Spherical thuja planting and care in the open field

Among the variety of conifers, thuja is especially loved by summer residents, owners of private houses. This is not surprising - thuja is frost-resistant, unpretentious, aesthetically attractive. Planting and care in the open field will not require significant work from the summer resident, but its presence on the site will be positive from any point of view. It is great for the formation of hedges, with its help you can create unique green shapes for landscape design of the site, arrange paths.

This tree, like its coniferous counterparts, exudes a wonderful aroma, enriches the air with useful phytoncides. Thuja carries a lot of positive qualities.

Thuja differs from pine or spruce in that it has no needles, its branches are covered with small green scales, soft, pleasant to the touch. It is tacitly called the "royal tree" - it is well deserved. We will consider the nuances of planting, caring for the coniferous beauty thuja, so that it takes root on your site too.

↑ to contents ↑ Thuja tree - selection of seedlings

If you do not plan to reproduce thuja independently, then you can purchase ready-made, grown seedlings. They can be purchased from ephedra nurseries or specialist shops. There, among the declared assortment, you will choose the desired variety, buy a healthy tree, adapted to the local climate.

Small thuja from nurseries vary in size and age. If you have a small seedling, then it will not be difficult to "grow" it yourself until it is planted in a permanent place of growth. You can also purchase a large copy, ready for the decoration of the site or the local area.

When choosing, always pay attention to the conditions of the plants, the degree of soil moisture in the containers, the strength of the coniferous scales on the branch. The branches of the seedlings should be elastic, the needles should not crumble, they should not have any spots or signs of disease. Upon arrival home, hurry up to transplant them to a shaded place, water.

↑ back to contents ↑ Planting thuja in the ground

Thuja will perfectly take root on your site at any time of the year, except in late autumn or winter. Experienced gardeners advise exactly the spring period - April, May. Planted in spring, it will hurt less, grow faster, and adapt better to the environment.

The landing site should be slightly shaded, consider this factor when planning the landscape design of the site. In direct sunlight, the tree will wither, and subsequently it will be worse to endure the winter cold. In a completely dark place, thuja will slowly develop, the branches will not be lush, bright. The ideal territory for it will be a windless section of the site, with light shading, close occurrence of groundwater.

Thuja - planting and leaving, phased actions:

1. First, we dig a rather deep hole - 80-100 cm deep, with the same diameter dimensions (if you, of course, have a large seedling, and not the one in the photo above). The deepening should be such that a tree with an earthen lump can freely enter there.At the bottom we pour a little earth mixed with wood ash or other organic fertilizer.
2. We put it in a hole, while its root collar should be at the same level with the soil surface.
3. Mix the dug earth with sand, peat (1: 1), fill a depression with a seedling with this mixture, and then slightly trample.

The distance between the trees should be determined according to the characteristics of the variety, since thuja are very small and, conversely, very tall. Small trees can be planted a meter apart, large trees about 4-5 meters. Some varieties of thuja reach 15-20 meters in height, and their crown grows in breadth up to 3-4 meters (for example, thuja western Brabant). For full development, such a tree needs space, but when decorating alleys, green corridors, hedges, thuja are planted at a distance of 1 meter, regardless of the variety and type.

Tui Western Smaragd and globular Danica↑ back to contents ↑ How to care for thuja

Competent care of this ephedra implies watering, feeding, loosening the trunk circle, and forming a crown. After the tree is planted at its permanent place of residence, primary feeding is done. For these purposes, natural growth stimulants are often used (most gardeners choose "Epin"). The ingredients of such dressings contribute to better rooting of the tree, improve resistance to diseases. In the spring, you can feed it with potassium-phosphorus supplements, it is better to do this twice, the break between fertilizers should be 10-15 days.

In spring, the frequency of irrigation is influenced by the amount of rain, with the onset of summer it is enough 2 times a week, in the spring - 1 time. If the rains are frequent, then there is no need to water, there will be enough rain moisture. Thuja requires high-quality watering at all stages of life (seedling, adult tree), while the crown also loves irrigation. In order for the branches to be elastic, shiny, to please you with the brightness of green shades, the minimum amount of water for the root area should be 10 liters per watering (once a week, if the summer is very dry, then up to 3 times). Determine the lack of moisture by the state of the top of the thuja - it begins to turn yellow. It is better to water the trees early in the morning or in the evening.

