Thuja garden planting and outdoor care

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 (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 ones - 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 components 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 a near-trunk circle, and during plowing they are mixed with the top layer of 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 haircuts 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. You can create various geometric shapes, columns, figures of animals or fairy-tale characters from tui. Novice gardeners can easily 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.

• Type: conifers
• Full-bloom Period: May, June
• Height: 100-7000cm
• Green color
• Perennial
• Hibernates
• Shady
• Moisture-loving

Plants from the cypress family have long been used to decorate the urban landscape and suburban areas. Summer residents are especially fond of the noble thuja - a frost-resistant beautiful long-lived plant, characterized by an unusual leaf shape and suitable for the formation of living fences and alleys. Consider why the propagation of thuja by cuttings is more preferable and what rules for caring for the plant are priority.

• What is the best way to propagate thuja?
• Growing from seeds: long and troublesome
• Thuja from the cutting - the most effective way
• How to choose ready-made seedlings?
• Features of spring planting in the ground
• Watering and sprinkling mode
• Fertilizing and mulching
• Pruning and artistic haircut
• Preparing thuja for winter

Before reading further, we suggest you watch the video:

What is the best way to propagate thuja?

There are three main ways to reproduce thuja:

• prepared seeds;
• cuttings (twigs);
• seedlings ready for planting.

You can experiment with different methods for a long time, but in any case, you will stop at the most rational and practical - propagation using cuttings.

Growing from seeds: long and troublesome

Why is it not customary to grow thuja from seeds? It's simple: for a seedling to become suitable for planting in open ground, it will take at least 5 years, moreover, in the process of growth, the tree will lose all its varietal characteristics and turn into an ordinary wild plant. The only plus is the maximum preparation of the seedling for local, specific growing conditions.

Thuja seeds are unpretentious to the soil, but for planting it is better to use loose and nutritious soil, consisting of a mixture of sand, coniferous and leafy soil

For planting, we choose strong healthy seeds that have lain under the snow throughout the winter period, since the stratification process hardens them and prepares them for further development in similar climatic conditions. In the spring, we place the seeds in boxes with nutritious soil, sprinkle with a layer of earth mixed with coniferous sawdust. Young shoots must be closely monitored: cover from direct sunlight, clean from weeds, moisturize regularly, feed with a weak solution of fertilizers. And only in the fifth year, the grown seedlings can be planted in a permanent place.

Thuja from the cutting - the most effective way

Experienced summer residents know that most conifers reproduce well by cuttings. Among them are various varieties of juniper, fir, pine - that is, plants that thrive even in the harsh northern climate. It is also important that during propagation by cuttings, trees retain their belonging to one or another variety.

April is usually chosen to separate the shoots. Ideal cuttings are obtained from shoots of 2-3 years old growth, from the top of the crown. It is better not to use pruning shears, but to try to pull out the cutting by hand. The length of the part to be detached is about 20 cm. When pulled out at the end of the twig, a piece of last year's wood will remain, a small "heel" rich in nutrients. June is also suitable for collecting planting material, when the plant is going through a second period of growth, but June blanks will be ready a season later, since they will simply "sleep through" the current year.

Needles and small twigs from the bottom of the cuttings must be removed so that rotting does not occur in contact with wet soil or sand

To disinfect young shoots, we immerse them in a weak solution of manganese for a few minutes, and then soak them for a day in Kornevin or a similar growth stimulator.

For planting, boxes with river sand or a mixture of sand and garden soil, placed in a suspended state, are suitable (as an option, place them on bricks, stones, boards). We perforate the bottom of the boxes so that the water flows easily and does not stagnate, and oxygen is constantly supplied to the roots. Then we lay out a drainage layer of small pebbles. Before use, it is better to boil the sand in a galvanized bucket or tank, and then soak it with a 3% solution of potassium permanganate. We deepen the cuttings by only 1.5-2 cm, carefully compact the earth and soak it with water. We make sure that after each subsequent watering, the water does not wash out the soil, and the stalk remains in its place.

