Thuja is an excellent example of a backyard hedge made of living plants. Green, fluffy and completely unpretentious to care for - thuja is an ideal option for seasonal summer residents and not only. It's not for nothing that urban landscape designers are so fond of. It is great for decorating squares and parks, framing sidewalks and growing along the busiest highways.
An evergreen shrub that rarely grows above 10 meters in urban conditions. You can find thuja in parks, on alleys, in squares, near well-kept houses and in the design of pedestrian zones. The fact is that thuja adapts very well to urban smoke and is not whimsical to care for. Thanks to these qualities, thuja has become indispensable for the urban look.
Thuja is also used by summer residents as a design for fences with a hedge, a visual division of the space of a site into zones or in the design of alpine slides, coniferous flower beds.
Thuja is a coniferous plant of the cypress family. Frost-resistant evergreen shrub, was brought to our country from America and partly from the East. The shrub has a very compact root system, so it is easy to transplant from place to place. It grows in any soil, very unpretentious to maintenance and care.
One of its many advantages is high content essential oils, which gives the shrub an interesting aroma. Surely it happened that you plucked a lump from a thuja. Remember the smell she leaves behind on her hands?
It has several varieties, each of which has several more varieties.
These are the 5 main varieties into which the family is classified:
- Arbor vitae
- Thuja folded (giant)
- Thuja western
- Thuja Japanese (Standish)
- Thuja Korean
Thuja western
Emerald
Thuja Smaragd belongs to the cone-shaped thuja. It can reach a height of 4 meters. Thuja Smaragd grows slowly, therefore, it will approach its greatest growth only a few years after planting.
Has dense green needles. The color is deep green, which does not go away even in winter. Also, thuja does not dry out in winter, it copes well during sunless periods.
The tops of the thuja do not join, forming the "teeth" of a living fence - if you use it for a fence. Suitable for trimming neat bushes - tolerates scissors trimming well. It also looks good if it does not grow in a group, but alone.
It is necessary to plant thuja Smaragd at a distance of more than half a meter from each other, in moist, but not swampy soil. It is advisable to plant thuja in sunny areas - thanks to this, it will grow thick and rich green.
Sunkist
Tuya Sunkist is short coniferous shrub, reaching 3 (sometimes 5) meters in height. Just like the thuja Smaragd, the thuja Sankist has a conical shape. But unlike the neat Smaragd, the Sankist is the owner of "disheveled", but no less dense and dense needles.
It grows very slowly - in a decade it reaches a height of only a couple of meters.
With age, it changes its color - from golden-yellow to lemon-yellow (dulls), and in winter it has a bronze tint.
Also loves fertile moist soils, mainly loam, does not tolerate drought. Sankists grow at a distance of half a meter from each other. Frost resistant, tolerates various haircuts well. Suitable for creating different geometric shapes from its crown using its haircut.
One of the brightest thuja in its color.
Columna
Thuja Columna is one of the tallest, reaching 10 meters in height.
The shape is not conical, but colonial - it is to her that thuja owes its name. The color of the thuja in winter and summer is dark green.
Thuja Columna is fast-growing - it grows up to 20 cm per year. It lends itself well to molding and various decorative topiary haircuts.
It grows on moderately moist soils, does not tolerate drought well. He prefers not the sun, but partial shade. In hedges, the planting step is 0.7 m.
Fastigiata
Thuja Fastigiata also has a colonial form. It grows up to 6 meters in height and has an annual growth of up to 30 cm. It belongs to the fast-growing species of thuja.
Due to the dense and short coniferous legs, it takes up little space on the site and is suitable for decorating high hedges that reliably hide the courtyard from the eyes. Also ideal for secluded shady alleys and solo disembarkation.
The soil loves moderately moist and loamy, it does not tolerate the shade from the spring and winter sun - during these periods it is better to cover it with burlap. Frost-resistant, in winter it almost does not change its dark green color.
In order for the thuja to take root better, it is necessary to mulch the soil with mown grass. But before winter, you need to replace the grass with spruce branches - in order to avoid the occurrence of pests.
Blue thuja
Blue thuja belongs to the variety Eastern Tui.
It differs mainly in the bluish color of the needles. It grows up to 3 meters in height, while it is wide - in girth it can reach one and a half meters. The branches of the needles are directed vertically, and not horizontally, as in the western thuja. Adds up to 20 cm per year.
Also has good stability to droughts, therefore it can grow successfully in the southern regions.
It is not demanding on soils, it grows on the same non-marshy and fertile soils.
Not frost-resistant, therefore in winter months requires good cover.
The Blue Thuja has 2 varieties:
- Blue Con
- Meldensis
Meldensis is distinguished by an oval crown, which develops into a pyramidal crown with age.
Fast growing thuja
Fast growing thuja is one of the most good ideas for arrangement personal plot and landscaping the yard. With a relatively low cost of caring for an evergreen shrub, you can observe bright greenery in your yard from season to season. Of all the above varieties and varieties, the fastest growing are
- Columna
- Fastigiata
- Blue thuja
The leading position here is held by the Western thuja, which has not yet been mentioned here - Brabant.