Tuya is very fond of irrigating the crown, for these procedures, the acquisition of a special nozzle becomes relevant. From such sprinkling, dust is washed off, a fresher appearance of the tree is provided, a pleasant coniferous aroma begins to stand out. Do not be afraid to overdo it with irrigation, 1-2 times a day will only benefit thuja.

Returning to fertilizers, it is worth noting that too frequent fertilizing for thuja is not required. Special mineral compositions for conifers (for example, "Fertika") or compost, which has already become a classic additive, is enough to use twice a season - in spring and summer. Fertilizers are applied during loosening: they are laid out in the near-trunk circle, and during plowing they are mixed with the top layer of the soil. In summer, the additive can be diluted with water and used for irrigation.

The near-trunk area must be periodically cleaned of weeds, loosened, mulched with sawdust or compost. Decoratively painted sawdust (they are painted with natural ingredients) or nutshells look very attractive. Mulching creates some barrier to weeds, retains moisture, and improves the condition of the tree as a whole.

As for a haircut or artistic pruning, it is better not to touch it for the first two years of a tree's life, it should take root in its place. You can start caring for the crown from the third year from the moment of planting. Initially, dried, weak branches are removed, and the degree of density is determined. Excessive thinning negatively affects the decorative qualities of the tree, everything should be in moderation.

The main pruning is carried out in April, and then only the shape is corrected.For high-quality air circulation, maintaining the "vigorous" appearance of thuja, gardeners recommend removing all branches of annual growth.

If the artistic intention requires the tree to grow in breadth, then only the upper part of the crown should be trimmed. From tui, you can create various geometric shapes, columns, figures of animals or fairy-tale characters. For beginner gardeners, it is quite easy to give the crown of a tree the shape of a ball, cascade, border. Trimming or pruning is best done in dry weather.

↑ to contents ↑ Tuya - preparation for winter

For colder regions of the country, frost-resistant varieties of tui (western) should be chosen. Despite their unpretentiousness, they also require preparation for the cold season. In the fall, it is necessary to provide the trees with abundant watering, since even in winter the thuja continues to develop, albeit at a slower pace.

In the first years of life, young representatives must be insulated. With the help of a dense plastic film, non-woven spunbond or other suitable covering material, a kind of cocoon is formed, which will retain heat and let the sun's rays through. You can even buy special covers designed for this very purpose, they are sold by the garden departments of supermarkets or online stores.

For the winter, the roots are covered with fallen leaves, which are harvested with the onset of spring, as soon as the upper layer of the earth thaws. The overgrown crowns of adult thujas are neatly tied with a wide ribbon to prevent the accumulation of snow on the branches.

To please the eye, there was a healthy thuja, planting and care in the open field should be done competently, in a timely manner. This tree is quite unpretentious, but the result of simple care is expressed not only by its external beauty, decoration of the territory. A green hedge made of thuja will absorb noise from the street, neighboring territories, and also protect your site from prying eyes.

A small evergreen beauty - spherical thuja - has won the hearts of gardeners all over the world. This is not surprising: an ornamental plant can take root in any conditions, without requiring special care. There are only five types of thuja: Sichuan, Korean, Japanese, giant and western. However, in Russia, only the western thuja can be grown, and it will become the main character of this article! Do not be confused - we will not talk about the types of spherical thuja, but about the varieties of one type of thuja.

Teddy

This variety has appeared quite recently and has already gained unprecedented popularity. It's all about his amazing appearance. Thanks to its dense and lush crown, this spherical variety of thuja looks like a bright pillow. In addition, Teddy is the fluffiest and softest variety, and therefore is in demand even though it is considered quite capricious. An evergreen dwarf grows slowly, at the age of ten its height is no more than 30 cm, and its width is 40 cm.

