Blue Rug Juniper

The Blue Rug Juniper is a low lying, creeping evergreen shrub. The growth habit can be described as a dense, low, mat-like plant with a height of 4 - 6 inches and a spread of 5 - 6 feet. Foliage is a silver blue that transitions into purple bronze during the winter months. The Blue Rug Juniper is fast growing and is resistant to diseases that normally plague juniper shrubs.

The Blue Rug Juniper is a very low maintenance groundcover shrub. Plant the Juniper in full sun with well drained acidic soil. Space plants 4 to 6 feet apart to allow for a dense coverage that will prevent weeds from peeking through. To further prevent weeds, pile mulch around the plants making sure that it is not piled on top of the crown of the plant. Once plants become mature, thin them out by pruning them just a little bit to allow air circulation.

Be sure to choose the best location for your Blue Rug Juniper. As long as you avoid extreme temperatures you can plant your Juniper almost any time of the year.

Junipers thrive in full sun to part sun and adapt to any soil that is well drained. They do like a neutral to acidic soil so if you know you have an alkaline soil choose an acidic fertilizer (most fertilizers for evergreens are acidic). Junipers are great "street shrubs" as they tolerate pollution and salt well. After planting, adding a layer of 2 to 3 inches of mulch will help keep the soil moist and protect the lower branches from fungal issues. Do not allow the mulch to touch the trunk as this increases the chances of pests and disease. Water your Juniper deeply a couple times a week for the first month or two. After your plants are established, they only need watered during hot, dry spells. Junipers are drought tolerant after establishing and even more so after being in the ground about two years. Fertilize when planting and in early spring yearly with a slow release fertilizer. 

Junipers are extremely hardy and versatile. When properly cared for, they rarely have issues with pests and disease. Mites and scale are insects that can occasionally affect Junipers. These can be treated with horticultural oil. For severe infections the pesticide Bonide is recommended. Avoid saturated soils to prevent fungal issues in Junipers.

The Blue Rug Juniper is a great groundcover to use when you are in need of covering a lot of space very fast. Many people use the Blue Rug Juniper on steep hillsides to help erosion control. This keeps you from having to deal with mowing in such a terrible and dangerous area. These junipers also look great in your front yard landscaping beds. Just plant them and let them take over the entire bed. You will have a gorgeous, landscape bed that borders nicely with a perfectly manicured lawn with no maintenance. Other great areas for the Blue Rug Juniper would be around the mailbox and cascading down beautiful rock walls.

For more ground cover options check out our Juniper, Phlox and Ground Cover Plants collections.