For summer or winter growing of thuja seedlings, boxes and ordinary flower pots of the appropriate size are suitable - there should be enough volume so that the roots are not cramped

The room in which boxes with seedlings will winter should be shady and warm. Shoot rooting occurs well at a temperature of + 18-22 ° C, in a humid environment. If frost is predicted, polyethylene greenhouse film can be used for insulation. For the first two months, daily spraying is necessary, in especially hot conditions, two times - in the morning and in the evening.

The beginning of autumn is the time to plant rooted cuttings in open ground on a specially designated garden bed or in pots installed in a greenhouse. By this time, the roots reach a length of 8-10 cm. Pay attention to the soil - thuja prefers acidified soil mixed with peat.Growing of seedlings takes 2-3 years, the minimum care consists in watering, removing weeds, and regular weeding.

How to choose ready-made seedlings?

If you don't have time, don't have enough endurance, or you can't wait to decorate the area around the house with beautiful plants - get ready-made seedlings. Sometimes they offer specimens grown in neighboring dachas. If you trust the sellers, you can safely buy from them, but it is better to buy high quality varietal products from professional nurseries. From hundreds of samples, you can choose a healthy, seasoned, disease-resistant plant that is accustomed to local climatic conditions.

Saplings from the nursery differ in age and size: you can buy the smallest ones and "bring them" yourself to the planting period, or you can buy large ones, ready for decorative work on the site

Pay attention to the conditions in which the plants are kept: whether the temperature is correct, whether the soil in the pots is sufficiently moistened. Perhaps, regular watering is not carried out, and the sold samples are watered only for the species on the day of sale. The needles should sit firmly, not crumble, and look bright and strong. The stem and twigs should be free of spots, streaks and other signs of disease.

Once your seedlings are delivered home, try replanting them to a shaded area and watering them as soon as possible.

Features of spring planting in the ground

The unpretentious thuja takes root perfectly at any time of the year convenient for gardening, but experienced gardeners recommend planting thuja in the spring, thereby tying the plant's life cycle to the biological clock.

Before planting, first decide on a place convenient for the plant. When developing a landscape project, remember that thuja loves slightly shaded places. In brightly lit areas, it withers and tolerates the cold more difficult, in dark places it develops poorly and loses its decorative qualities. A light shade, a place sheltered from the wind, nearby groundwater are factors that contribute to the proper cultivation of thuja.

Step-by-step landing instructions:

• we dig a deep hole - about 70-80 cm deep and 90-100 cm in diameter so that a clod of earth with a seedling freely enter it;
• pour a little soil with organic fertilizers on the bottom of the pit, for example, a frequently used mixture - 2-3 kg of wood ash per 1m³ of soil;
• we place the seedling in the hole, trying not to damage the earthen lump with roots and placing the root collar at ground level;
• mix the garden soil with peat and sand in equal proportions, fill it up, tamp it easily.

The spacing between plants depends on the cultivar, as different cultivars differ in size. It is better to place miniature species at a distance of no more than 1 meter, large ones - up to 5 meters. Suppose the Brabant variety reaches a height of 10-15 m and a crown diameter of 4 m, that is, in order for a tree to develop fully, a maximum of space is needed. When planting hedges, regardless of the variety and size, the plants are planted at intervals of 1 m.

The Brabant variety is a real find for landscape designers. With the help of special techniques and cutting options, you can adjust the shape of plants, create hedges and combined compositions

After planting, watering and primary feeding are necessary. Natural growth stimulants, such as "Epin" and its analogues, are often used as fertilizers. The substances that make up the stimulants help plants take root faster and protect them from diseases. In the spring, two-time feeding with potassium and phosphorus is effective with a break of 10-14 days.

Watering in spring depends on the weather and the amount of rain. In a hot and dry period, the plant needs watering at least twice a week, in a cool spring - once is enough. If the season is rainy, no additional watering is required.

Consider the main points of growing thuja, which you need to pay special attention to - watering, feeding, cutting and preparing for the winter period.