Among the advantages of Teddy, one can note its hardiness to shaded areas - a couple of hours spent in the sun will be enough for this variety. In this case, the plant needs regular watering, otherwise the needles will turn yellow. In order for the branches of the thuja Teddy to grow evenly, you should not overfeed the shrub.

This globular thuja variety is perfect for creating stone gardens and alpine slides. At the same time, it is important to take into account the change in the color of the needles at different times of the year - in the fall, Teddy changes a rich green shade to bronze. This variety is combined with other thujas, lush flowers and ornamental shrubs. In addition, Teddy is suitable for placement on verandas, balconies and even in rooms! Green thuja will add color and freshness to any interior.

Danica

This variety was bred in 1948 in Denmark. It can be called one of the most compact representatives of spherical tui. It grows slowly - the annual growth in height is about 5 cm, in width - 4 cm. In ten years, with proper planting and care, thuja Danica can grow up to 50 cm, and its diameter will not exceed a meter!

One of the main advantages of this variety is its simplicity. Danica feels great in shaded areas, and it grows in direct sunlight. The only thing that thuja will not tolerate is proximity to groundwater. In this case, the plant must receive enough moisture. It is better to choose fertile soil. How to care and plant thuja Danica? First, it is necessary to choose shoots with a strong root system, without damaged roots. A layer of rubble should be laid out in the planting pit. By the way, it is worth planting a plant in the spring - over the summer, the root system will develop, the thuja will strengthen and overwinter without problems. Before the onset of cold weather, it is worth covering young shoots with sacking. After each watering, the coniferous shrub must be loosened, and once a year, mulched. Gardeners recommend pruning Danika in early spring. Damaged, dry branches should be removed.

In garden design, thuja of this globular variety can be combined with other shrubs of the same shape. Group plantings look organic. Of course, such a hedge will not become an obstacle for prying eyes, but it will add coziness and completeness to the garden!

Teeny Tim

Teeny Tim appeared in the gardens over 50 years ago. Thuja needles have a deep dark green color. Representatives of this variety grow extremely slowly - at the age of ten, the growth of Tini Tim is only 30 cm.The diameter of the thuja can reach one and a half meters.

Taking care of Tini Tim will not be difficult, even for novice gardeners. The shrub does not make any special demands on the composition of the soil. The main condition is a lot of sunlight.

This spherical thuja in landscape design is usually used to create alpine slides. You can plant it in groups, or you can plant it alone. Either way, this delightful shrub will beautify your garden!

Hoseri

This masterpiece was invented by Polish breeders. Tuya Hoseri is miniature, but at the same time has a unique texture. This variety of western thuja loves the sun's rays, so the choice of a place for it should be approached responsibly. Khozeri has no special requirements for soil.

Compact thuja looks good next to other miniature plants. Compositions with lush flowers, for example, peonies, will diversify the garden. By the way, very often Khozeri is planted along the facades of shopping centers and residential buildings. It is suitable for border decoration.

Golden Globe

Thuja Golden Globe has a rich yellow color. With age, the color changes to golden. This dwarf coniferous ball brings the landscape to life, even on gloomy days! Closer to winter, the color of the thuja becomes copper. A cute dwarf grows very slowly, 7-9 cm per year. By the age of 20, the diameter of the shrub will be about 120 cm.

Gardeners love the Golden Globe thuja for its unpretentiousness: it does not need to be cut, the soil can be almost any, there is no need for frequent fertilization. There is no need to cover the plant for the winter - it is frost-resistant. Occasionally it is necessary to water and remove damaged branches. Sanitary pruning of thuja stimulates growth, makes the crown thicker.

Low thuja looks great in small gardens as tapeworms. The Golden Glob shrub is perfect for the formation of hedges, it can be combined with flowering plants and thuja of other varieties. Miniature thuja will become a decoration of office premises, apartments, balconies and terraces, because it can be grown in containers.

Bowling Ball

The name of this thuja speaks for itself. This globular shrub has perfect symmetrical shapes. Its height can reach 70 cm, and its diameter is usually 100 cm. The needles outwardly look like a fringe, tightly pressed against the shoots. Closer to cold weather, the green color of the crown acquires a bronze tint.