Brabant
Perhaps the most popular of the decorative thujas. Reaches a height of 20 meters! Annual increase in growth at good care- up to 80 cm. Has a light green color.
It takes root well on loamy soils. Frost-resistant (up to -35 degrees), feels bad in the heat - it can burn out. Better to plant it in partial shade.
Its characteristics and appearance are very similar to thuja Smaragd - therefore they are often combined in landscape design.
Thuja care
The most important rule is not to forget about abundant watering. Many varieties do not feel well in drought, and may lose their natural beauty, dry and change color.
Second, for better crown formation, you need to cut off dry twigs every spring and autumn. This will not harm the shrub, on the contrary, it will be easier to grow new needles. It is also useful for forming a neat and uniform crown.
Third, it is advisable to tie the thuja (especially the cone-shaped one) for the winter so that it does not lose its natural appearance during the winter. Under the snow, branches of untied trees can bend in different directions, and in spring they may not have the shape that we would like.
Several centuries ago, this magnificent plant was called the tree of life. Thuja is always pleasing to the eye. Her evergreen needles all year round fills the garden with life and beauty.
It has a spicy refreshing scent that beckons to the garden to take a break from everyday problems. Thuja has wood that is resistant to decay. It is winter-hardy and heat-tolerant.
Thuja belongs to the cypress family and is represented in nature by trees, the average height of which is 12-18 meters (in rare cases, the tree reaches 75 meters), as well as shrubs of a wide variety of shapes and heights.
Thuja needles are scaly, young plants are needle-shaped. Due to the huge variety of garden forms, thuja forms the basis of most proposals for landscape design of a particular site.
In landscape design, thuja are divided into the following types, according to the application:
- dwarf (used in rockeries and);
- for hedges;
- tapeworm (for single planting).
For hedges, the following types of thuja are most often used:
Thuja western "Brabant"
This variety is highly valued due to its high frost resistance. This plant forms a dense and tall green wall and requires pruning twice a year, preferably in August and April.
"Brabant" grows rather quickly and can reach a height of up to 4 meters. As a hedge, the plant should be planted at a distance of 0.5-1 meters from each other, it depends on the required strength of the hedge.
Thuja western "Smaragd"
This plant with a narrow cone-shaped crown can reach a height of 6 meters. This variety of thuja has high frost and wind resistance. She is not particularly whimsical and does not need careful care.
Smaragd is ideal for hedges. Also used in single and group plantings.
Photo of thuja "Smaragd"
Thuja western "Holmstrap"
This plant forms a fairly dense wall, reaching 2.5 meters in height. This variety grows very slowly and can reach the desired height only within 10 years.
Therefore, it is often used in small gardens for low decorative hedges. The plant must be planted at a distance of 70-80 cm from each other. This thuja does not need a haircut.
For rock gardens and rockeries, the following dwarf forms of thuja are used:
Thuja western "Dannika"
This variety has a spherical crown. It grows rather slowly. In height, as a rule, it reaches no more than 80 cm. The diameter of the crown is about a meter.
The spherical shape is retained without trimming. Perfect for small garden areas, patios, container landscaping and rock gardens.
Photo of spherical thuja variety "Danica"
Thuja western "Little Dorrit"
This variety, like the previous one, has a spherical crown. The height of an adult plant is about 80 cm. The crown diameter is 60 cm. It has a high winter hardiness.
Thuja western "Hozeri"
This plant, also with a spherical crown, grows up to 0.5 meters in length and 0.6 meters in diameter. Looks spectacular in rock gardens and low hedges.
For solitary planting, as a rule, the following types of thuja are used:
Thuja western "Reingold"
Slow growing variety that reaches 150 cm in height. The crown of the "Reingold" is spherical. The color of the needles is golden yellow, closer to winter and completely brown. Perfect for group and single plantings and alpine slides.
Thuja western "Sankist"
This shrub has a conical shape and golden yellow needles. It grows very slowly. Over a decade of slow and measured growth, it reaches a height of about 3 meters and 1 meter in diameter. Shearing is not required for this plant.
Photo of thuja "Sunkist"
Thuja folded "Kornik"
A conical shrub that grows rather quickly. The height of an adult plant is 2.5-3 meters, and the diameter is up to 1.5 meters. This plant is somewhat moody and prefers fertile and damp places. It does not tolerate high temperatures very well and needs constant moderate watering.
Thuja belongs to those plants that do not lose their decorative look ... Thuja is especially beautiful in winter. In addition, such plants bring practical benefits - they soften the microclimate, restrain strong gusts of wind, cleanse the air from dust and enrich it with oxygen.
But it should be remembered that some types of thuja are highly poisonous and can cause severe burns and even a heart attack. Therefore, when choosing such plants, consult with specialists.
One of the most demanded conifers among summer residents decorative trees is thuja. This is an evergreen tree or shrub that belongs to the Cypress family. This family also includes such widespread conifers as cypress,. Young thuja have needle-like needles. The needles have a light green tint. Adults, on the other hand, have scaly foliage, the color is darker. The tree can develop up to almost 100 years.
