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How to revive sick potted Junipers?

I bought 3 5ft tall junipers n accompanied pots etc fr Bunnings last month for my 5th floor balcony. I’m not much of a gardener n merely want a hassle-free tree. Yesterday I noticed there were cobweb-like stuff over some branches especially that at the top. Some needles have turned brown n dropped off. Some branches are stripped bare. So the trees are kinda thin now. Have them for less than a month n sadly they are now sick/diseased? What can I do to bring them back to health? Please help.

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Jason

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @patlee. We're pleased to have you join us.

Let me see if garden expert @Noelle is able to kick off the discussion for you.

Is there anything else you could tell us about how you have been maintaining the trees, such as your watering schedule? Where are you based and how much sun do they receive? And did you repot them or are these the original pots?

Thanks,

Jason

Noelle

Hi @patlee

Lovely trees so it's sad to see them declining like this.

The spider-webbing you've seen, where the needles are held together in clumps, are often caused by the larvae (caterpillars) of an insect pest that sometimes make their home on junipers and other conifers. They use the needles to create cocoons where they will eventually pupate and then emerge as the adult flying insect.

This may also cause the needles to die off and drop as the larvae devour them.

I'd suggest using a mild garden insecticide such as pyrethrum to control them, making sure the trees are in the shade when you spray. Check over the trees regularly.

patlee

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/45907#Comment_45907

Hi Jason, Thank you for your prompt response. I am one not too familiar with gardening and was told that the junipers are easy-maintenance. Hence I got all advice from the Bunnings Hawthorn nursery staff from ideal pots to potting mix and how to replant them. I understand junipers require good drainage and so the pots I bought have holes in them. I placed drainage pebbles (staff recommended) before topping it with soil. The tree together with soil intact removed from black plastic pot is to be placed a few inches below pot rim. I took down notes dedicatedly and even paid our apartment block’s cleaner to help me out in planting them. As an older person I could not lift the tree out of the black plastic pot. I watered them lightly with some seasol after planting into my moon white pots. All seemed well the first weeks though I thought the trees look kind of out of shape as time went by. The 3 junipers are placed on my 5th floor hot and windy NW facing balcony at South Yarra as a screen from my immediate neighbour opposite. I was told that wind and plenty of sun are ok for junipers.

I’m sad that I spent almost $1000/- (including assisted delivery of $90/-) to have these beautiful trees with me and in less than a month they are devastated. This evening I noticed the trees looking hollow and skinny. Each tree costs $105/- and I don’t think I can afford another $315/- + $90/- (for assisted delivery) = $405/- to replace them.

At about 8pm I sprayed pyrethrum as advised fully on all trees. I note it’s to be done on weekly intervals.

patlee

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/45910#Comment_45910

Hi @Noelle, Thank you for your prompt response to my posting. You put forward the information so professionally - right words etc. I wonder why the trees get sick so quickly. I was told by friends not to over them as plants thrive better by under-watering than over-watering.

Per your advice I sprayed pyrethrum fully on all three trees. I read from the label that this is to be done on weekly intervals. That means I do not do anything till the next Monday. I reckon I can water them on a weekly basis if the weather is hot. I thought it would be logical for me to touch the soil first in order to ascertain its needs.

Yes it’s a shame that I only get to enjoy the trees for 2-3 weeks before they declined in sickness.

As I wrote to Jason, I doubt that I can afford to buy new junipers to replace them after spending almost $1,000/- on gardening stuff for my new apartment here at South Yarra.

Once again, thank you. Appreciate whatever help you may want to add on to the novice here.

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