Introduction

If you are a gardener or landscaper, you may have come across the beautiful juniper tree. Known for its unique fragrance and blue-green foliage, it is a popular choice for adding texture and structure to any garden. However, when it comes to planting other vegetation near the juniper, you may want to think twice. In this article, we will discuss the plants you should avoid planting near juniper trees and why.

Plants to Avoid

One of the primary plants to avoid planting near juniper trees is other evergreens. This includes pine trees, spruces, hemlocks, and cedars. The reason behind this is that these plants compete with junipers for nutrients and soil moisture. This competition can lead to stunted growth, disease, or even death for both plants.

Another plant to avoid planting near junipers is vegetables. This is because juniper trees release chemicals into the soil called allelochemicals. These chemicals can have a negative impact on vegetable growth and may even stunt their growth or cause them to die.

Finally, you should avoid planting fruit trees near juniper trees. The allelochemicals released from junipers can also have a negative impact on fruit trees. Additionally, juniper trees attract birds that may eat your fruit, causing damage to your harvest.

Plants that Pair Well with Junipers

Although there are plants that you should avoid planting near junipers, there are also plants that pair well with them. First, you can plant groundcovers such as creeping phlox, creeping jenny or creeping thyme. These low-growing plants compliment the texture of the juniper's foliage and require similar growing conditions.

Additionally, you can plant ornamental grasses alongside your juniper trees. Grasses such as blue oat grass, switchgrass, or feather reed grass provide texture and height, while also complimenting the color of the juniper's foliage. These plants are also drought-tolerant and require minimal maintenance, making them ideal for landscaping near the juniper tree.

Lastly, you can plant flowering shrubs such as the weigela, hydrangea, or spirea near your juniper trees. These plants provide colorful blossoms in the growing season, adding contrast to the juniper's evergreen foliage. Additionally, these plants require similar growing conditions and are not affected by the allelochemicals released by the juniper trees.

Conclusion

To summarize, when planting near juniper trees, it is best to avoid planting evergreens, vegetables, and fruit trees. This is because these plants can compete with the juniper tree for nutrients and soil moisture, or their growth can be stunted by allelochemicals released by the juniper. However, you can plant groundcovers, ornamental grasses, and flowering shrubs near juniper trees. These plants will not compete with junipers and will add texture, color, and contrast to your garden.