What is this groundcover? Why is it sad?

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betsy_VA Vienna, VA(Zone 7a) Jul 05, 2009

I have a bunch of this green groundcover and it looks like it's struggling. Can you identify it for me? Why might it be browned up? What can I do to make it healthier?

I'm in Virginia, 6b/7a. Thanks so much!

betsy_VA

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rcn48 Lexington, VA(Zone 6a) Jul 05, 2009

Hard to tell from your photo but it appears to be one of the Junipers used for groundcovers, possibly 'Blue Star' http://www.google.com/search?q=blue+star+juniper&rls=com.microsoft:en-us&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&startIndex=&startPage=1. If located in full sun they will have a very dense habit but looking at your photo I suspect that yours may not be receiving enough sun?

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Pillita Keystone Heights, FL(Zone 8b) Jul 05, 2009

My creeping phlox looks like this when it gets too dry. Once it starts getting enough water, the brown doesn't go away, but the new green shoots grow up tall enough to cover it.

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betsy_VA Vienna, VA(Zone 7a) Jul 05, 2009

Thanks rcn48-- here is a better picture taken a little further away so you can see more of the bush. I also think it's some kind of juniper but I was hoping to figure out the species too.

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cwpola Winder, GA Jul 07, 2009

Juniper "Blue Pacific", It looks over watered. Prune dead out and let it dry, should be fine. Shade maybe an issue also.

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cwpola Winder, GA Jul 07, 2009

On a second look it may be Juniper "Procumbens" if so same care should take care of it, also a fertilizer would help.

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missingrosie Hillsborough, NC(Zone 7b) Jul 12, 2009

Sometimes my juniper gets that look (before well established is especially a tough time) but I don't prune out.. after a while - the brown needles get replaced and the shrub fills in.

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betsy_VA Vienna, VA(Zone 7a) Jul 12, 2009

The debate for me is whether to leave it and wait for it to recover, or pull it (or perhaps do some dramatic reshaping).

I'm still not sure whether it's procumbens or Blue Star. It's not really blue enough to be Blue Star, but a little on the bluish side for procumbens.

missingrosie, I'm heartened to hear that yours has eventually filled in -- that's an argument for leaving it.

Thanks to all for your responses.

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rcn48 Lexington, VA(Zone 6a) Jul 18, 2009

Sorry it took so long for me to respond! I realized after looking at our Juniperus procumbens 'Nana' http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/92650/ in the gardens that cwpola is probably right :) If you decide to leave it and and perform some "dramatic reshaping" it will respond within a year with new growth but will probably take a few years before it fills in. We've had the same problem with other Junipers in the landscape and after drastic pruning they responded well but it took a little patience from us while they recovered :)

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