Everything You Need To Know about Spartan Juniper Trees
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If you’re looking for a hardy, low-maintenance, and versatile tree, Spartan juniper trees may be right for you. These robust evergreens quickly grow into dense, lush privacy screens and can be planted as standalone specimen trees or clipped into stunning spiral topiaries. With a height of just 15 feet, Spartan juniper trees are great for narrow yards. Here’s what to know about Spartan juniper trees.
Spartan Juniper Trees at a Glance
- Can flourish in harsh conditions
- Perfect for compact yards
- Green year-round
- Well-suited as specimen tree or privacy screen
- Drought-tolerant and cold-hardy
- Ideal for spiral topiaries
Appearance
Spartan juniper trees grow in a pyramidal shape with dense branches and deep green year-round color. They grow to be just 15 feet tall with a narrow spread of 3–5 feet, making them great additions to compact spaces. They don’t require pruning and will retain their columnar shape without clipping.
Spartan Juniper Tree Specifications
|
Appearance |
Grow in a narrow, pyramidal shape with dense branches and deep green foliage that keeps its color year-round |
|
Height |
15 feet |
|
Hardiness Zones |
Zones 4–9 |
|
Type of tree |
Evergreen |
|
Sunlight requirements |
Full sun to partial shade |
|
Soil composition |
Highly adaptable but prefers well-drained, moist, acidic soil |
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones show the regions where different types of plants grow best, based on minimum winter temperatures. Spartan juniper trees thrive in Zones 4–9—almost everywhere except the very coldest and very hottest parts of the country.
Planting
We recommend taking the following steps when planting Spartan junipers:
- Choose a planting site that receives full sun to partial shade and has well-drained, slightly acidic soil.
- Pull any weeds and clear away turfgrass and debris.
- Dig a hole that is roughly three times the width of the container your Spartan juniper arrived in.
- Remove your Spartan juniper from the container and gently tease apart the root mass.
- Place the root ball in the middle of the hole. The soil level should be roughly the same as it was in the container.
- Backfill the hole with soil, tamping it down gently to get rid of any air pockets.
- If you want to plant a privacy screen, space your Spartan juniper trees 5 feet apart or 3 feet apart for a solid wall. Another option is to plant two rows 3 feet apart from one another, staggering the Spartan junipers every 4 feet.
Growing Conditions
Spartan junipers are incredibly durable trees, able to withstand salt, many different soil conditions, and even periods of drought.
- Sun and Shade: Spartan juniper trees grow in full sun to partial shade. They thrive in full sun—at least six hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight per day.
- Soil: Spartan junipers’ only real requirement for soil is that it drains well. They prefer slightly acidic, sandy soil but tolerate many different soil types that other trees can’t, including heavy clay soils.
- Watering: Spartan juniper trees require very little water, doing well with just natural rainfall for their irrigation needs. When first planted, they should be watered two to three times per week for the first month. After that, only water when the soil is dry—if you stick your fingers in about 2 inches and the soil isn’t moist, you need to water.
- Fertilizing: For maximum health, you can fertilize your Spartan juniper once in early spring and then again in late summer. Choose a slow-release nitrogen-rich fertilizer with an NPK value of 16-4-8 or 12-4-8.
- Pruning: Spartan juniper trees do not require any pruning unless there are dead or dying branches. They will retain their pyramidal shape without being clipped, but they respond well to pruning if you want to alter their shape or create a spiral topiary. If you decide to prune, do so in summer.
FAQ About Spartan Juniper Trees
How far apart do you plant Spartan junipers?
If you’re creating a privacy screen, plant your Spartan junipers 3 feet apart for a denser screen and 5 feet apart for a looser one.
Do Spartan junipers need to be pruned?
No, your Spartan juniper tree does not need to be pruned to grow or be healthy.
How big do Spartan juniper trees get?
Spartan junipers are a small evergreen, with a maximum height of 15 feet.
Do deer eat them?
No, Spartan juniper trees are deer-resistant.
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