Most varieties are frost resistant. Colors thuja are varied depending on the varieties. For example, a tree is blue as well as yellowish. There are high three-meter thuja, as well as dwarf shrubs.
The most popular in Russia is western thuja.
Western thuja: description and varieties
Western thuja is a species. It can grow up to 20 meters, but in Russia, western thuja rarely grows above 7 meters. Crown shapes are:
- Spherical.
A large number of western thuja varieties are grown. Among them are such common varieties: Smaragd, Barbant, Danica, Columna and others. However, some amateur gardeners are looking for less popular gardening counters, but no less unusual varieties... Below are the most common varieties with a photo. Often, gardeners and landscape designers, deciding to plant a thuja, ask themselves the question: "Which one is better to plant in the country?"
Degrut Spire - a variety for lovers of sophistication
Degrut Spire- varietal variety of western thuja. It has a unique columnar shape, has a narrow and straight crown and is considered the narrowest among the columnar species. The height of this culture is up to 3 meters. Degrut Spire is widespread in the West.
This tree is ideal for landscape design and landscaping sites. For example, Degrut Spire will help to equip any hedge, even if its height reaches 5 meters. A tall but thin green wall will not take up much space on the site.
Thuja western Degroot Spire ("Degrut Spire").
Degrut Spire has such advantages as resistance to frost and undemanding to soil conditions. It is better to plant a tree in places that are well lit by the sun's rays. The shade makes the crown looser. The ideal soil for growing this variety is a combination of the following components:
- Sand;
- Peat;
- Leaves.
One bucket of water is enough for watering. Watering is regular - once a week. In the spring, the tree is fed. The soil must be periodically mulched and loosened. V spring the tree is covered to avoid sunburn. For the winter period, the crown must be tightened with a tape so that wet snow does not damage the crown.
Holmstrup - beauty from Denmark
Holmstrup is an evergreen shrub. The crown shape is columnar. A mature tree grows up to 4 meters in height. Crown color - deep green. V winter periods the color of the needles does not change. The needles of the bush are dense, they are scales.
Thuja Holmstrup ("Holmstrup").
This variety is frost-resistant, shade-tolerant and tolerates windy weather well. The shrub does not require high soil fertility. This shrub - great option For Russia. It is best planted in places with good sunlight. Or it is worth choosing places that are not too shaded.
The shrub is an excellent choice for planting in groups or singly. Hedges are rarely created with Holmstrup.
Fastigiata is a valuable variety for experienced gardeners
One of the varieties of narrow-lined thuja is Fastigiata. This varietal variety was first grown in Germany. A mature tree grows up to 12 meters in height. It grows very quickly. Visually looks like a cypress. The needles of the tree are soft and have a pleasant aroma. The buds are small.
Thuja western Fastigiata ("Fastigiata").
This variety loves the sun and prefers fertile soil. In spring, it is advisable to cover young seedlings so that the spring sun does not damage them. To improve the structure of the soil, it is mulched. For mulching, cut grass is used. In winter, spruce branches are used for mulching. Lapnik prevents mice from breeding.
Fastigiata are often used to form hedges. They are not only beautiful, but also do not take up much space. The varietal variety is not afraid of decorative haircuts. Designers use the tree in large landscape compositions, use it in group plantings. It goes well with a variety of flowers and shrubs.
Yellow varieties of western thuja
They are very popular, refresh the landscape, look great in any composition. Unfortunately, many of them were “capricious”. The most common varieties in Russia are described below.
Thuja western Ellow Ribon - for lovers of yellow varieties of thuja
Yellow Ribon - yellow variety thuja. It has small size... The shape of the crown is conical. An adult thuja has a height of up to 2 meters. It grows fast enough. The crown is friable, therefore, to give it density, it is advisable to trim the tree regularly.
The needles of young trees have Orange color, becoming green with growing up. In winter, the crown turns brown. The sunnier the place where this thuja grows, the brighter the color of the crown.
The variety is distinguished by its exactingness to growing conditions. The soil must be fertile and moist for the plant to delight with its beauty.
Thuja Yellow Ribbon ("Yellow Ribon").
The beautiful golden needles make this variety very valuable. In landscape design, with the help of Yellow Ribon thujas, walls are formed that have a rich yellow hue. They are planted in containers, as well as hedges and memorial walls with their use.
Tuya Golden Glob - yellow balls for summer cottages
Golden Globe is notable for its slow growth. The crown shape of this coniferous culture is spherical. The height of an adult bush does not exceed 1 meter.
The needles are loose. Regular haircut helps to achieve density. The ends of the shoots have a golden color, inside the crown the needles have green color... In the autumn, the needles take on a shade of copper, in the spring they become golden again. In order for the shrub to please with a golden color, it is recommended to plant it in sunny places or slightly shaded.
Thuja Golden Globe ("Golden Globe").
This shrub does not trump high soil fertility, but loves lime-rich soil. To avoid breaking off the branches, the crown is tied for the winter.
Shrubs are used in planting in groups, they are also planted singly. They also create beautiful hedges and curbs.
