Junipers are evergreen trees or shrubs of more than 40 species that are widely used as landscape plants. Though the juniper thrives in acidic soils, the plant can adapt to a wide array of soil types and pH levels. You can remove an unwanted juniper plant by digging it up and filling the hole with topsoil. However, before you can add plants to that area you must prepare the soil. Certain trees and shrubs -- including junipers -- secrete a toxin into the soil called allelopathy that kills nearby plants. This prevents the juniper from having to compete for water, nutrients and sunlight, and may damage future vegetation planted in the area.
Collect several soil samples with a garden shovel from the area where the juniper was planted. Place the samples in a container, and mix them with a spoon or paint stirrer. Wrap the soil in a damp newspaper, insert the sample into a plastic bag and a large envelope, and mail it to a local soil-analysis laboratory. The lab tests the soil and informs you of the pH level and characteristics of the soil. Alternatively, use a DIY soil-testing kit available at home improvement centers.
Research the soil pH level recommended for the plant or grass you intend to plant. For example, most grass seeds require a pH level between 6.0 and 7.0, while a lily of the valley thrives in soil with a pH level between 4.5 and 6.0. Once you know your soil's pH level and the plant's recommended level, you can adjust the soil accordingly.
Cover the area with about 2 inches of organic material, such as mulch. Incorporate the organic material into the soil to the depth of the juniper hole with a garden hoe until the organic material and the original soil are thoroughly combined. Use the garden hoe to break up any clumps of clay or sod. Using a generous amount of organic material helps metabolize the toxins. Working the mulch into the soil helps improve drainage, which flushes out the toxins.
Put on work gloves and a dust mask. Pour either lime or elemental sulfur into a lawn spreader to raise or lower the soil pH level as required. Lime raises the soils pH level, while elemental sulfur lowers it. Distribute the lime or sulfur evenly over the area where the juniper was. Incorporate the lime or sulfur into the soil by lightly dampening the area with a water hose.
Cover the area with a second 2-inch layer of the organic material. Incorporate the organic material into the soil as deep as juniper hole with the garden hoe. Continue mixing the soil and organic material until completely combined.
Dig a hole according to the specifications of the new plant. Insert the plant into the hole, and cover the roots of the plant with soil. Water and feed the plant according to its specific care instructions.
If growing grass, cover the soil with grass seed.
Things You Will Need
- Garden shovel
- Spoon or paint stirrer
- Large envelope
- Organic material
- Garden hoe
- Work gloves
- Dust mask
- Lime or elemental sulfur
- Lawn spreader
- Water hose
- Consider planting allelopathy-tolerant grasses or plants in that area. These include morning glory, lilac, primrose and Japanese maple.
- University of Florida: Junipers in Florida
- U.S. Department of Agriculture: Juniperus communis L.
- University of California: The UC Guide to Healthy Lawns
- North Caroline State University Cooperative Extension: Black Walnut (Juglans nigra) and Allelopathy
- North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service: Amending Clay Soil