Ball-shaped thuja of the Bowling Ball variety can take root even in a shaded area. The soil for it must be nutritious, it is important to ensure timely watering. With proper care, the annual growth of coniferous shrubs can be 16-19 cm.

Bowling Ball is an irreplaceable element of Japanese and heather gardens, alpine slides, walking paths. Thuja will decorate the shore of a small reservoir and forest edges.

Woodwardy

One of the most popular varieties is Woodwardi's globular thuja. Its low growth (about half a meter) and shade tolerance allow it to be used as an undergrowth and planted among tall trees. Thanks to this, on the site, you can create a landscape that is as close to natural as possible.

Among the advantages of the variety are good survival rate of seedlings, relative unpretentiousness and resistance to frost. Even -40 ° C will not harm the shrub. A young plant will need shelter before the cold weather. Experts recommend covering the thuja with sacking for the winter. You need to take it off not before the snow melts.

In the early years, Woodwardy has a strict spherical shape, but with age it stretches and takes the shape of an oval. By the way, among other advantages, gardeners highlight the healing properties of the plant - Woodwardi ionizes and purifies the air!

Hovea

This variety is considered one of the fastest growing. Spherical thuja grows up to 1.5 meters by the age of 10! The shape of the ball changes to ovoid with age. Hovea has many advantages:

• it is unpretentious, it grows in almost any soil;
• thuja tolerates frost well;
• drought and high humidity are not terrible for this variety;
• a haircut will not stress the bush.

In winter, the juicy green color takes on a brown tint. How can spherical thuja be used in landscape design? Hovea is a great option for small areas. But it also looks advantageous in spacious panoramic parks. Thanks to the possibility of growing thuja in a container, you can decorate balconies and loggias, roofs of buildings.

Emerald

This is another representative of the western thuja. At the very beginning of its growth, thuja Smaragd is spherical, but over the years it is significantly extended. A few decades after planting, the shrub can reach a height of five meters! But for this it is important to follow all the rules for caring for a capricious ephedra!

Smaragd prefers loams, soil with a high lime content. It is recommended to plant thuja in sunny places. The plant needs periodic watering, mulching and loosening. The result of proper care will delight you - the thuja will acquire a dark green color that will not lose even in winter! If you want thuja to please more than one generation of your descendants, feel free to plant a thuja of this variety: its lifespan can be more than 150 years!

An amazing plant is used as hedges. Less commonly, gardeners plant it in containers. Smaragd is perfect for creating garden sculptural compositions.

Little Champion

Bright and compact - this is how the spherical thuja of the Little Champion variety can be characterized. The maximum height of the shrub will not exceed one and a half meters, and the width - 90-100 cm. True, the growth process is extremely slow. By the age of 10, the Champion will only grow up to 70-80 cm.

This thuja is frost-hardy, but it needs light cover to protect it from the pressure of the snow. The plant prefers partial shade, it needs moist fertile soils. With proper care, the thuja will acquire a beautiful green color, which will change to bronze brown in winter.

Seat selection and landing

You are now familiar with the main varieties of spherical thuja. How do you grow these cute shrubs? You should start by choosing a place.

Experienced gardeners say - thuja can grow on any site. But to improve the appearance, it is better to choose a bright place. In the shade, coniferous shrubs can lose their splendor and change color. It is important that there are no drafts in the selected area.

Two weeks before planting, you need to prepare a hole. The depth should not exceed 70-80 cm. Drainage must be laid on the bottom. The soil must be prepared independently: it is necessary to mix two parts of sod land and one part of peat and sand. It is worth adding 5 grams of nitroammophoska to the mixture.It is best to plant thuja in open ground in a permanent place at the age of 5-7 years. It is worth doing this in the fall, before frost, or in early spring.

It is important to keep the spacing between plants. For small spherical thujas, it should not be less than one meter. After planting, the plant will need watering and feeding. Any growth stimulant is perfect. The substances that make up them will help the plants to take root and protect the seedlings from diseases.

