The juniper is average, which is also called Pfitzeriana, and especially its Gold Coast variety, is very popular in landscape design, because it has an attractive appearance and unusual bright color. In nature, juniper grows in mixed forests and on mountain slopes, and is also found on pastures. That's why Gold Coast is unpretentious in choosing the soil and feels good both in personal plots and in city parks.

Botanical Description

Gold Coast has a very beautiful spreading crown of yellow-green color. Graceful branches grow horizontally and hang down in an original cascade, which gives the plant a very attractive look. This coniferous perennial shrub reaches a height of 1 m, while its diameter is no more than 2 m. But this will take more than a dozen years, because the annual growth of bushes is about 10 cm.

Important! The shade acquires a golden hue only if it grows in the sun, and in the shade it will simply be green.

Gold Coast juniper needles are very soft, scaly, prickly only at the base of the shoots. It is painted green with an unusual golden yellow hue. At young growth, the color is the brightest.

Landing

When planting the Gold Coast variety, you need to consider that it should not be carried out in the hot season. The most optimal for this will be the spring and autumn periods. In spring, it is better to plant juniper in April, and in autumn - in September. It is advisable to choose a sunny place, although partial shade is also suitable. You can plant juniper on the southern and eastern slopes, which will help protect the soil from landslides.

Did you know? Juniper fruits are similar to berries, but in fact they are bumps.

In order for the plant to take root successfully, and also to grow and develop well in the future, its planting must be carried out in the following sequence:

1. Dig a hole about 50 cm deep and of the same diameter. The main thing is that its size be two times larger than the pot in which the seedling grows.
2. Pour 20 cm thick drainage from small stones or broken bricks to prevent stagnation of water.
3. Prepare a soil mixture of peat, turf and sand. It does not hurt to add a little fine gravel and fertilizer for conifers in the amount indicated in the instructions.
4. Fill the pit about half with this mixture.
5. Carefully remove the seedling from the pot with a lump of earth, and then place it in the pit.
6. Top with soil mixture, making sure that the root neck is on the surface.
7. Water the hole well and mulch the soil under the shrub with peat, sawdust or pebbles.

Juniper Care

In order for Juniper Gold Coast to grow and develop well, and also to look healthy and beautiful, you need to properly care for it. Although this shrub is unpretentious in maintenance, it needs to be watered, fertilized, weeded, and also carried out sanitary pruning.

Gold Coast loves moist soils, but does not tolerate stagnation of moisture, so you need to water the bushes in moderation, pouring under each 1-2 buckets of defended soft water. Juniper is fertilized, usually in early spring. It will be enough to sprinkle the soil under the plant with natural compost, in which microorganisms will subsequently settle, which saturate the soil with air and improve its structure.

Did you know? It is said that the juniper is dreaming of a happy change in life.

One must also remember to weed the ground around the bushes, to remove weeds. After this, it is advisable to sprinkle the soil on top with mulch, which will prevent the appearance of weeds and maintain the necessary level of moisture. It is not necessary to form a juniper crown, it already has a rather attractive appearance, but sanitary pruning is necessary, especially if the branches are burnt in the sun or dried out.

Video: how to properly care for juniper

Young bushes must be protected in the summer from the sun, in winter - from frost. So that they do not get burned, in the hottest time of the day it is advisable to cover them for at least a few hours, and spray them with water in the evening. In winter, the bush should be covered with spruce branches or sawdust so that it does not freeze.

Use in landscape design

Juniper medium Gold Coast is very much appreciated in landscape design due to its bright appearance.

It is usually used in such options:

• in coniferous gardens;
• in solitary landings on personal plots;
• to create a hedge;
• on the city lawn and in the park;
• in contrasting group landings;
• in rock gardens and heather gardens;
• for landing in mixborders;
• for growing in pots.

Shelter, which is used to protect plants from frost, must be removed in the spring on time, so that the trunk does not begin to preheat.

Juniper is unpretentious and adapts to almost any locality, which is why gardeners and landscape designers love it so much. And his Gold Coast variety is the best confirmation of this. All that he needs is a minimum of care and a sufficient amount of sunlight, and then he will be able to please you with his beauty for a very long time, and at any time of the year.