Watering and sprinkling mode

Adult plants, like seedlings, are very fond of a humid environment, and it is better if water comes from all sides, and not only from the soil. Regular watering is a prerequisite for keeping the plant in “good physical shape”. A sufficient amount of moisture is immediately reflected in the appearance of the thuja - the branches become elastic, and the needles become shiny, with a more saturated shade.

The minimum watering regime is one bucket of water (about 10 liters) in the root area once a week, in the dry period - 2-3 times a week. In a drought, the thuja reacts instantly to a lack of moisture: the top of the crown turns yellow, a large number of cones appear, which is not always appropriate for a decorative effect. The best time of day to water is early morning or dusk.

Watering thuja, especially its seedlings, should be very careful so as not to wash out the soil from the area of ​​the root collar, which is at the same level with the soil surface

Thuja loves sprinkling no less abundant watering - spraying the crown from a spray bottle or a hose with a special nozzle. The water washes away the dust, the appearance of the tree is renewed, the thuja becomes fresh and clean, and a pleasant pine smell appears in the air. Do not be afraid to spray thuja once again, irrigation 1-2 times a day is only good for her.

Fertilizing and mulching

Thuja, like many ornamental plants, needs regular feeding. It reacts to fertilization with faster growth (although thuja is one of the slowest growing crops), splendor, brilliance and bright color of the needles. Often it is not required to fertilize the plants, 1-2 times are enough - at the beginning of the season or in summer. In addition to traditional compost, you can use special mineral fertilizers for conifers.

Fertilizing thuja is economically profitable: a hundred-gram sachet of Fertika complex mineral fertilizer for feeding conifers in summer costs 90-100 rubles

Experienced summer residents recommend the versatile Fertika product for the evergreens of the Finnish manufacturer. "Spring Fertika" is introduced into the soil when loosening - scattered in the area of ​​the trunk and carefully dug up together with the top layer of soil. Dosage - 35-40 g per 1m² of soil. The summer version is dissolved in water and used during watering.

The trunk circle needs additional cleaning and loosening. To protect against weeds, retain moisture and increase fertility, the area around the trunk is mulched with compost or sawdust. For decorative purposes, the soil is covered with colored chips or walnut shells.

Pruning and artistic haircut

For the first two years, the thuja must be left alone in order to allow it to finally take root, monitor the growth rate, and determine its needs. In the third year, you can start pruning the crown.

First of all, the crown is relieved of dried, lethargic, branches damaged during wintering, and then they decide whether additional thinning is necessary: ​​the loss of density also affects the decorative properties

There are several rules for correct pruning:

• the main procedure is carried out in April, then throughout the summer, up to cool days, the shape of the crown is corrected;
• dry weather is suitable for pruning;
• before cutting, dry or diseased twigs should be removed, and in order to improve air circulation, slightly thin out the plant, sacrificing healthy shoots;
• to maintain the stability of the chosen art form, all shoots of one-year growth should be removed;
• if growth is required only in width - cut off the top of the crown.

Artistic haircut consists in giving the plant a certain, most often the correct geometric shape - a ball, pyramid, cube, column.

A composition often found in suburban areas with the participation of conifers - several design options for thuja surrounded by flowers and ornamental grasses

Skilled craftsmen manage to turn conifers into figurines of animals or fabulous creatures. It is better for inexperienced, novice summer residents to start with simpler compositions - low hedges, lawn "balls" or simple two-tier cascades.

A thuja hedge in the country performs several useful functions: it protects the summer cottage from uninvited guests, is a decorative element and absorbs street noise

Preparing thuja for winter

In the middle and northern latitudes of Russia, western varieties of thuja are chosen for decorating suburban areas - the most frost-resistant and unpretentious, however, they also need to be prepared for cold and snowy winters. Development, albeit slow, provides abundant autumn watering in a harsh period.

Young immature trees for the first few years need additional insulation. Non-woven spunbond or a thick greenhouse film is used as a covering material - a transparent cocoon, retaining heat, allows the sun's rays to pass through, which are necessary for photosynthesis. You can buy special covers in specialized stores. To protect the roots, they use fallen leaves, which are harvested in the spring, after thawing the upper layer of the soil.