Care

Caring for miniature conifers consists of three main stages - watering, feeding and pruning.

Both young shoots and adult thuja prefer a humid environment. It is best if water flows not only to the roots, but also to the crown. Moisture will keep the plant in good shape: the color of the needles will become brighter, moreover, it will acquire shine, the branches will become elastic.

The optimal irrigation regime is 10 liters of water per week. In the summer heat, the plant will need 10 liters of water every two to three days. To understand that thuja needs water is quite simple - due to a lack of moisture, the crown will turn yellow, a large number of not very beautiful cones will appear on the plant. Loosening carried out immediately after watering will help prevent rotting.

In the first two to three years after planting, it is not necessary to feed the thuja. Later, organic and mineral substances can be added at the rate of 100 grams per 1 sq. m. Thuja reacts to fertilizing with increased growth, splendor. Often there is no need to fertilize shrubs; it is enough to do this 1-2 times at the beginning of the season. You can use ordinary compost, fertilizers for conifers are also suitable.

Thuja pruning is necessary to limit height and crown formation. More than 10% of the crown must not be cut from miniature plants. If you cut more, the plant may die. The best time for this procedure is April, but you can slightly adjust the shape of the crown throughout the summer. You need to start with branches that grow incorrectly. Then it is recommended to remove diseased and dry shoots. Thin the thuja for air circulation.

Pests and diseases

Problems with spherical thuja arise only in two cases - when diseases or pests appear.

Excessive fertilization leads to burns of the root system, and, consequently, to yellowing of the crown of a coniferous bush. Another reason for the appearance of a yellow tint is the defeat of thuja aphids. It usually damages the underside of the shoots. Spraying with karbofos will help protect the plant from this pest.

Another dangerous pest is the speckled moth. Its size is only 4 mm, but it poses a serious danger. After the defeat of the thuja motley, the upper part of the shoots of the bush dies off, the needles turn brown. As a prophylaxis, you can treat thuja several times with preparations based on pyrethroids. The best time for this is the end of June.

With an excess of moisture, the plant can infect late blight. This disease affects the thuja root and then spreads to the top layer. The shrub withers, the needles acquire a gray color, the trunk becomes soft. Thuja roots acquire a rotten smell.

Phytophthora is easier to prevent than to cure. To do this, it is necessary to loosen the ground around the thuja, water it with fungicides. If the disease nevertheless reached the bush, the thuja should be burned and the land changed.

In early spring, the plant can hit another disease - it has brown shoots. If you do not start treatment on time, the branches of the plant will begin to die off. To avoid this, all brown shoots should be removed. After - be sure to sprinkle with limestone and spray with foundation.

Foreword

Planting a thuja and caring for it is within the power of everyone. This evergreen plant can beautify any area. Consider how to plant this beauty and treat her best.

What can be a thuja - whims of different varieties

The life tree, also called the thuja, is one of the most desirable guests of the garden plot, and all thanks to the beautiful carved leaves, small size and ease of maintenance.If you want to give the shrub an original look, you just need to prune it correctly. Usually spherical thuja grows no more than 70 cm in height, but this parameter depends on the variety. Young leaves are soft, but over the years they become more rigid and scaly.

Planting technology, and further care for this native of North America, is not difficult, but there are some nuances and features for different varieties. For example, miniature "Danica" and "Globoza" tolerate drought well enough. But the unique "Miriam", which has bright symmetrical leaves, on the contrary, loves abundant moisture. Dry air has a detrimental effect on the Golden Globe; shady terrain would be most suitable for its landing. By the way, the variety got this name due to the golden color of the leaves.

Photo of thuja Danica

There are completely unpretentious types, such as "Tiny Tim". The technology of planting and caring for thuja of this variety is very simple, because it does not need constant fertilization, it is frost-resistant, it takes root perfectly on almost any soil. The only thing is that you need to take care of sufficient lighting. But the exclusive "Teddy" is very capricious. It is necessary to plant it only in well-fertilized soil, and during growth it is imperative to monitor the humidity of the air. A dry environment is destructive for him. Each variety is good in its own way, the given photos will help to appreciate the beauty and make the choice.

