Culture Notes
Shore Juniper is valued for its low, spreading growth habit. This moderately slow growing ground cover will be 18 inches or less in height and can spread to about 8 feet. Fruits are rarely produced. The main feature of this ground cover is its soft, grey-green foliage. The species has greenish foliage. This cultivar of Shore Juniper is also reported to be less susceptible to the foliage fungus blight that kills many plantings of this ground cover, however plants often decline anyway. The best plants I see are at the beach or in well-drained loamy or sandy soil, not in clay.
Natural habitat is dry and windy with full sun exposure. It looks best in an open site with no shade during the day. This allows the foliage to dry quickly in the morning and helps prevent foliage disease from thinning the canopy. A well-drained soil is essential for good growth. Wet soil rots the roots and causes plant decline.
The plant tolerates poor soils but will suffer some winter injury in colder climates. Shore Juniper is often used as a ground cover to cover large areas close to the beach due to its tolerance to sea salt. Its adaptability to dry, sandy soil makes it worthy of consideration for use in erosion control. Plant on 3 to 5-foot centers to completely cover an area in 2 or 3 years.
Shore Juniper can be severely infected by a blight which turns foliage brown. Always place this plant in the full sun for best results. A windy, dry location is best.
Juniper blight may be a severe problem on this cultivar.
Planting and establishing shrubs
The most common cause of young plant failure is planting too deep. Plant the root ball no deeper than it was in the nursery. In most instances, the root flare zone (point where the top-most root in the root ball originates from the trunk) should be located just above the landscape soil surface. Sometimes plants come from the nursery with soil over the root flare. If there is soil over this area, scrape it off. The planting hole should be at least twice the width of the root ball, preferably wider. In all but exceptional circumstances where the soil is very poor, there is no need to incorporate anything into the backfill soil except the loosened soil that came out of the planting hole. Never place ANY soil over the root ball. If a row or grouping of plants is to be installed, excavating or loosening the soil in the entire bed and incorporating organic matter enhances root growth and establishment rate.
Weed suppression during establishment is essential. Apply a 3-inch thick layer of mulch around the plant to help control weed growth. Keep it at least 10 inches from the trunk. If you apply it over the root ball, apply only a one or two inch layer.  This allows rainwater and air to easily enter the root ball and keeps the trunk dry. Placing mulch against the trunk or applying too thick a layer above the root ball can kill the plant by oxygen starvation, death of bark, stem and root diseases, prevention of hardening off for winter, vole and other rodent damage to the trunk, keeping soil too wet, or repelling water. Regular irrigation through the first growing season after planting encourages rapid root growth, which is essential for quick plant establishment.
Pests, Diseases and Damaging Agents
Pests:Â Bagworms, Juniper scale, Juniper webworm, and mites.
Diseases: Twig blight can be a serious problem.
Environment
This plant tolerates drought and salt well.
This plant will grow in very dry soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy or sandy.
The pH preference is an acidic to alkaline (less than 6.8 to more than 7.7) soil.
Fruit Color   Blue
The fruit is dry and round.Â