It is enough to protect mature trees from snow and strong winds. To prevent snow from accumulating on the branches, they are carefully pulled to the trunk. Snow deposits are conducive to the appearance of mold, so it is better to remove them in a timely manner.

If you learn how to properly care for thuja and skillfully use its slow growth, you will get an excellent plant for decorating alleys, rockeries, alpine hills and flower beds.

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Ephedra are very popular for decoration, both in the city part and in private estates, decorating the territory throughout the year. Among the variety of coniferous representatives of thuja, planting and care in the open field for which they do not require large labor costs, is the biggest favorite of landscape designers and summer residents.

Common plant varieties

The genus of evergreen shrubs, and sometimes trees, belonging to the Cypress family, includes 5 species:

• thuja western;
• thuja Korean;
• thuja folded;
• Japanese thuja;
• thuja sichuan.

The most common variety that can be found in park areas, near the entrances to administrative buildings and in private territories is thuja western, characterized by slow growth rates, resistance to frost and winds.

Of the many and varied varieties of evergreen long-liver, the following stand out:

1. "Smaragd" is a low-growing cone-shaped bush, not exceeding 2 m, with weak branching. The branches grow vertically, being at a considerable distance from each other.
2. "Brabant" is a cone-shaped variety with a significant height of 15-21 m, at which the diameter of the widest section of the crown can reach 4 m.
3. "Danica" is a spherical dwarf thuja with a peeling bark of a reddish color. With the onset of winter, the green scales of the needles are set off with a light brownish tone.
4. "Woodward" is a low-growing form of a spherical conifer, distinguished by its insignificant maximum dimensions - height - 2.5 m, width - 5 m.

Landing in open ground

Despite the unpretentiousness of the thuja, the evergreen beauty needs a competent approach already at the planting stage, on which the success of the further cultivation of the plant largely depends.

How to choose the right seedlings?

Planting material should be purchased in nurseries or specialized points of sale, focusing on the purpose of the purchase: adult specimens are immediately purchased to decorate the site, and if there is time, then you can opt for young plants, which also take root well. When choosing a seedling, it is examined for the presence of spots, lesions by diseases and pests.

Important! High-quality planting material should have elastic shoots with well-kept needles and a moist rhizome.

Soil preparation and site

The site for thuja is selected with little shading: direct sun access leads to drying of the shoots, which negatively affects wintering, and an excess of shade harms the decorative qualities of the ephedra, expressed in growth retardation, loss of intense color and splendor. A high level of groundwater is not afraid of thuja, however, in combination with heavy soils, stagnation of water can be observed, which is not permissible when growing a crop. In this case, a drainage layer of 15 cm from crushed brick is placed on the bottom of the hole. The culture is undemanding to the composition of the soil, while preferring a loose and fertile soil, consisting of fertile soil, peat and sand in equal parts.

How and when to plant?

The timing of planting seedlings is extended: the procedure is carried out from spring to autumn. The optimal time is considered the second half of spring, when the planted bushes are able to quickly adapt to the new environment and take root. Planting a thuja in the fall has certain risks due to the uncertainty that the plant will have enough time to take root in the chosen place before the onset of cold weather.

Landing is carried out according to the following scheme:

1. Planting holes are dug at a certain distance, depending on the characteristics of the variety and the purpose, of such a size that the plants are freely placed in them along with the soil clod.
2. At the bottom of the hole, a drainage layer is organized, which is sprinkled with a small amount of soil with wood ash and organic matter in the form of compost.
3. The seedling is lowered into the hole so that the root collar is flush with the earth's surface.
4. Thuja is covered with a substrate of earth, sand, peat.
5. The soil around the trunk is compacted and watered well.

Advice! With an open rhizome, the ephedra is planted in the spring for successful rooting. Plants from containers with soil mixture are planted throughout the growing season.

Thuja: outdoor care

Competent care of thuja provides for the implementation of a set of measures designed for the full growth of the bush.

