Blue rug Juniper, Juniperus horizontalis ‘Wiltonii’

Common Name: Blue Rug Juniper

Type: evergreen groundcover

Family: Cupressaceae

Zone: 3 to 9      Find Your Zone

Height: 3 to 6 inches

Width: 6 to 8 feet

Bloom Time: N/A

Sun exposure: full sun

Soil: well drained

Leaves: evergreen

Fertilizer: Vigoro Tree, Shrub and Evergreen

Deer resistant: Yes

Pruning: anytime except in freezing weather

Blue rug junipers have great drought tolerance once established. Growing only 4 to 6 inches tall, Blue rug can form cover a 6 to 8-foot circle with its bluish-silver foliage. This is a great plant for covering large areas and also good in rock gardens and for erosion control. Good for zones 3 to 9. This plant made its way onto our list of Drought tolerant plants that are not cactus.

PLANTING GUIDE

STEP 1: Digging the hole

• Find a location that has suitable sun exposure for your particular type of plant.
• Dig your hole an inch or two shallower than the rootball of the plant.
• Dig the hole twice the diameter of the rootball.
• Scuff up the sides of the hole with a shovel to help roots break through the native soil.
  

STEP 2: Putting plant in hole

• When removing the plant from the pot, check to see if the roots were circling the pot.
• If the plant is rootbound, gently break up the roots with your hands until loosened up.
• Set plant level, in the center of the hole.
• Make sure the top of the rootball is just above soil level.

STEP 3: Amending the soil and filling in the hole

• Amend the soil with proper amendments for your soil type. 
  
• Incorporate 50% native soil with 50% amendment soils like garden soil, composted manure or soil conditioner.
• Make sure dirt clods are broken up or removed from hole along with rocks.
• Fill the hole with soils to the soil level and pack down. Do not cover top of rootball with dirt.
  
• Water in thoroughly to remove air pockets.

STEP 4: Mulching and fertilizing

• Cover the planting site with at least 2 inches of the mulch of your choice (pinestraw, cupress mulch,etc.)
• High Phosphorus root stimulator fertilizers like Quick Start from Miracle Gro are great to use at time of planting.

Find your closest local store