The most interesting varieties
Many other varieties of this culture are also known. Such varieties as are extremely popular: Brabant, Smaragd, Danica, Globoza. Specialty stores and nurseries also have more unique and less common varieties. Below are the names of Western thuja varieties and their brief description.
Little Boy is a relatively new dwarf globular variety... The height does not exceed 0.5 meters. Growth is slow. The needles of such a thuja have an emerald color. Little Boy requires high soil fertility. Loves the sun, but does not mind growing in partial shade. This is used in the creation:
- Japanese gardens;
- Live curbs.
Hoseri is an original variety from Poland. This is another dwarf globular tree species. Scale needles are dark green in color. In autumn, the needles take on a bronze tint. Hoseri loves moisture, is not picky about the soil and is shade-tolerant. Also, this culture is resistant to frost and is not afraid of winds.
Mirjem- This is another dwarf variety of thuja. An adult plant grows up to 80 cm. The needles have a bright yellow, becoming bronze by autumn. Plant growth is slow. Due to its size, this thuja is ideal for rock gardens and planting in pots.
Question answer
For planting along fences, varieties such as Holmstrup, Fastigiata, Brabant, Smaragd are often used.
What is the most unpretentious thuja?
Many types of this culture are unpretentious. Often choose Brabant, Smaragd, Holmstrup.
How much do thuja seedlings cost?
The price of one seedling is from 150 rubles and more.
I am engaged in rock gardens. How are thuja used in alpine slides?
Low-growing varieties are suitable for rock gardens. In Russia, the dwarf species of western thuja are the most popular. Ideal for the following varieties: Danica, Golden Globe, Woodwardi, Filivormis. They are all spherical.
Can thuja be used in mixborders?
Can. Despite the fact that a mixborder offers a wide variety of colors and shades, conifers are successfully used in mixborders. Thuja has many shades: green, blue and yellow.
Review on video
A short and clear overview of some of the outstanding varieties. The information on the video is presented in such a way that it will be of interest to novice gardeners.
Thuja dwarf is an evergreen coniferous plant that belongs to the cypress family. These shrubs have been in use for a long time. in great demand among gardeners, as they have a dense crown, which is of great importance in terms of decorative decoration of personal plots, parks or gardens.
This variety conifers, is famous not only for its appearance, but also the ability to influence human health, because a short calm walk along the alley seated with thujas helps to calm the nerves. Landscape designers consider thuja to be among the basic plants for creating a wide variety of decorative compositions in the garden.
Dignity
Why do many people prefer dwarf varieties:
- First of all, thuja is a coniferous plant, which means that it is able to delight the eyes of people with its lush green needles throughout the year;
- By nature, thuja are capable of cleansing the air well. They enrich the environment with oxygen, thanks to which this plant is planted on the territory of hospitals, along alleys and parks where people are constantly walking;
- Low-growing varieties are great for creating hedges, which create a good decorative effect, while reducing the permeability of noise from the street;
- The plant is unpretentious in terms of caring for it;
- Dwarf conifers easily tolerate temperature changes;
- By planting thuja on your site, you can create a lot of interesting decorative options.
The most common varieties
This thuja is of a low-growing variety, has an unusual ball shape, with a diameter of no more than one meter. Small fluffy balls, fit very nicely into the design garden plot, especially if you combine them with other types of plants;
A shrub of short stature with a beautiful branched crown, which looks very good in the composition alpine slide... A feature of this variety is its ability to change colors depending on the season. In summer, the crown of thuja Little Champion stands out for its light brown needles, and during the winter cold season, it becomes bronze in color;
Spherical thuja, diameter is about 50 centimeters. It grows very slowly, and reaches its maximum size, only 10 years after planting. Matches perfectly with stones;
Low thuja, which has a spherical crown with yellow-green needles in the form of small scales. This variety looks very good in rock gardens (miniature garden). Growth rates are very slow (it grows up to 50-60 centimeters in height only 10 years after disembarkation);
Experts who are engaged in breeding and growing ornamental varieties of thujas advise planting dwarf varieties in areas with poor soil. This must be done so that they do not strive to grow upwards and do not lose their usual shape.
Choosing the right plant
To achieve the best decorative effect possible, you need to be very careful when choosing a dwarf thuja that will grow in the garden. To begin with, experts advise taking into account all the features of the area, and the parameters of the site on which the shrubs will be planted (soil and sunlight).
When choosing a variety of dwarf thuja, you need to consider the following nuances:
- Shade tolerance;
- Strong frost resistance;
- Exactness in terms of care;
Before buying a dwarf thuja, you need to pay attention to its appearance. After all, if you buy a plant with defects, in the future it will often get sick and will not be able to fulfill its main task - the decorative decoration of the site.
