks

[@patrickjamesdunn]

I am having some browning on mine that are planted on a hill. I know you referenced an acid loving fertilizer could you give me an example please?

[@mairwaugus5203]

I'm getting itchy just watching this. Yes I am juniper sensitive...

[@kathyzbodula3233]

We have a significant area that we have given up trying to grow grass so can you rcommend a source where we can buy seeds to grow our own. we have a greenhouse set up where we can start them.

[@johnbetts608]

Can cuttings from blue rug junipers be transplanted. I am cutting back well established plants on a slight slope and would like to replant the cuttings. Is there anything I need to do to the cuttings to establish roots?

[@sylviadavies461]

How easy are they to propagate please as I have an acre garden and would need a few of these for the slope I'm thinking of.

[@birdiemiller3752]

Hi, Would you please answer this question. We have blue rugs along side of our driveway entrance. A very dry shaley sub soil with very little top soil. They have been there for about 30 years. When we first planted them we mulched around them to help with the weeds and grass. They grew very nice and spread. Then they started to stop growing and started to die away. Possible problem, my wife and I argue about... When she weeded around them she would pull up on the branches that were spreading from the main plant. Those branches seemed to have rooted into the soil. I said that shouldn't do that, that is how the plant spreads and gets new roots and nourishment. But in order to weed around the plants and spread new mulch each year she would 'rip' up the spreaders, weed and mulch, then put down the spreaders on top of the mulch. Well, now we hardly have any blue rug left and it is very bare. Could you advise on what maybe going wrong or did we do something detrimental to the blue rug. Thanks for your time and advice. We live in central western, NJ

[@sarahg1583]

24yrs ago, we planted approximately 3 dozen Blue Rug Junipers on our 100' front embankment. I'm currently in the process of cleaning up the embankment & cutting off dead Juniper branches, but I'm seeing TONS of dead branches underneath (so dead in fact, I don't even need pruning shears, they're just snapping off). I've read that Blue Rug Junipers last 30yrs max, so my question - should I continue cleaning up these Junipers or should I replace them all? I've already been at it for a month & estimate I have at least 2 more months to go.

[@ceilsharman9259]

What ground covers help resist ticks?

[@dianeschrader2604]

How do prepare ground before installing junipers? Mine are full of weeds. We have hand pulled and chemical sprayed weeds but still coming back. We are on a slope and it’s hard to remove the weeds ourselves. Your comments is greatly appreciated

[@StratConsultantsLLC]

What if a hillside already has grass growth? (used grass as a quick solution to avoid soil erosion). will these take over that grass and cover it? How many would I need for +/- 3,000 sq ft of hillside?

[@zerro2026]

whats good spacing for blue rug to grow on small slope front yard about 500 sqft ? thanks

[@timmccafferty8683]

We live in NE Ohio. Our slope has a lot of shale, doesn’t stay overly wet. Still OK to plant these in early July?

[@MiaROLZen]

Can I plant this right in the grass slope to eventually take over the grass or should I weed block?

[@1honeychild]

Can you plant this and it take over the grass. I got grass on a slope washing away . So I put juniper down.

[@stephanieann3491]

Hi Jim. I just started watching your video’s which are great btw. I have 3 junipers growing in my front garden and two of them are looking a bit different then usual. I’m almost 98% sure one has spiders mites and I believe the others may have been holding too much water near the roots. The bark looks like it’s peeling off and some areas just look wet and very delicate. I could really use your help with this. I’d hate to lose these beauties.

[@mrs.blennerhassit92]

What is the best time to plant these?

[@ranjanty]

I just bought 2 brj. It's a almost Oct. should I plant them now or wait till spring?

[@johnsealy1350]

Jim, Like your videos. I live near Greensboro. Concerning rug juniper, some questions. On a fairly steep slope, what would be spacing beteen plants. With drip hose does it matter when to plant? I'm in Goldsboro fairly often. Is there a best time to buy? Thank you, John

[@magacop5180]

John Sealy how far did you end up planting them?

[@TheYammerHammer]

@@magacop5180 6 feet apart

[@jimbojackson2900]

Jim, I have an emerald green arborvitae hedge I planted last year and they are about four feet tall. I planted ten of them. Can I plant blue rug juniper behind them on center of the spaces between the arborvitae with the hope they will creep around them and forward creating a ground cover? Or will this cause to much competition for the arborvitae for water?

[@johnhurtme]

My front yard is a fairly gentle slope, but large enough im considering ground cover, how far apart would you need to plant these. And in what kond of formation. Would it need like a grid pattern of every 5x5and keep the outer edge free of grass untol it fills between plantings. What is your reccpmendation on size to begon with? This place has been in my family for 135 years. I have watched my dqd deal with far too many skin cancer surgeries, that i don't want for myself or my son when im gone. A little investment npw can pay dividends in time off the mower and sun pff the slin for generations to come if i can get this right

[@EuroRestorations]

Spacing? How large do these plants get and what is the best spacing to start with?

