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Pruning Tall Junipers Near Gutters: Avoiding the Dead Zone

Junipers have a "dead zone" of bare wood inside the green shell. Topping into brown wood kills the top permanently. Instead, lightly shear the green tips annually in early spring to maintain height. Cut above the lowest green needles on the leader to encourage a new leader.

Expect a flatter top. Drastic reduction ruins natural form. If too large, consider replacement with a dwarf juniper cultivar.

Trees: Pruning Mature Locust Trees: Timing, Fertilizing, and Realistic Expectations; Pruning Tree Roses: Managing Dieback and Understanding Their Unique Structure; Winterizing Tree Roses in Zone 5: Bubble Wrap and Garage Storage; King Crimson Maple 3-ft Leafless Top: Don't Top It!; Topping Spruce for Neighbor’s View: Just Say No; Pruning Dogwood for Driveway Visibility; Black Locusts Topped to 5-Foot Stumps: Will They Survive?; Severe Pruning on Young Red Maple: Will It Recover?; Pruning and Fertilizing a Young Elm Tree; Pruning a Mature Weeping Cherry: Restoring Form and Bloom

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