Parson’s Juniper for Sale - Buying & Growing Guide

Planting and Care

by John Haryasz | Horticulture Writer and Landscape Designer – last update on November 17, 2022

Planting instructions

It is incredibly easy to find a suitable growing location for a Parson’s Juniper. This plant prefers full sunlight but can grow in partial shade as well. It also adapts well to soils that range from moist to extremely dry. It’s important to give this plant several feet of space to allow it to expand horizontally. However, you won’t need to worry about it overtaking your garden as it maintains a slow to moderate growth rate throughout its life.

Watering and nutrients

For the first growing season following planting, you should give your Parson’s Juniper water about once per week. Following establishment, this plant will have fantastic drought tolerance and will not need any supplemental water at all in most cases. The exception to this is during heatwaves and extreme drought, during which time you should give your Parson’s Juniper some water. Feeding a Parson’s Juniper is also a very straightforward task. You can use a balanced fertilizer once per year in early spring. Alternatively, you can bypass fertilization altogether, and your Parson’s Juniper will likely remain healthy.

Pollination

The Parson’s Juniper comes in male and female versions and relies on wind currents to conduct pollen transfer. The male version of this plant has small brown cones that carry and eventually release the pollen. Once the pollen enters the air and reaches the cones of a female plant, the female cones will grow to a berry-like form. While not a true berry, these female cones do have a fleshy texture and carry the plant’s seeds.

Pruning

Typically, you do not need to prune a Parson’s Juniper. These plants are naturally short and spreading, making them already well-suited to act as a ground cover. The Parson’s Juniper is also a slow-growing plant, which means that you won’t need to prune it often to prevent it from spreading and overtaking other plants in your yard, as is common with other, more vigorous groundcovers. With that said, it is always a good idea to remove dead and damaged stems and foliage as needed.

Pests, diseases and animals

Many of the disease problems that you’ll encounter when growing a Parson’s Juniper occurs because your plant has received too much water, either due to excessive rainfall or overwatering. Such scenarios may lead to fungal infections. Pests that may harm this plant include bagworms, webworms, and scale insects. However, overall, the Parson’s Juniper proves to be more resistant to both pests and disease compared to other junipers. Additionally, this plant is also resistant to deer browsing.

Achieving maximum results

One of the most useful ways to use the Parson’s Juniper in your yard is as a form of erosion control. Plant this ground cover on slopes, above retaining walls, and anywhere that the rainfall regularly erodes the soil. The Parson’s Juniper is also a great planting option for areas where other plants have struggled to grow. The adaptability of this plant includes salt tolerance, drought tolerance, and an ability to survive in soils that are dry and relatively nutrient-deficient.

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