Watering, loosening and mulching

Ephedra responds excellently to watering, especially sprinkling. Only the planted seedling must be watered every week with a volume of water of 10-50 liters, depending on its size. In the case of sprinkling, not only the earth is moistened, but dust is also removed from the crown, thereby providing the plant with free access to air and accelerating all physiological processes. After irrigation, the soil in the near-trunk circle is loosened to a depth of 10 cm so as not to damage the surface roots. Mulching is carried out using peat, compost or pine bark to protect the roots of the plant from overheating or hypothermia.

Carefully! The mulch should not cover the trunk or the lower shoots that may begin to rot underneath.

Top dressing

Additional feeding of the ephedra is carried out by the spring application of complex mineral fertilizers with a rate of 50-60 g / m2. If fertilizers were applied during planting, then the first feeding is organized only in the third year of growth.

Crown formation

Pruning stimulates branching of shoots: the more often it is carried out, the greater the density and splendor of the crown. The timing of pruning is not strictly regulated, however, according to experts, it is better to carry out the procedure in early spring before the buds open. Single plantings need a sanitary and thinning haircut.

Formative pruning is required when using thuja as a "green" fence or in group plantings, while:

1. The formation of the crown is carried out after the thuja reaches the desired size and age of three years.
2. Typically, the plant is pruned twice - in spring and early fall.
3. When pruning, it is cut into more than ⅓ part of the shoot, so as not to weaken the plant.

How to transplant correctly?

If it becomes necessary to transfer an ephedra, which easily tolerates a transplant, from one place to another, it is worth considering the age of the bush:

• If the specimen is small, then the soil at a distance of half a meter from the trunk is pierced with a shovel, after which the plant is removed with an earthen clod and transported in a wheelbarrow so as not to destroy the clod.
• Large specimens are stitched a year before moving, so that they have time to grow young roots in a limited area - during this time the soil will bond well, and the procedure will be practically stress-free for the culture.

Preparing for winter

From the middle of autumn, watering and feeding stops, so that the thuja begins to prepare for a state of rest. Young plants, before reaching the age of five, need a shelter of spruce branches, in front of which the plant is huddled, and the near-stem zone is mulched with a thick layer of peat.

Important! Adult specimens do not need to be covered, but mulching, which protects the root from freezing, is required at any age.

Disease and pest control

Shoots and needles of a crop are often affected by fungal diseases such as fusarium, shute, cytosporosis. Bordeaux liquid or antifungal fungicides are used as measures to combat the beginning of spring. Three-time treatment is carried out with an interval of half a month. Of the pests on the thuja, false shields and aphids are noted, which often cause yellowing and dumping of needles. For protection, a single treatment with an insecticide is carried out in early spring and after the arrival of summer, double spraying with a two-week time interval.

Reproduction of thuja

Since the varietal characteristics are not preserved with the generative method of reproduction, vegetative methods of breeding thuja are most often used - cuttings and dividing the bush.

Cuttings

To propagate a plant in this way:

1. In June, cuttings in the form of lignified three-year shoots 30 cm long or semi-lignified parts of the current season of 15 cm are separated from the mother plant with a heel.
2. The separation sites are treated with a rooting stimulant.
3. Cuttings are placed in a light and loose substrate, previously disinfected with a solution of potassium permanganate, to a depth of 3 cm.
4. Landings are covered with plastic wrap.
5. After the formation of roots and hardening of the cuttings, the film is removed, and new plants with a cold snap are covered with dry foliage or sawdust.

Dividing the bush

The procedure is advisable to apply to bush undersized forms. For successful reproduction by this method, it is enough to carry out work as during transplantation, but with only a small nuance: the rhizome with an earthen lump is divided into several parts.

Thuja in landscape design

A variety of forms makes it possible for lovers of conifers to implement various ideas for the design of parks, squares and summer cottages:

• Tall varieties are used to form hedges;
• Undersized representatives are excellent for borders that delimit recreation areas.
• Spherical forms of thuja are often found when decorating alpine slides.
• Group plantings of thuja with needles of different colors contrast perfectly in parks and squares.
• Thuyas are used to decorate patios for air purification.

With minimal maintenance, this elegant evergreen tree will grace your garden for years to come.

