Plant Name: Serviceberry (Juneberry)
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Technical name: Amelanchier Alnifolia (native to Ontario)
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Plant Family / Type: Rosaceae (Roses) / Deciduous Shrub
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Preferred location: Full Sun / Partial Sun
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Mature height: 20’ – 25’
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Mature Width: 15’ – 20’
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Growth Rate / Habit: Moderate / wide Bush-like
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Flower / Foliage:
· White flowers - early May for a week. Turn into berry-sized apple-like fruits that turn Purple or Red when ripe in Summer
· Bloom on previous year’s growth
· Berries have a flavor and appearance like blueberries. Birds like them
· Leaves then turn nice shades of yellow, orange and/or red in the fall
· Young twigs are an attractive Olive-Green color
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Preferred soil:
· Grow in almost any soil type as long as it's planted in full to partially-sunny areas in well-drained soil
· Grow best when it's planted under other deciduous trees or pines
· Require regular watering until it's well-established
· Water every 5-10 days during Summer and moisten top 6 inches. Serviceberry thrives in soils that remain moist but not soggy
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Pruning and Maintenance:
· Time – after berries are produced or late Winter before the flower buds begin to swell
· Require little pruning except to remove dead branches
· Make pruning cuts at a 30-degree angle near a joint or bud
· Thin out older, unproductive limbs at ground level with lopping shears or hand pruners to encourage new growth
· Never prune more than 50 percent of the entire plant
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Shaping:
· Some gardeners prune the tree to create more of a tree than a shrub
· Prune to control how long and thick the braches are and how much they bush out
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Fertilize
· Apply a general purpose fertilizer in Spring after the flower cycle completes
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Serviceberry
