Juniperus horizontalis Limeglow
Juniperus horizontalis Limeglow
After moving into our new house in February we pondered for a couple of weeks as to how the garden, front and back should look.
We decided on a complete change from our usual style for the front, and went for a Japanese look. Well, perhaps not fully sticking to the rule book but nevertheless with a Japanese feel to it.
We have planted, Azaleas, Rhododendron, Acer, Magnolia and conifers as well as several other shrubs which we felt would be suitable.
As for conifers, the Juniperus horizontalis Limeglow when it arrived in late March had me ringing up the mail order company to complain, well, take a look at it below.
Limeglow is described as having bronze leaves with shades of purple and red in Winter. I still was not convinced, either the specimen I received was dying or someone is being very flattering.
Well, anyway, I planted it in the front garden as intended. Two or three weeks later the conifer seemed to be recovering, or was it simply starting to develop its Spring/Summer transformation.
Take a look at it now, genuinely lime green. I will probably even enjoy its Winter shades from now on, well maybe.
Having done some research on Juniperus horizontalis Limeglow, it would appear to be a very highly regarded small conifer which received the RHS award of garden merit.
Growth is said to be quite slow, reaching an eventual height of about 50cm/2ft 4 in and spread of 12cm/4ft.
The plant is fully hardy in the UK.
Does best in full sun/part shade
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Our garden
The front garden in late May. Looking rather young, the Japanese theme would have required plants a little more mature, however it really does look better than the pictures suggest.
Through the garden gate
The driveway leading to the garage seemed such a waste of valuable space, considering the small garden which we have.
We put up a fence and gate at the front, which still gives room to park two cars. This area is now our courtyard garden.
It is a secluded sun trap. All the plants are in pots, perhaps we can change this and have a raised bed running along the length of the fence.
For this area we opted for plants which were that bit more mature.
We have four apple trees
Two Amelanchier
Prunus Serrula
Four Flower carpet Roses
Viburnum Tinus Eve Price
Viburnum Burkwoodii
Acer Bloodgood
Portuguese Laurel (Prunus Lusitanica)
Prunus Laurocerasus
Philadelphus belle etoile
Half standard Bay Lollipop Laurus Nobilis
Fatsia Japonica
The back garden
Its not very big, however once again, when the plants mature it should look much better.
Our back garden faces North East, we expected it to be in shade for most of the day. Nothing of the kind, it gets loads of sunshine, well it does in Spring and Summer. Before moving in we gave a lot of thought regarding the laying of a lawn, would it be so boggy grass would struggle to get through the Winter. We ruled out more gravel, (sick of the sight of it) What did we do, I can barely tell you, as if you didn’t notice, the grass ISNT REAL.
Well proper grass would have likely been fine after all, but hey! the fake stuff is fantastic.
Hind sight is 20/20. You had good intentions.
Hello Diana
Myra is so much happier here. Mind you, leaving Aberdeen was a wrong decision.
That is such a clever and inviting way to make a dreary driveway an inviting courtyard.
Is Myra settled happily?
Yes, couple of Rhododendrons in the back garden Nadezda. The artificial turf should keep the garden looking tidy in Winter.
I love your courtyard garden, Alistair. It’s very cozy. Your background garden is well planned and I see there rhododendrons, am I right? About you decision to make artificial lawn – I support you, because to care lawn in wet climate is not easy, I know it having my experience.
Your Juniperus horizontalis is awesome, I had the similar but it couldn’t survive last winter and I threw it away.
I remember those conifer and heather years Rick. No plans to increase the size of the borders, I, of course, would not rule out a U-turn.
Hi Alistair, you seem to have transformed the area already and as you say it will only improve with time. I am not a great lover of conifers, probably because I became fed up of them in their trendy years, but your little juniper certainly fits in with the effect you are trying to achieve. I am wondering how long it will be until the size of your “lawn” area gets reduced as the border expands? 🙂
Hi Sunil, with having a smaller garden I am not that bothered with the additional watering regime. Mind you, I will have to get it right as in the past I have had a tendency to over water.
Hello Alistair, I must admit that looking at the first picture of the Juniper, I was expecting the next one to show the plant dead. I’m glad it’s revived. The courtyard is very special isn’t it? You’ll have to keep up with the watering and feeding when you have trees in pots.
Donna! so good to hear from you. Yes, we are all planted up. Everything seems to be growing well here, frosts aren’t so very severe in Winter and the Summer is a little kinder than it is in Aberdeen. Hope you are keeping well, take care and make a wise choice when moving time arrives.
Hi Larry, our gardening style has changed for our needs of today. I guess I will miss our gardens of previous years but will be sure to make the best of what we have.
Good to see you gardens Alistair!! I grow Limeglow Juniper under my Metasequoia ‘Ogon’ and it is a nice combo…. I’m finding that there are a goodly number of attractive Junipers that don’t have a will to take over the garden after many years… Larry
Well my goodness I have been gone for a long time….I knew you were moving but wow you are in and planted. I like the idea of the Japanese garden and low maintenance with the gravel. Once it grows in, what a statement it will make. I agree though, it would have been too much gravel in the back garden for me too. And I did not even notice it was fake grass. I just turned 60 and with shoulder injuries and back injuries, I am looking to down size my garden and house with a move in a few years. Lots of great ideas here. You always plant the most amazing container gardens and here again you have outdone yourself.
Definitely have to keep on top of the watering Ellen. These last two days have seen the first serious rain since early February.
Thanks for sharing your experience with Limeglow.
Off to a very nice start! That will looks so great when everything fills in. I have several Juniper Limeglow shrubs. They do turn very bronzy (and really kind of dead looking) in winter, but they seem to be impressively hardy. Mine are in terrible clay soil in a very exposed, sunny area with no care whatsoever, and they keep coming back every year (though with very little growth). I hope you enjoy yours – it’s a great plant for your Japanese garden!
Nooooo! Not fake grass, aaargh! Seriously Alistair, it is all looking fabulous, well done! How on earth do you cope watering so many pots? I am trying to reduce the amount of pots in my garden as it is just too time consuming for me with the watering. I am in the south, so I guess we are that much drier down here…..Lovely to see the photos, thanks for sharing!