This is a needle juniper, Juniperus rigida. We treat Foemina the same way. We need to let all the tips grow out on these trees to at least this long. More is sometimes better to develop the energy of the tree. Then we come in with scissors and cut almost the entire new shoot off, on refined trees you’re maybe leaving 1/16″ or a bit more—That’s it! I know it’s shocking, but a tree growing in good soil with lots of roots and strong shoot growth over the entire tree will burst out with many more shoots, mostly where you cut. Then you get great ramification. So as you can see, this is a totally different technique than the scale junipers. Just identify which you have, and apply the appropriate technique and your junipers will flourish. One tip: the needle junipers love water and fertilizer. In the spring they can use as much water as a maple.