What to look for when buying a shrub:
- Bare root system - the integrity of the earthen coma on the root system, protects the shoots from negative impact low or high temperatures, as well as many others external factors... In addition, attention should be paid to the degree of development of the same root system. If the roots are chopped off, then the plant with a high probability will not take root at all;
- Roots and trunk - visual assessment of the condition of the seedling consists in the assessment of its dryness. If the upper layers of dwarf thuja peel off and flake off, then most likely such a shrub will die;
- Crohn - a careful examination of the crown and trunk will help to determine in a timely manner the presence of any abnormalities in the seedling (the presence of diseases or pests). It is immediately clear that buying an unhealthy seedling is not the best idea, because there is no guarantee that it will successfully take root;
Planting a low-growing variety
There are no restrictions on the season for planting a dwarf thuja, but according to experts, the best period for planting a thuja is autumn or early spring... If you follow this advice, the shrub will grow stronger and more resistant to environmental influences.
During planting of thuja, the root collar should be at the same level with the soil, it should not be immersed too deeply, but it is also undesirable to raise it above the soil, this may result in a plant disease.
If there are areas with stagnant water in the garden (rainfall or melted snow), then to prevent root rotting, it is necessary to create a kind of drainage (a layer of gravel or broken brick, about 20 centimeters high). To create a high-quality avenue of thujas, the planting distance of thujas should be 1-2 meters.
In the case of planting dwarf thujas as a hedge in one row, a distance of about 1 meter must be observed (but more accurate measurements must be taken taking into account the final size of the shrub).
Growing conditions
- A positive feature of the dwarf thuja is its ability to take root on any soil: it can be sand, and clay, and even sod;
- Low-growing shrubs feel better in soil with a fairly good layer of humus, and a slightly acidic reaction;
- Good growth rates, low shrubs show in a sunny or semi-shady place. It is better not to plant them in the shade, since the needles will thin out and the thuja will lose its magnificent shape and greenery;
- The place of localization of thuja should be chosen in a place where the sun will not shine all day. The shrub is not very fond of drought;
- Thuja has a positive attitude towards wet soil. But do not plant them in areas with abundant congestion. groundwater... In addition, thuja tolerates drought well enough, and during a long dry period it is enough for it to carry out 2-3 waterings per week in the form of sprinkling, so that the needles do not lose their decorative beauty;
- Thuja of a dwarf variety can be planted both in open ground and in a pot.
Bush care
To the main ways of caring for dwarf thuja is considered timely and clear organized watering... Within 1 month after planting in the ground, the thuja should be watered at least once a week, adding about 10 liters of water. If the weather is dry outside, the number of irrigations increases to two.
Maintaining a normal soil moisture level is one of the main conditions that provides a luxurious and lush crown at thuja. During the first three years after planting, it is necessary to regularly loosen the soil near the trunk, but not too deep (no more than 10 centimeters), so as not to damage the root system, which is located almost on the surface.
For mulching dwarf thujas, it is better to use peat or sawdust (a layer of about 6-7 centimeters). To prevent damage to the crown in winter, when heavy snowfalls can occur, it is necessary to tie low shrubs.
When spring warming comes, young thujas are best placed in the shade in order to reduce the influence of sunlight in order to avoid burns on the needles.
For pruning mature shrubs, it is advised to use a sharp pruner. No more than 1/3 of the plant should be pruned.
Diseases and possible pests
Thuja rarely suffers from various diseases, unlike other plant species, but in some cases unexpected yellowing of the needles may occur. This symptom can have several reasons:
- Violation of planting rules - insufficient or excessive immersion of the root system in the soil;
- Burns from frequent exposure to sunlight;
- The defeat of the needles by a fungal disease.
Such a symptom does not necessarily mean that it is a disease. Some varieties of tui are capable of changing the color of their crown depending on the season. For example, with the onset of the first winter frosts, the needles may acquire a yellow color, but with the arrival of spring, it turns green again.
The use of dwarf thujas in rock gardens
Rock garden Is an artificially created landscape composition that recreates in miniature a decorative area of a mountainous area, that is, the place in which coniferous plants occupy not the last place.
For the full-fledged creation of a miniature rock garden, it is the small varieties of decorative thujas that differ from their relatives in compactness and slow rates of development.
Thuja Thya is a coniferous plant from the cypress family. There are five species of trees or shrubs in the genus, but in Russia in ornamental gardening, the most popular type of Thuja western Thuja occidentalis, it comes from North America, came to Europe in 1536.
Description of western thuja
This is a slow-growing tree, reaching a height of 15-20 m, although taller specimens are found in nature, but this is already a rarity. The crown of the western thuja is pyramidal or ovoid, in the original species it is rather spreading. The root system is compact.
Bark in young age brick-brown, smooth, eventually turns gray-brown, in a tree with more than ten years of history, the bark on the trunk in deep longitudinal cracks, fibrous.
Thuja needles are scaly, green and very small 2-4 mm long, covering the branches like scales. The life of the foliage is a maximum of 2-3 years, then it falls off, but not one by one, but in small branches, the crown is renewed gradually and imperceptibly. By winter, the needles are discolored to yellowish green or Brown color... The concept of "evergreen" for thuja is relative, if a spruce or pine does not change the shade of the needles at all in winter, then most varieties of western thuja paint the garden in yellow brownish or light green colors.
Flowers are not decorative - monoecious, apical, solitary. Cones are also small, about 1 cm long, ovoid. Each cone contains two yellow winged seeds.
