AboutJim Hyland Expertise Registered Forester in the Southern US with 30 years experiance in managing pines. Expert in pine forest health from management to control of pests to ID of species.
Question I live in Southwest Florida and I planted a 3 gallon Blue Point Juniper in my back yard a little over a year ago. It seems to be doing alright, but I am not noticing any growth quite yet. Is this normal? It is in a prime location with full sunlight and doesn't seem to be hurting for water. When should I really start to see this plant take off? Some people tell me this species grows fast while others say it is a slow grower. Which is it?
Answer The first year of a newly planted tree the plant will put most of tit growth on the root system and when the root system get established it then puts on more foliage or height growth. This plant does not like wet feet so does not require much watering.
It can be maintained as an 8 to 10 foot column, or it may reach a 12 to 15 foot height when left to grow without grooming. Annual expected growth rate is 12 to 18 inches. Which is more in the moderate to slow range of growth.
If the tree is green and the foliage is full it is growing good.
Not knowing how it was planted I would guess that the hole for the rootball was about the same size as the root ball and the first year the roots are trying to grow out into the soil (normally the hole should be twice the size of the rootball and filled with good top soil to allow the roots to grow faster).
I would just leave it alone and it will start to put on height growth when it gets a good footing in roots.