There is no way to do in a summer cottage without such a popular tree today as thuja. It is no secret that a plant friendly to people has an unthinkable number of advantages: it pleases the eye with cheerful greenery, recalling the eternal summer, and the smell, filled with essential oils, and its decorative look attracts (it is not for nothing that it is often used in landscape design). For keen amateur gardeners, the long-lived thuja is the pride of generations. To grow and then donate this magnificent evergreen shrub to your grandchildren and great-grandchildren, you need to know a few basic things about planting and caring for thuja in spring. All the features of growing this rather unpretentious "tree of life" are discussed in this article.

Types and varieties of thuja

There are several varieties of thuja, but the most famous are the following types:

• western (the most famous variety is Smaragd, also common are Brabant, Danica, Teddy);
• eastern.

Important! Western thuja is considered more undemanding to care for. Therefore, as a rule, in our country and especially in the Central lane (Moscow region), this particular variety is grown. However, it is excellent for planting in Siberia and the Urals.

In the form of thuja there are:

• dwarf;
• columnar (pyramidal, conical);
• spherical.

As for the use of varieties of thuja in landscape design, then:

Video: popular varieties of thuja for the garden

How to choose a good thuja seedling

Thuja seedlings are most often sold with a closed root system. In this case, the seedling can either already grow in a pot (container), or be wrapped in burlap along with an earthen lump. The first option is always preferable.

Advice! It is better to buy a younger seedling, up to about 3-4 years old. It will grow much faster than a 5-6 year old. A younger tree planted in open ground will instantly catch up and overtake a taller ephedra.

When examining a thuja seedling, you should pay attention to the following points:

• It is advisable to choose those seedlings that have a symmetrical shape.
• If the seedling is lush, then most likely its root system is good, which means it will quickly take root and grow.
• The color of the needles is usually light or dark green, with the exception of certain varieties that have a yellow or even slightly golden color of the needles. If the color of the seedling is brown, then most likely it lacks nutrients.
• If you notice strongly protruding plant roots from the drainage holes in the pot (they should stick out slightly - this is even good), then this can only mean one thing: this ephedra has not been sold for too long. You should not buy and save such a tree.
• Naturally, the trunk of the seedling should not show any damage to the bark or signs of disease.
• You can check if the thuja is alive as follows: squeeze the needles in your hand, hold it a little and release it. If she instantly recovers and straightens up, then everything is in order with the tree.
• Another way to check the root system: take the tree by the top and lift it up. If it suddenly slips out of the pot, then most likely, the roots of the plant did not take root in an earthen coma, or the manufacturer cut them off during transplanting the seedling.
• The next tip is a little unexpected: if you notice that weeds are growing in the pot, then this is a good sign, because this means that the thuja has already wintered in this container for at least one season, and such a plant is very strong, it has adapted to our winter conditions ... And this is just a great option to buy.
• If you are allowed to get a seedling along with a clod of earth from the pot, then you should carefully consider the color of its roots. If they are white with a pinkish tint, everything is fine, but if you notice that they are brown and soft to the touch, then, unfortunately, this ephedra was poured, and the process of root rotting began.

Video: tips for choosing and buying a thuja seedling

Thuja planting technology in open ground

When to plant or planting dates

The most optimal time for planting a thuja isearly spring, even before the sap flow begins. As for the exact dates, you can do spring planting immediately after the ground warms up a little, that is, already in March-April, depending on the weather conditions in your region. This is due to the fact that it is at this time that the active phase of growth of both the coniferous shoots and its roots begins. And it is at this moment that the plant will best tolerate planting. Moreover, the root ball is likely to be slightly frozen and will remain intact when planted. Plus, the plant will have plenty of time before winter to take root and grow strong roots.

You can also plant thuja summerbut it is more difficult.This ephedra is very sensitive to drying out of the roots (however, all conifers are like that), so the summer planting should be done as quickly as possible, and for this you should prepare well in advance and take everything you need.