The wood on the cut is reddish, often interspersed with brown, yellow and red veins. The wood is soft and durable, resin-free, does not rot and could be fine furniture material, but did not find widespread use - this is hindered by the too slow growth of mass and fibrous bark.
Peculiarities
Thuja is very popular not only in private gardens, but is also widely used for urban landscaping, since the plant is extremely unpretentious to the ecology of the city: it tolerates gas pollution, dustiness and smoke well. It easily takes root after transplantation, lends itself well to pruning and shearing, some varieties do not require any shape correction at all - they grow by themselves in a pyramid, ball or cone. In addition, western thuja and its varieties are winter-hardy (frost-hardiness zones from 2b to 8b, this is about minus 36 ° C in winter without shelter).
Varieties and varieties of western thuja
The western thuja has several decorative forms:
- weeping
- columnar (pyramidal)
- hemisphere
- spherical
By color of foliage (needles) varieties:
- variegated (several color variations)
- with green leaves
Tall:
- full-grown from 5 m and more
- semi-dwarf from 3 to 5 m
- dwarf - mature trees up to 3 m
- miniature - less than 3 m in height
By frost resistance: there are varieties that freely tolerate winters in middle lane Russia, there are varieties that require mandatory shelter.
Here are some frost-resistant ones:
- Danica (Danica) - miniature variety up to 60 cm or slightly higher in height, spherical, winter hardiness - 3 climatic zone.
- Globoza (Globosa) is a spherical miniature thuja, adult no more than 2 m, growing very slowly, winter hardiness - 3 climatic zone.
- Golden Globe - semi-dwarf globular, slow growth rate, very frost-resistant - climatic zone 2b.
- Wagneri (Wagneri) - narrow-conical shape, semi-dwarf (up to 3.5 m), fast-growing, winter hardiness - 4 climatic zone.
- Woodwardii ('Woodwardii) - semi-dwarf wide-rounded form, grows slowly, winter hardiness - 4 climatic zone.
- Hoseri - spherical, fast-growing, up to 2 meters high, winter hardiness - 3 climatic zone.
- Brabant - conical, fast-growing, the variety is similar to Smaragd, but the growth rate is 2-3 times higher, winter hardiness - climatic zone 3.
- Sunkist - conical thuja of semi-dwarf growth, growing slowly, very frost-resistant - climatic zone 2b.
- Tiny Tim is a miniature variety of thuja, no more than 1 m high, spherical in shape, growing slowly, winter hardiness - 3 climatic zone.
- Holmstrup (Holmstrup) - conical semi-dwarf variety, grows slowly, winter hardiness - 3 climatic zone.
- (Smaragd) is a slow-growing columnar variety, 3-5 m high - average frost resistance - if all of the above varieties can be grown in Siberia and the Urals, then Smaragd freezes at temperatures below minus 25-26.
When choosing a variety, consider not only its size, shape and frost resistance, but also its general unpretentiousness. Some do not tolerate shading, even light partial shade, others do not tolerate long thaws in winter (with sharp drops temperatures), as this provokes early sap flow. Some varieties practically do not need pruning, others need to be systematically pruned. There are varieties that are extremely sensitive to compaction of the soil surface, do not grow on clean loam, annual loosening and mulching are required.
Thuja western - a place in the garden
Western thuja varieties are quite diverse not only in appearance, but also in needs. Among them there are varieties that are tolerant of the amount of sun, but most prefer to grow in full sun, if possible.
V shady places the crown is formed loose, sometimes one-sided (if there is severe shading on one side).
In places where there is no sun, it is better to abandon the cultivation of thujas - they will not only greatly inhibit growth, but also increase the risk of various fungal infections.
If you have a close location of groundwater (1-1.5 m), it is permissible to plant conifers only on an artificial elevation - a bulk hill at least half a meter high.
Planting thuja western
Planting is carried out in prepared pits, on a site freed from perennial weeds - for digging, select all the rhizomes of nettle, sow thistle and other weeds.
The root system of western thuja depends on the variety - in miniature it is much less than in full-grown or semi-dwarfs. For example, in thuja, 3-5 m in height, the roots spread to a depth of about a meter, in two meters - 50-60 cm.
For planting a variety of thuja, which will grow more than 3 m in 10-15 years, you need to prepare a pit measuring a meter by a meter in width and depth, if the soil on your site is not suitable in structure. The planting pit provides a supply of food for the first few years.
Preparing the soil
Thuja prefers soils - medium loam, moderately nutritious, not too moisture-absorbing and not dry, slightly acidic.
If the soil is: heavy clayey, light sandy, clean peat - it requires mandatory improvement. Therefore, you need to mix the earth dug from the hole with other components:
- if the soil is clayey, replace half of the excavated soil with equal parts of peat and sand
- if the soil is sandy, replace half of the excavated land with equal parts of peat and loam (sod land)
- if the soil is peaty, replace half of the excavated land with equal parts of loam (sod land) and sand
At the bottom of the pit, we fill in the drainage from crushed stone with a layer of 10-15 cm, then we fill in the mixed soil. To plant the purchased plant in a prepared and filled-in hole, we make a hole 30-40 cm wider and 10-15 cm deeper than the root system of the plant (i.e. we make a hole in the filled-in hole).