We start growing thuja - planting rules in spring and autumn

Despite some differences, the planting technology for all plants of this species is similar. In spring, rooted specimens 5–7 years old are planted in a permanent place. You need to buy them only in pots so that the root system is in the ground. The transplantation procedure is simple, but it will take you time, since the hole should be prepared two weeks before the resident of the pot is directly relocated to its permanent habitat.

The size of the hole depends on the variety, but usually the depth does not exceed 80 cm and the diameter is about a meter. Focus on the root system and the size of the pot, the neck of the bush should be level with the ground. It is very important to choose the right place. Keep in mind that most of these evergreen flora do not like to grow in the open sun. If you want to land several on the site, then you need to maintain a distance of at least half a meter between them.

In the photo - a place for planting a thuja

We fill the pit with a special mixture of turf, peat and sand, taken in a ratio of 2: 1: 1. Add 5 g of nitroammophoska. If the soil is clay, then we spread 20 cm of drainage on the bottom.

Now let's proceed directly to the resettlement of a new resident to a permanent place. Water the soil abundantly in the pot, then you can remove the plant without damaging the roots. Then we place it in the prepared hole so that the root collar is level with the soil and sprinkle with earth. Lightly compact the soil. Now thuja needs abundant moisture, it is better to water it through the prepared hole so that the moisture is absorbed by the roots as much as possible. In order not to study the practical nuances in words, we suggest watching a detailed video of planting a thuja.

It is best to plant thuja in the spring, although sometimes it is done in the fall. But if possible, it is better to wait until next year, because a fragile plant may not withstand severe winter frosts. Autumn planting has several features, and it should be treated more demanding. Avoid transferring to the ground in late autumn, as in this case the plant has very little chance of taking root. Be sure to make sure that the root collar is not buried in the ground. Immediately after transplanting, it is recommended to add drugs that stimulate the development of the root system, for example, Kornevit. Treat the crown with Zircon twice more. Maintain an interval of 7 days between treatments.

Photo of thuja planting in spring

If the fall is not rainy, then you yourself will have to help the dwarf tree a little.For the first week, moisten the crown with a hose every day. Then increase the interval to 3-4 days. Mulch the soil and cover the shrub with the onset of cold weather. If the winter comes with precipitation, be sure to shake off the snow from the still immature plant, since the adhering layer can simply break the seedling.

What does spherical thuja eat?

After settling a North American on your site, get ready to take some care of him. There is nothing difficult in this, but you will have to adhere to some rules. You need to regularly moisten the soil, feed, control pests and cover this ornamental plant for the winter. In the first years after planting a spherical thuja, special attention should be paid to all this.

During the first month after planting, the plant needs abundant weekly moisture. Pour about 10 liters of water under each bush.

In the photo - watering the thuja

If the summer is hot and dry, then repeat watering twice as often, and the amount of liquid can be brought to 20 liters. In this case, it is advisable to loosen the soil every time. But do not get carried away much, since the root system is too close to the surface, do not go deeper than 10 cm. Mulching also affects the state of the tree. It is enough to maintain a layer of 7 cm.

It is very important to choose the right place, because although the shrub loves the sun, a direct hit of rays, especially on young leaves, provokes burns. It is very difficult to cure such damage. You need to start feeding only after 2 years. Today the choice of mineral and organic fertilizers is quite large. The drug Kemira-wagon has very good reviews. And from the fungus, the foundationol solution will save. Plant prophylaxis must be carried out several times a year.

The beauty and health of the tree

Pruning is just as important as fertilization, pest control, or other maintenance measures. But in the first 2 years, you need to treat it carefully. During this period, it is only allowed to cut off the tips of the branches in order to stimulate their growth. But serious sanitary pruning is done only in the third year, when the plant is fully strengthened. It is possible to remove dried, damaged and diseased thuja branches in any season, but they are thoroughly suitable for this in spring and autumn.

