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.

The genus Pistachio contains some excellent trees and shrubs ideally suited to a dry climate garden, due to their low water requirements, hardiness to pests and disease, and general ease of cultivation and care. Most famous of course is the tree, Pistacia vera, which produces the celebrated Pistachio nut. However a number of other species, while not producing edible fruit, are nonetheless fine ornamentals which associate well with other plants in the garden. Let's start with the Pistache nut.

Pistacia vera is a small tree that grows wild in South-West and Central Asia, in places where the average annual rainfall is around 300mm. This figure constitutes the minimum precipitation that trees require. So in areas which receive 400-500 mm per year, like the Eastern Mediterranean, established plants can be grown without irrigation, although occasional deep watering will improve growth and fruit production. The species is dioecious, meaning that female and male reproductive organs are separated on different individuals. In order to produce fruit therefore, both a male and female tree must be planted near each other.

The Italian Peninsula is as long as a boot and the Mediterranean includes parts of North Africa, Israel, Palestine, Turkey and southern Europe. This we all know, therefore it's quite clear that there must be a wide plant diversity and gardening style originating from this area. The gardening style from the Mediterranean encompasses large swathes of history, climate and tradition - so, has therefore always had its arms wide open to, many cultural influences and styles.

The cultural diversity of the Mediterranean region has influenced many cultures in southern Europe and has shaped the development of many new trends across the globe through its rich cuisine and relaxed lifestyle.