Air temperature during landing thuja should not, if possible, be higher than 20 degrees. It is ideal to plant thuja in the morning in the summer, then the temperature is lower and the humidity is at a fairly high level.

main feature autumn planting thuja is that the ephedra has not yet developed a sufficiently powerful root system. This means that the soil in the near-trunk circle will surely sag, that is, in winter it can tilt strongly, especially during snowfall and in strong winds. So don't forget to secure the tree after planting, for example by tying it to a support.

Video: features of planting thuja in spring, summer and autumn

Place in the garden

If you can choose the most optimal place for growing thuja in your garden, then in the future you will not have to diligently care for it and deal with yellowing or shedding.

The optimal place for planting thuja - sunny area near the fence (from the grid). Thus, with a strong desire, you can grow a whole hedge. Moreover, in such a place the plant will be protected from drafts; winter dry winds affect it especially badly. In addition, having planted a tree in a slightly shaded place, the plant will receive enough sunlight for good development, and you can prevent its shoots from burning in the sun. Of course, you can plant thuja in the shade, but in such conditions it will not be able to please you with its splendor, and its needles will most likely thin out.

By the way! If you still want to grow a thuja hedge, then they should be planted at a distance of 50-60 centimeters from each other. Moreover, to obtain denser landings, it is better to plant them in 2 rows in a checkerboard pattern, while the distance in the aisles should be about 100 centimeters. So the plants will not interfere with each other and will be able to develop normally.

Naturally, you should not plant thuja where groundwater is located closer than 1 meter from the earth's surface. This ephedra loves moisture very much, but does not tolerate stagnant water.

You should not choose places next to large trees with a spreading root system, in which case the thuja simply cannot grow normally, since larger trees will suppress it and take all nutrients from the soil.

Landing pit

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The size of the planting pit should correspond to the size of the thuja root system and vary depending on the composition of the soil. As a rule, the diameter of the adult crown of a plant is about 1 meter, so the diameter and depth of planting should be about 80-100 centimeters. If you have light soil, then a hole can be dug 80 by 80 centimeters in size. If the soil is heavy, then 1 by 1 meter is better.

Note! Even if your seedling is small, the hole should still be large, because one must proceed from the average size of an adult plant.

The main guarantee of healthy development, rapid rooting and well-being of thuja is not only a correctly chosen planting site and a planting hole dug out for all recommendations. It also needs to be completed with a suitable potting soil.

Priming you can cook it yourself or use a ready-made option by buying land for conifers (conifers) in a specialized garden store.

If you could not find a suitable ready-made soil, or it seemed to you that it would be cheaper to make it from individual components, then you can use the following recipes for self-preparing soil for planting thuja (for heavier soil, it is better to use recipes with sand content):

• 2 parts of sod land, 1 part of peat.
• 2 parts of sod land, 1 part of humus, 1 part of peat.
• 2 parts of sod land (or leaf), 1 part of peat, 1 part of sand and 50-100 grams of superphosphate or nitroammophos.
• 2 parts of leaf land, 2 parts of sand, 1 part of peat, 3 parts of high-quality humus.
• 3 parts of sod land, 2 parts of excellent humus and 1 part of sand.

Mix everything well and preferably (for early rooting) add another 50-60 grams (2-3 handfuls) of superphosphate or nitroammophoska to the soil mixture. Moreover, it is especially important to mix the mineral fertilizer well with the soil so that it does not burn the roots of the young plant.

If in your summer cottage the ground is heavy and clayey (or the groundwater is too close), then in addition to digging the largest possible hole, it is very important to lay a good drainage... The required thickness of the drainage layer is about 15-25 centimeters, depending on the degree of lightness of the soil (even 10 centimeters for a very light one). You can use gravel, expanded clay, crushed stone or broken brick as drainage.

Video: secrets of growing and planting thuja

Step-by-step landing instructions

Note! Before you start planting thuja in open ground, prepare everything you need in advance (2 buckets or watering cans of water, a shovel) so as not to waste time later, because everything needs to be done quickly... You should remove the thuja from the pot only after you make a hole and a slide from the soil mixture, and also try on how it stands in it. This requirement is explained by the fact that the root system of the ephedra dries out very quickly, literally in 10-15 minutes, and this cannot be allowed.

