If you’re looking to add more juniper to your landscape, you don’t have to run to the nursery and drop a bunch of cash. You can actually propagate these hardy evergreens right at home! It’s a rewarding project, and I’m going to walk you through the most common and successful ways to get the job done.
Different Ways to Propagate Juniper
There are a few different ways to grow new juniper plants yourself. The most popular methods are:
- Growing from seeds,
- Taking cuttings, and
- Using layers (offshoots).
Growing Juniper from Seeds
I’ll be honest with you: growing juniper from seed takes some serious patience. The seeds are tucked inside those berry-like cones, but it takes about two years for them to actually ripen. You’ll know they’re ready to be harvested when they turn a deep dark blue or black. Once you’ve got your berries, here’s the game plan:
- Dry the berries completely in a warm, dry spot for a few months.
- Once dried, crush the berries to get the seeds out. Make sure to clean them thoroughly so there’s no fruit pulp left on them.
- To help them sprout, soak the seeds in warm water for a few hours.
- Put the seeds in a freezer bag filled with damp sand and keep them in the fridge for about three months. This mimics winter and “wakes up” the seeds.
- Get a seed tray or pot ready with some good compost or seed-starting mix.
- Scatter the seeds on the soil and cover them lightly.
- Keep the soil consistently moist and place the pot in a warm spot (around 60 to 70°F).
- Once the little seedlings have sprouted and look strong enough, you can transplant them to their permanent home in your garden.
Propagating from Cuttings
If you want a method that’s a bit faster and usually more successful, using cuttings is the way to go. You’ll want to snip off shoots that are about 6 inches long. A great tip is to do this while you’re already pruning your juniper anyway—two birds, one stone!
- Strip off all the needles from the bottom half of the cutting.
- Stick the cutting into a pot with starter soil and keep it in a warm spot, ideally around 68°F.
- Once the cuttings have established a solid root system and you see new growth, they’re ready to be moved into the ground.
Propagating by Layering
The easiest method by far is propagation through layering or offshoots. However, keep in mind that not every type of juniper naturally produces these “babies” that can be easily snipped away from the mother plant and moved to a new spot. If yours does, you’re in luck—it’s the ultimate shortcut!