[@christine6059]

He said 6 inches high and 10 feet wide, so space accordingly.

[@amykaczor6275]

I'm looking to plant along my creek to prevent erosion. We get some sun and some shade, we're in zone 7, would this be a good option for me ?

[@JimPutnam]

No, it probably needs more sun and less water.

[@MusicFan-qx7tz]

Whats the average Price for a juniper this size

[@yanksfan8989]

Do U put fabric guard around the plant to control weed

[@JimPutnam]

+Robert Caiazzo I don't. I have a video on weed block fabric on my channel. Especially on slope I wouldn't because the mulch washes off of easily.

[@donesry2902]

Hey Jim, thank you for the great video on juniper. I just planted some on the slope in the backyard. Do you fertilize them? Do you have recommendations for getting to them to grow and fill in the space more rapidly?

[@christine6059]

I use Holly-tone, which he has mentioned before.

[@carlonbridges8447]

What type and how to fertilize?

[@johncundiff8145]

I'm thinking about starting some blue rug juniper in a large Rock Garden. The area receives a lot of sun and the reasonable amount of rainfall here in Cleveland Ohio. Does the Juniper establish new routes as it spreads or does it simply lay on top of the ground with only its original root ball providing all the nutrition, regardless of the length of the tendrils? I believe I've seen this in overgrown Gardens growing out over concrete sidewalks and actually looking very healthy. Please advise. Great videos!

[@JimPutnam]

They will root into the ground, if the branches get covered. Then they can be cut apart. Leaves could be used to cover parts of the plants

[@jamesfrench4337]

I want to plant some juniper rug on a slope that is about 8 feet tall and maybe a 45 degree grade. The slope is covered with grass that grows very tall if I don't cut it back. Should I kill the grass before I mulch it?

[@JimPutnam]

+James French yes the grass needs to go, but be cautious not to create an erosion problem. Maybe do a small area to start.

[@jamesfrench4337]

Thank you for your reply. I am enjoying your channel. What method would you recommend to kill the grass? I have seen two general options. One is smothering it with cardboard or plastic, the other is killing it with herbicide.

[@axtownie]

@@jamesfrench4337 I wouldn’t use a herbicide if you are going to replant.

[@susanlocklear7844]

What’s the good acid based fertilizer? I wish I could post a picture of the low or ground crawling juniper that I think I have..... I don’t really no how to take care of it

[@pumpkineater_69557]

He does not answer questions. Look elsewhere. I am still searching.

[@JimPutnam]

I answer tons of questions a day. They literally come faster than I can see them. I give more of my time away for free than you can imagine.

[@JimPutnam]

You should test your pH and see if you actually need to lower it first.

[@christine6059]

@@pumpkineater_69557 He answers questions all the time.

[@randyr5328]

But,,,how do you kill the weeds that will come?, without damaging ground cover

[@christine6059]

Pull them by hand. Juniper gets to be so thick that not many weeds can penetrate.

[@EvaHunter55]

Will Blue rug grow in partial shade. The slope I want to plant faces north and receives 4-6 hrs sun per day in summer. TN

[@JimPutnam]

+EvaHunter55 They really need 6 hours plus.

[@EvaHunter55]

Thanks. I have my junipers planted now. 15 of em. I started to put cloth down but decided it would be to easy for my mulch to slide down the slope when I put it down. Any tips on how to keep the mulch in place. Its prob a little more than 45 degree slope. Pine straw if I can find it. Thank you. Its new topsoil so I dont want it to erode away.

[@poohmisty6206]

Investigate bamboo mulch. It makes a dense mat that doesn;'t move--so it is great for preventing erosion.

[@richardhodson2672]

jim, can i grow blue rug juniper in zone 10a Escondido, California 92029

[@JimPutnam]

+richard hodson I doubt it would be happy in such a dry climate, but I could be wrong. Are there other Juniper varieties growing in your area

[@gemmrk]

I think they will grow just fine in 10a. Im in 9a and we are very hot and dry and my blue chip junipers are growing fine in amended clay soil.

[@stevemills3397]

I was given a blue road juniper last fall. I planted it. It's a big one. It's about 8 feet from one end to the other. We had a snow storm couple weeks ago and my neighbor came and volunteered to plow my driveway. He got a little over Zealous and cut my Rug juniper off at ground level. How can I take cuttings from the rootless branches this time of year and start them to grow? thanks

[@tonygoncharuk7309]

you are selling Blue Rug Juniper im small containers, i need abaut 150 pies.