Unique Features: The Wichita Blue juniper is a cultivated variety of the native Rocky Mountain juniper.  It has the inherent cold and drought tolerance of the species but it holds the blue gray color throughout the winter instead of ‘browning’ which is quite common to the species. All columnar evergreens are prone to snow load damage during the winter, the branches are bent down or broken and the tree is splayed open.  This can be avoided by binding with cord or wrapping it with plastic deer fencing.  Spring is the best time to prune and a light ‘tip’ pruning will encourage new growth further back on the branches giving a full look to the tree.  When the branches put on this new growth the branches will become thicker, stronger and less prone to snow load damage. Though junipers are inherently drought tolerant they will need extra water while they are reestablishing their roots.