Acidity and liming
You need to know that nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus, like most of the minor elements (iron, magnesium, sulfur and copper), are the most easily assimilated in soils with a pH of 6.0 to 8.0.
For thuja, the optimal acidity is from 6.8 to 7.2, although they tolerate more acidic and alkaline, which is what the suppliers of planting material use, claiming that thuja grow on any type of soil. This is not the case, sooner or later a lag in growth becomes noticeable, the needles turn brown, sometimes the branches or the whole plant dry out.
If the acidity of the soil in your area is below pH 6.5, they should be neutralized to the desired pH with lime or dolomite flour... Read how to do this - soil deoxidation.
How to plant
Water the plant before removing it from the shipping pot. Place the thuja taken out of the container in the center of the hole, spread the roots evenly. Then raise the tree so that the root collar is slightly higher (2-3 cm) than the ground level.
Fill in the prepared soil and gently compact the soil, pressing down with your hands, just do not squeeze it near the trunk itself. The tree will settle a little with the ground, and the root collar will be flush with the horizon. It cannot be deepened - this will lead to decay.
Now around the tree you need to make a "saucer" for watering - a side from the ground to trunk circle, 5-6 cm high, so that when watering, the water does not spread far beyond the root system. If the ephedra is planted on a slope, the "saucer" must be made higher.
It is better to mulch the soil around the thuja immediately pine bark, with a sliver, for the first time straw is also suitable (not the best way- skips weeds and decomposes quickly).
Mulching prevents water from spreading, protects the roots from overheating in hot weather, and retains moisture in the soil for several days longer. Considering that thuja do not tolerate overdrying, mulching is a necessary measure. But at the root collar (10-12 cm in diameter), the minimum layer is to cover the ground by no more than 1 cm, or not cover it at all, so that the trunk does not fall out and does not rot if the weather is too damp.
At what distance to plant thuja
The planting recommendations that you can be given when buying planting material are very contradictory. First of all, you need to decide on the question of whether you are planting in a permanent place or admit the possibility of a transplant.
In general, thuja tolerate transplantation well, especially if the root system is preserved as much as possible, and the time is suitable for such an operation. But sometimes after a few years it will be technically impossible to transplant the trees to a new place. Therefore, plan your garden design ahead of time.
The distance between plants should take into account the final size of the variety and the possibility of crown correction by pruning. For example, in some varieties of columnar thuja, the diameter at the base of the trunk can be almost 2 m, in others - narrow-columnar no more than a meter. Thuja grow slowly, the average growth in height per year is 10-30 cm, in diameter about 5-10 cm. But you need to imagine the garden in perspective, how it will look in 10-15 years, because it will be almost impossible to transplant a full-grown tree.
If you are planning a hedge, say, from the Brabant variety, in which the crown diameter of an adult plant is about 1.5 m, with a planting frequency in a row: every 50-70 cm (such a recommendation occurs) you will have to thin out them after a few years, removing after one. Such large thuja need to be planted at a distance of 80-100 cm.
In addition, you need to take into account whether you want to preserve the natural shape of the planted variety - so that the cone (pyramid) is clearly visible or not - with dense planting hedge forms a dense green wall, it is impossible to distinguish individual specimens with the eye.
Another factor is the possibility of curly pruning, there should be enough space around a tree or shrub to freely care for it - strapping, shearing, treatment from diseases and pests.
Thuja western care
Beauty requires an effort - they begin with regular watering, especially the first month after planting - overdrying is unacceptable.
Thuja grows well only on fertile and moist soil. Plants growing in a flowerpot or container do not tolerate overdrying at all. It is more difficult to track the loss of moisture in conifers than in deciduous ones - in those, the leaves hang down like rags, and in conifers they turn yellow and dry. Therefore, watering in open ground should be regular when there is no rain approximately once a week.
It is believed that thuja are very well accepted by sprinkling irrigation, water washes away dust from the crown and increases the humidity of the air, but thuja love moist air and grow in nature along the banks and slopes of rivers and reservoirs.
However, during sprinkling, you need to make sure that the water not only drips onto the crown, but also wets the root layer under the trees. If there are signs of a fungal infection on the thuja, try to exclude sprinkling during treatment, carry out regular watering from a watering can.
There are varieties that absolutely do not tolerate both overdrying and low air humidity, for example, Globoza nana (miniature spherical), it is better to plant such varieties near a garden pond, a fountain, a stream.
Improving soil and feeding
After landing nutrients thuja is enough for several years, as a rule, feeding is not needed for the first two years.
In the future, you can improve the structure of the soil and the fertile soil layer by adding a layer of compost under the trees, 7-10 cm, rake the top layer of earth and replace it with humus, mulch on top with chopped pine bark.
Some varieties, for example, Columna, are sensitive to compaction of the soil surface, the roots do not have enough oxygen, the plants wither, so annual loosening and renewal of mulch is necessary.
If there is no cow or horse humus, you can replace it with leaf humus.
