Chinese juniper

Chinese juniper (Juniperus chinensis 'Mac's Golden') requires regular watering and will do best when allowed to dry out between waterings. It can survive dry spells, but will not thrive. Generally, water the plant when the top inch or 2 of soil becomes dry. This usually takes about once a week in the summer and less often during cool months. To avoid overwatering, check the soil moisture prior to watering to make sure the root zone is not too wet. In the hottest months, you may need to water twice a week or as needed. When the plant is actively growing, during the spring and early summer, it benefits from fertilizing with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer.

Chinese juniper (Juniperus chinensis 'Mac's Golden') needs at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day in order to thrive and produce healthy foliage. It should also be exposed to indirect light during the rest of the day for a total of 8-9 hours of daily sunshine. This species of juniper prefers full-sun during the summer, with exposure to morning sun and afternoon shade ideal. If you live in especially hot and sunny climates, you may need to provide some temporary additional shade to protect your plant from direct sun during the hottest part of the day.

Chinese junipers should generally be pruned in late spring or early summer, after new growth has begun. Pruning should be done to maintain a desirable size and shape, remove any dead, diseased or damaged branches, and to encourage branching and foliage density. Light pruning can be done throughout the growing period if necessary; however, any heavy pruning, like remove a large branch, should only be done in the spring or early summer. To maintain the desired size and shape of Chinese junipers, it is best to prune out the tips of upward or vertical branches, leaving the lower, lateral branches to thicken the foliage. Smaller lateral branches may also be pruned to encourage denser growth.