Junipers are often thought of and with good reason, as mainstays of Mediterranean and dry climate gardens. The different varieties provide solutions to many design issues such as the need for screening, ground cover, and vertical accent. They are hardy to cold and drought, remain largely unscathed by pests and disease and require minimal maintenance. Yet disappointment with Junipers is not uncommon, and most of it can be traced to mistakes people make in their care and cultivation.

Planting

A serious error is to plant Junipers too close to each other. Junipers ought to be planted at a distance equal to the width of the plants in maturity, so that if the width of a shrub species reaches up to 2 meters; then that should be the planting distance between the plants. The trouble is that due to their initial high cost, they are often bought as small specimens. Added to that is the fact that they grow slowly as well and so if planted at the recommended distances, large gaps are left between the plants.