Vertical junipers as a substitute for garden statuary

Narrow, blue-needled cultivars of Rocky Mountain juniper — "Skyrocket", "Blue Arrow" and "Moonglow" — function as live architectural elements on sites that lack vertical rhythm and clear spatial definition. Their pencil-thin silhouettes substitute for bulky garden statuary and give a small property the read of a professionally designed landscape without the visual weight of a solid green wall. Controlling Site Conditions These junipers demand full sun. In direct light the foliage develops its most saturated blue hue and the crown stays dense. In shade the branches thin and elongate, and the characteristic rocket form collapses. The second non-negotiable condition is drainage. Soil scientist Igor Lytkin emphasized that the main enemy is standing water at the roots, especially during spring thaws. On heavy soils a robust drainage layer at planting is mandatory. Igor Lytkin, soil scientist: "The main enemy of these plants is stagnant moisture at the roots. Especially dangerous are spring thaws. Therefore, when planting on heavy soils, a powerful drainage layer is mandatory."