How to Weed a Juniper
- 1). Pull and dig out the weeds and their roots, which is easiest to accomplish when the soil is slightly wet and when the weeds are young. Wear long-sleeve clothing and garden gloves as you work your way around your junipers because they have pointy needles that can hurt.
- 2). Spray a pre-emergent herbicide in the early spring and again in the early fall when the weather is cooler. Select one that is safe for junipers, such as one that contains dichlobenil. Spray along the ground where sunshine can reach, following the label directions. This is where the weeds are likely to grow.
- 3). Apply a post-emergent herbicide if the weeds have already started growing in your juniper bed. Choose a selective herbicide specific for the weeds growing in your garden and is safe for junipers. One that contains sodium bentazon, for example, is often used in juniper beds to control broad-leaved weeds. Use the herbicide you select as specified on the label.
- 4). Apply a nonselective post-emergent herbicide, such as glyphosate, directly on the weeds that a selective herbicide has a difficult time killing, such as dandelions. Do not let any of it touch your junipers. Therefore, rather than spraying the weeds with the herbicide, pour some in a disposable container and use a disposable paintbrush to paint the herbicide directly on the weeds.