Western juniper populations have expanded and contracted over the last 7,000 years. Within the last 150 years or so, the population and acreage covered by western juniper has increased three- to ten-fold.
This expansion has many ranchers, resource professionals, and even enviromentalists concerned about juniper’s impacts on rangeland conditions.
Juniper are known to out-compete surrounding vegetation for already scarce water resources. An area with relatively high juniper densities often has little to no understory vegetation. This lack of understory vegetation also serves as excellent fire protection for the junipers, allowing them to spread even faster. If little to nothing is growing under them then the fire has a difficult time of spreading from tree to tree.
Juniper have historically been removed in order to improve rangeland conditions. Unfortunately, little to no use has existed for the wood aside from fence posts or firewood and to a much lesser extent, furniture.
Below, are some interesting numerical facts about Western Juniper.
Properties of Western Juniper vs. Other Common Species*
| Species | Density (lbs/ft3) | Fiber/Vessel length (mm) | Fiber dia. (mm) | Alpha cellulose (%) | lignin (%) |
| western juniper | 31.0 | 1.60 | 0.012-0.031 | 38.6 | 35.5 |
| eastern redcedar | 32.9 | 2.15 | 0.020-0.030 | ? | ? |
| ponderosa pine | 28.0 | 3.60 | 0.035-0.060 | 45.0 | 25.1 |
| lodgepole pine | 24.0 | 3.50 | 0.035-0.055 | 47.3 | 25.9 |
| Douglas-fir (coastal) | 34.0 | 4.50 | 0.035-0.055 | 52.6 | 28.0 |
| white fir | 22.0 | 3.50 | 0.035-0.050 | 49.1 | 27.8 |
| western hemlock | 24.0 | 4.00 | 0.030-0.050 | 50.0 | 29.9 |
| red alder | 25.0 | 1.20/ 0.85 | ? | 44.0 | 24.1 |
| sugar maple | 44.0 | 0.92/ 0.41 | ? | 49.2 | 21.5 |
| Northern red oak | 44.0 | 1.32/ 0.42 | ? | 46.0 | 23.9 |
Mechanical and Physical Properties of Western Juniper and Other Commonly Used Woods
| Species | Specific Gravity @12% MC | Density (lbs/ft3) @12% MC | Compression Strength-parallel to grain @12% MC (psi) | MOE- Bending Stiffness @12% MC (Million psi) | MOR-Bending Strength @12% MC (psi) |
| western juniper | 0.44 | 31 | 5115 | 0.79 | 8540 |
| Coastal Douglas-fir | 0.48 | 34 | 7230 | 1.95 | 12400 |
| ponderosa pine | 0.40 | 28 | 5320 | 1.29 | 9400 |
| eastern redcedar | 0.47 | 33 | 6020 | 0.88 | 8800 |
| incense-cedar | 0.37 | 25 | 5200 | 1.04 | 8000 |
| northern red oak | 0.63 | 44 | 6760 | 1.82 | 14300 |
| red alder | 0.41 | 29 | 5820 | 1.38 | 9800 |
| Species | Hardness @12% MC (lbs.) | Volumetric Shrinkage (%) | Nail Withdrawal Strength (side grain) (psi) | Machining | Gluing | Finishing | Bending |
| western juniper | 665 | 7.95 | 197 | VG | E | E | VG |
| Coastal Douglas-fir | 710 | 12.4 | 184 | G | VG | F | F |
| ponderosa pine | 460 | 9.7 | 117 | VG | VG | G | P |
| eastern redcedar | 900 | 7.8 | 175 | VG | E | E | ? |
| incense-cedar | 470 | 7.7 | 96 | E | E | E | P |
| northern red oak | 1290 | 13.7 | 363 | VG | F | F | E |
| red alder | 590 | 12.6 | 124 | VG | E | ? | ? |