A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion The Plants and Flowers Forum Shrubs and Trees Juniper Problems - Please Help

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Please help. I have 8 juniper bushes like this all planted in planters that have truned this brown color within the past 2 weeks. I live in West Texas where we have an arid dry climate. I have been watering them roughly once a week. any suggestions?

Steven

Your link is not working. But from your description I would tell you to look closely at the plants for pests. Is the bark loose and flakes off? If it does is there anything scurrying away under there? Is there any visible critters under the soil surface if you move some around?

If there is no pest damage, you may need to water more frequently and mulch, especially if the junipers are/were located in airy locations or if the sun warms the potting container a lot. During June-August, I have to water more than once a week.

Kinda looks like it's D-E-A-D.

Next time you get one in a pot like that, set it into a well-soaked hole ASAP, and baby it for the rest of the season. It's really vulnerable while in a pot where just forgetting to water it only a week could kill it.

Once a juniper gets established, it's pretty drouth-proof, but give it a chance to overcome transplant shock.

Ditto what luis said.

Also check the dimensions of the shrub at maturity (in the plant's label). The place where you took the picture seems too small for some junipers.

when in the pot like that at the nursery, they water daily due to quick drying in the sun.