Step-by-step instructions for planting thuja in open ground:

1. Choose the best place on the site.
2. Prepare, in other words, dig the required planting hole and lay the drainage.
3. Prepare a soil mixture according to one of the recipes or purchase ready-made soil for conifers.
4. 30 minutes before planting, it is recommended to spill the pot with the plant with a rooting stimulator (preferably Kornevin or Heteroauxin, although you can use Epin or Zircon). Such a procedure will help in the future to more conveniently and accurately get an earthen ball with a seedling.
5. Throw so much soil into the hole so that when you put an earthen lump with a seedling, it will be in such a position that its root collar is 3-4 centimeters above ground level. The soil will subsequently subside, and as a result, the root collar of the plant will be at ground level. Remember that if you deeply deepen the root collar or, conversely, raise it above the ground, the plant will dry out and die.
6. Place the seedling on a mound in the planting hole. In order to easily remove it from the pot, put it on its side and gently tap the pot with a shovel. Then pull the seedling out by the lower part of the trunk, put it on top in the planting pit.
7. Fill the hole with the remaining soil mixture by half and tamp well.
8. Then you need to fill the planting hole with a bucket of water for better soil shrinkage.
9. As soon as the water is absorbed, it is necessary to fill the planting hole to the top, tamp it again, make a hole for watering and pour out another bucket of water.
10. The final touch is to mulch the hole for better moisture retention in the soil by 4-6 centimeters. You can use peat, compost, shredded bark, or wood chips as mulch. By the way, mulch will protect the ephedra not only from drying out, but also from overheating and freezing in winter.

It's important to know! Thuja, especially a young one, loses a lot of life-giving moisture, therefore, after planting, it is recommended to shade it with an awning made of a camouflage net or a spunbond frame. Just make sure that it does not fit snugly against the plant, otherwise it may simply mate. Moreover, if you plant thuja in the fall, then it is advisable to leave the shelter for shading until spring so that the ephedra does not get burned in the last month of winter.

Video: how to plant thuja correctly

Thuja care after planting in open ground

The main care for thuja in the open field is watering, although you should not neglect feeding. Do not forget that this ephedra should also be periodically trimmed and covered for the winter.

Watering thuja should be carried out systematically, especially in the first month after planting. The average plant's need for watering is about 2-3 buckets per week. When you water the newly planted thuja, the soil will settle, so you should fill it up.

Advice! Thuja will be very grateful to you if you water it by sprinkling during hot periods, especially in dry summer weather. This will not only saturate its shoots with nutritious moisture, but also cleanse the ephedra of dust and dirt. Moreover, it is better to do this either early in the morning or in the evening when the sun goes down.

Periodically, especially after watering, the soil in the thuja trunk circle is requiredloosen (to a depth of 5-10 centimeters) and weed from weeds, so that they do not take moisture and other nutrients from the young ephedra.

Important! If you feel sorry for the water for the thuja, then it will begin to turn yellow and crumble (thin out).

The first top dressing thuja should be performed six months after planting. That is, if you plant thuja in the fall, then you should feed it this spring. For spring and early summer dressings, it is good to use urea or ammonium nitrate (just by embedding fertilizers in the soil), as well as the complex preparation "Kemira Universal". You can also use special fertilizers for conifers for feeding.

An important component in the care of thuja is its pruning... As a rule, sanitary pruning is carried out in the spring, and shaping also in the fall.

By the way! Read more about preparing thuja for winter, trimming it and covering it up, you can by this link.

On the leaves of the thuja, you can often find this disease, like "rust". To prevent its appearance, you should use copper or iron sulfate. It should be processed in early spring or even autumn, both the inner part of the crown and the outer one. Moreover, the treatment of thuja in autumn with iron sulfate will increase its resistance to spring burns, which often occur due to snow.

Video: caring for thuja in the garden

Even a novice summer resident can effortlessly grow a beauty full of vitality on his site. You only need to direct all your energy in the right direction, taking into account all the tips and recommendations outlined in this article.

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