Photo of thuja trimming

Do not be negligent in your choice of cutting tool. The pruner should be sharp so that there are no dents at the cut. If you do formative pruning of thuja, then do not remove more than a third of the shoot. This will significantly weaken the tree. And the formation of the crown should be done only after the thuja has grown to the required height. And since some specimens have a slight increase, only a few centimeters per year, it will take a long time to start such an operation. You can find the pruning scheme and rules in the photo.

In the photo - pruning shears for thuja

If you are seriously thinking about the reproduction of this ornamental plant, then you need to create favorable conditions - the air humidity is at least 70%, the greenhouse is well lit, transparent is best. Reproduction of thuja is most successful by cuttings and only in the autumn, in the spring the sun will most likely dry out the recruit. We cut off the shoot 50 cm long, remove all the needles from its lower part and place it in water for several hours. At this time, we prepare the soil. The mixture consists of turf, peat and sand. All components are taken in equal parts. We plant a thuja stalk in a hole 3 cm deep.

What care will thuja require in winter?

With the onset of cold weather, young one-year-old plants are covered with natural or artificial insulation. The first are spruce branches, branches, etc. Do not use leaves with straw. Rodents are often found in them and the green bush can rot.

Photo of the shelter of young thujas for the winter

Synthetic materials have proven themselves very well. As soon as the temperature outside the window drops below -5 degrees, cover the insulation with a film.Many gardeners believe that the plant needs natural protection and cover it with snow. It is unacceptable. First, delicate twigs can break under weight, so the thickness of the snow cover should be adjusted. Secondly, in the spring, drops of melted snow will focus the sun's rays and burns may appear on the greenery.

An adult spherical thuja may well endure the winter on its own. Consider one of the ways how to protect young shrubs from the scorching winter sun and cold winds. For this we need gauze and a simple stationery stapler. We cut pieces of fabric slightly longer than the height of the tree and connect them at the top and at the root with a stapler. Be careful not to damage the needles with the staples. Do not skimp on the material, as it shrinks after getting wet, which is inevitable.

Rate the article:

(0 votes, average: 0 out of 5)

Thuja globular is a frequent visitor to the gardens. The size of this plant can vary from several tens of centimeters to one and a half meters. The color of the crown also differs in different varieties.

Growing this decorative tree is not easy. Only the correct fit and care of the spherical thuja will provide it with a healthy dense crown and a spectacular rounded shape.

Species affiliation

Before proceeding to the recommendations for care, you should understand the origin of the thuja with a rounded crown shape. They are not a separate species, but a collection of specially bred varieties. In our climatic conditions, varieties of western thuja have become widespread. There are several explanations for this:

1. Thuja western spherical unpretentious and suitable for growing in our country.
2. The varietal variety of this species is so great that from the available varieties, you can choose a suitable option. In addition, the selection of new varieties continues to this day.

Spherical forms are also found among other types of thuja (Japanese, Korean and others), but these varieties are difficult to grow in our climatic conditions outdoors. Further recommendations for care relate specifically to the globular varieties of western thuja.

Planting and leaving

Correct planting and caring for a spherical thuja in the garden are prerequisites for the good development of the tree.

When and where to plant?

When choosing a landing site, give preference to partial shade. In the shade, the plant will lose its decorative qualities, the crown will become rare, and the branches will stretch out. In areas with short daylight hours, spherical thuja can be planted in a well-lit place, but in the steppe zone, direct sunlight and low humidity will lead to sunburn and shedding of needles. The plant also negatively relates to drafts, so the planting site must be protected from the wind.

Thuja is unpretentious to the soil, but the best result can be achieved on fertile, moderately moist soils. In places where groundwater is high. In the lowlands of the beams and on loams, a drainage layer up to 20 cm thick is laid at the bottom of the planting pit.

The plant enters the active growing season in May, so it can be transplanted in early spring or autumn. The pit is prepared 2 weeks before planting, moistened and filled with a soil mixture: turf + peat + sand (2: 1: 1). The composition for transplantation can be additionally enriched with nitroammophos.