As top dressing, it is desirable to use mainly phosphorus-potassium fertilizers, preferably complex with a set of other minerals, designed specifically for conifers. Usually, two dressings per season at the beginning and end of summer are sufficient.
Don't forget that making mineral fertilizers lowers the pH, and exceeded dosages can burn the roots, which manifests itself in the browning of the needles, usually not immediately, but within a month.
Inspection of the crown
Thuja western - an evergreen plant, but the renewal of leaves and twigs occurs regularly, as a rule, "leaf fall" happens in the fall, and since the crown of many varieties is very dense, the process can occur unnoticed for us.
Therefore, do not forget to look inside the crown, push the branches apart and choose yellow needles, sometimes it accumulates between the branches near the trunk, gathering in "tangles".
Pruning
Usually thuja lend themselves well to pruning, do not get sick, and only become thicker after cutting.
If a variety has a columnar shape, this does not mean that the plant will grow branches with a strict pyramidal geometry, some varieties, such as Smaragd, have clear outlines of shape, others, such as Brabant, grow shaggy and need constant pruning to form a well-groomed look.
In young plants, only acquired in the nursery, it is often required to reduce the number of leading branches, otherwise the plant grows into two or three trunks (two-peaked) and all decorativeness is lost. If possible, pre-select specimens of columnar thujas with one leader stem. If there are several of them, leave one, carefully cut the second. The crown will grow over the season.
Trimming the tips of the shoots should be carried out in the spring, with the opening of the buds and until mid-summer, some varieties, especially fast-growing, spherical or ovoid, need to be pruned twice a season, others, slow-growing less often - once in spring, then the crown overgrows a little over the summer, and plants look more natural. You can shorten the branches by 1/3 of the maximum length, or less if necessary.
Shelter thuja for the winter
Almost all varieties of western thuja need protection from snow and ice. Their branches grow vertically upwards, the snow accumulated and frozen into the ice cap presses on them and breaks them out. Therefore, you need to tie the trunks so that the snow flies off without stopping.
The strapping must be carried out soft material- nylon tights are just ideal for this role - they do not rot and stretch. You can't tie the crown too tightly, like Christmas trees before blocking into the body, otherwise the needles inside will rip out.
Small specimens, no more than 1.5 m tall, are best protected not with a harness, but with a hut. Make a tripod from wooden slats and wrap it in burlap or white lutrasil.
It is important to consider the propensity of some varieties to sunburn. There are varieties that are very resistant - the same Smaragd, sometimes the tops of their heads can burn, and there are varieties that require shelter for the most dangerous period - from the end of February to April in the form of burlap or a protective screen.
Sometimes thuja do not burn in the sun for only one reason - they are heavily covered with snow, this applies mainly to young plants and undersized globular, but if the winter is not very snowy, they are threatened sunburn, so be guided by the weather and precipitation.
Reproduction of thuja western
Thuja can be propagated by seeds and vegetatively: cuttings and layering.
Not all varieties reproduce by seeds, and this is rarely practiced due to the possible loss of varietal qualities, in addition, often non-viable seeds that do not germinate are formed in thuja. Some varietals, like Danica, are propagated exclusively by cuttings. Others, for example, Vareana, Malonyana - give a high preservation of varietal traits during reproduction (80-85%).
The seeds of thuja ripen by the end of October, by November, they cannot be stored, they quickly lose their germination - they immediately send for stratification for 2-3 months in a cold place (+ 2-4C) and sow.
Reproduction of cuttings is quite easy if you cut off the branches for rooting in winter. The optimal time is November, not early autumn, and late, if the autumn is protracted, you can cut it in December, before frost.
Cuttings root in a warm 22-24C, in a room greenhouse, i.e. at high humidity soil.
Alternatively, you can use a zip package - i.e. transparent plastic bag with a zip clip - it is convenient to hang it on the window - can be attached to the glass or frame with tape or on a clothespin.
Rooting technique of thuja cutting
We prepare the soil: 1 part of leafy earth (leaf humus) and 1 part of large river sand, or vermiculite and sand in equal parts. For one cutting you need about half a glass - a glass of substrate. We mix the components and be sure to sterilize in the microwave or oven. We put it in a bag and pour it a little with boiled water. The soil for germination should not be too moist, only slightly damp.
Cut the stalk about 15 cm long, preferably with a heel, but do not tear it off (the bark is lifted), but cut sharp knife... From the cutting, you need to remove the lower branches and place it in a bag in the soil.
Close the package tightly and hang it in a bright place - for winter - this is a south window, if the windows are too dark - next to the lamp. It is desirable that the total daylight hours are 12-14 hours.
Since the bag is closed, you do not need to water or spray anything. The roots are formed within a month. Do not remove the stalk from the bag, observe: while the needles are green - everything is in order, wait for the root (it is dark) to be visible through the bag, you can take it out and put it in a pot in a substrate consisting of 2-3 parts of leaf humus, 1 part of a large river sand.
The pot with the planted thuja must be placed in a transparent bag, sprayed with boiled water and tied. After 2-3 days, open the bag for more and more time - gradually accustom to a lower humidity.