Plants are transplanted, which have reached the age of 5-7 years, together with the root ball. Below in the photo is a spherical thuja, prepared for transplantation.

The root collar is not buried; it should be at the level of the soil surface. After planting, the seedlings are watered daily for a month (1 bucket of water for each tree). The first year after planting, the plant is sensitive to direct sunlight, so it is shaded with kraft paper, cloth or sunscreen.

Watering and loosening

Thuja with a spherical crown shape is resistant to short-term drought, but if the plant grows for a long time in conditions of water shortage, its crown thins. After a month after planting, young seedlings are watered once a week (10 liters for each plant). In a dry season, the number of waterings should be increased up to 2 times a week.

So that the roots of the plant "breathe", after each watering, the soil is loosened to a depth of 10 cm and mulched with peat, shavings or compost. The thickness of the mulch layer must be at least 7 cm.

Preparing for winter

Adult plants tolerate even frosty winters well, and young plants should be covered with spruce branches, fallen leaves or special agromaterials in late autumn. When the air temperature drops to -5 ° C, the plant is additionally wrapped in foil.

Pruning

The breeders took care of the preservation of the spherical shape of the crown, so there is no need to additionally form the plant. Every spring, sanitary pruning is carried out, removing dead and diseased branches. In the spring and at the end of summer, thujas are cut, which are used as a hedge.

Due to its dense crown, the tree lends itself well to decorative molding. An experienced gardener is able to shape it in many different ways.

Top dressing

Thuja are classified as slowly growing trees, so fertilizers must be applied carefully. The first 3 years of life after transplanting top dressing are not recommended. In subsequent years of life, the amount of fertilizer applied depends on the growth rate of the tree: less for dwarf varieties, more for tall ones.

Experts are skeptical about the application of organic fertilizers under coniferous trees. It is better to use commercially available complex fertilizers for thuja.

Reproduction

At home, thuja are propagated by cuttings. It is carried out in the fall after the end of the growing season or in the spring before bud break. For planting, cuttings from 50 cm long with a well-formed "heel" are used. In the lower part of the cutting, the needles are cut and treated with one of the root-forming compounds.

For planting, a special soil mixture is prepared: turf soil (1 part) + sand (1 part) + peat (1 part). The stalk is immersed in a moistened mixture for 3 cm and covered with foil to maintain the moisture level. If cuttings are carried out in the fall, you need to take care of good lighting of the seedlings. Spring landings, on the other hand, shade.

Varieties

The varietal variety of thuja with a spherical crown is great. Trees differ in both size and color. Below are photos of the varieties and types of spherical thuja that are most widespread, as well as their description.

Globoza is a tall variety, the height of adult plants reaches 1.2-1.5 meters. The color of the needles changes depending on the season: in summer it is green, in winter it is brown. Plants of this variety do not require molding - by the age of 5-7 the trees become spherical, further growth is 5 cm in height and width annually, and the crown becomes thicker with age.

Thuja globular Danica is a low-growing variety (the height of mature trees is up to 80 cm). It gained popularity due to its unpretentiousness, winter hardiness and the ability to maintain shape without pruning.

The Reingold variety has a high decorative effect. The main feature of this tall plant (up to 1.5 m) is the unusual color of the needles: pinkish in spring, light golden in summer, and copper-yellow, almost brown in autumn.

One of the novelties of the selection is the dwarf spherical thuja of the Teddy variety. The height of this unusually dense shrub reaches 30 cm, while the needles that are atypical for thuja are remembered: smooth, rich green and not prickly. The plant is resistant to sunburn and does not lose its decorative effect for a long time.

Application in landscape design

Thuja globular found wide application in landscape design. These versatile trees go well with other plants and decorative items.Due to the slow growth, compositions with thuja retain their original appearance for a long time, therefore they are often used in mixborders, rock gardens and Japanese gardens.

Dwarf varieties grow well in containers and pots, with their help you can create a kind of coniferous lawn. As curbs or hedges, you can use a medium-sized variety of spherical thuja.

Video of dwarf spherical thuja