Thuja, the planting and care of which interests many owners country houses, does not come from our region, it was brought from East Asia and America. The plant is quite unpretentious, so it has taken root well in more northern latitudes.
The name "thuja" is of Greek origin. When its branches are burned, such a pleasant aroma is felt that it was called “incense.”
The cypress family, to which thuja belongs, includes both shrubs and trees. Evergreen thujas do not have needles; their needles are made up of particles that fit well together. There are known plants that have lived for more than 1000 years.
In Russia, the height of thuja specimens does not reach more than 10-11 m, while in their native lands it often reaches 20 m. There are many varieties of thuja that exist today. In our climate, the western thuja develops best; it tolerates cold well and is generally not whimsical.
The development of the plant largely depends on the soil and planting site, although thuja will grow on any substrate. The crowns can be trimmed, it will only be useful. Curly pruning of a pyramidal or spiral shape, spherical or in the form of a column, looks good on thuja bushes.
From different varieties This plant is used to make hedges and alleys, and to decorate gardens and plots.
When choosing planting options, you should evaluate the characteristics of each type and shape to decide which one will be optimal for your conditions. Imagine in advance what the thuja will look like; planting and caring for it will then be easier.
We list several species of this evergreen plant known in our time:
- thuja occidentalis;
- arbor vitae;
- thuja japonica;
- Korean thuja;
- Thuja foldata.
The western variety of thuja (Thúja occidentális) is most common in Russia, and its homeland is North America. IN middle lane Usually only this species is planted.
Plants tolerate winter cold and plenty of shade well (although they develop better in culture with sufficient lighting). It loves moisture, but can also tolerate dryness; it does not require planting in a specific type of soil.
It has many decorative forms (more than 120).
Thuja occidentalis is very common in central Russia
The oriental thuja (Thuja orientalis), also called the oriental thuja, needs more care than the western one (the lighting and moisture regime must be adequate; it does not tolerate shade).
If all conditions are met, it will take root well in your area. Thuja, the planting and care of which turns out to be more difficult than the competitor species of the western thuja, loses in the choice.
IN landscape design Oriental flatweed is often used to form hedges and decorate rock gardens, in which they have been used for centuries, because this variety comes from China. 60 varieties of this plant allow you to choose best option to decorate your site.
In nature, Japanese thuja (Thuja standishii), according to its name, grows in the mountainous areas of Japan.
This variety can withstand severe frosts (up to -30 degrees) and otherwise this crop is unpretentious, only sensitive to air pollution, so do not plant it in the city, but rather save it for summer cottage.
Thuja japonica is a fairly unpretentious crop
Outside natural conditions Korean thuja, whose name in Latin sounds like Thuia koraiensis, takes the form of a creeping shrub, although in its natural environment it can grow up to 8 m.
It is quite picky about temperature and water conditions, so it is rarely planted in the middle zone.
The crown of the folded or giant thuja (Thuja plicata) is dense, pyramid- or cone-shaped. IN North America these plants can be incredibly tall, in accordance with their name (up to 40 m), but in Russia they are more often very decorative (up to 4 m).
The winters of the central zone are more difficult for the folded thuja than the western one, although it is unpretentious to the soil.
Thuja gigantea
Landing
Although thuja is propagated by seeds and vegetatively, the first method is rarely used; cuttings allow the plant to take root better. They are obtained not by cutting, but by tearing them off.
You can propagate thuja by layering, but without maintaining the shape of the crown.
From the description of the varieties, it becomes clear which parts of the site should be chosen for planting thuja. Its roots are located close to the surface and can only tolerate light waterlogging, but with abundant spring rains, young plants often die.
Do not stop in places where there will be too much sun, otherwise the opposite situation will arise - the plant will be dehydrated, which will have a particularly negative effect on it with the onset of cold weather.
There are several rules under which a thuja (planting and caring for it must be done correctly) will take root on your site and will be its decoration:
- Consider the gaps between seedlings (they should be at least half a meter and can sometimes reach 5 meters);
- If you decide to make a hedge, arrange 2 rows (at intervals of at least 0.7 m); if you want to lay out an alley, make sure that the distance between plants is approximately 4 m.
- The optimal depth for planting thuja is 60-80 cm, more precise parameters depend on the type of soil and root system, but the root collar should ultimately be no higher than ground level.
- For replanting, use the following soil composition: 2 parts turf/1 part peat/1 part sand with added fertilizer (nitroammophoska at the rate of 0.5 kg per seedling is ideal). Thuja will also grow on other soils; this mixture is used only when planting.
- Clay soils must have a drainage layer no less than 15-20 cm deep.
Care
Thuja care includes the following procedures:
- fertilizing and watering;
- loosening and mulching;
- crown trimming and pruning;
- preparing the plant for the winter.
The eastern thuja is more demanding in terms of care and maintenance than its western relative.
But by following certain rules, you can successfully grow these evergreens in central Russia.
Eastern thuja is not as frost-resistant as western thuja, however, some varieties can withstand temperatures of 25 degrees below zero. The plant is unpretentious to the soil and is not an obstacle to cultivation. various compositions soils, including rocky ones.
Description of the oriental thuja
Thuja orientalis (flatweed) belongs to the cypress family, its natural habitat is the territory of Northern China. The plant is a record holder among centenarians, and can live for a whole millennium. On average, an adult tree grows up to 15–20 m, and some members of the family up to 35 m, and the crown diameter is up to 14 m.
A feature of the oriental thuja is its slow growth what has like positive aspects, and negative. The plant can be used in areas with low buildings; it will not block the sun. Allows for infrequent pruning.
The young tree has a pyramidal crown shape, which over the course of several years becomes more rounded, closer to columnar. The cones of such a thuja look interesting - at first (in September) they are light green, plump, with hook-shaped growths, ripening occurs the following year: March, April - pollination, October - seed ripening. By that time the cones acquire brown, and the seeds look like grains of wheat.
Types of thuja orientalis
Oriental thuja includes about 60 varieties. Not all of them are suitable for the harsh Russian climate, The most popular varieties are:
Growing oriental thuja
Thuja feels comfortable on neutral or slightly acidic soils, in rocky areas. The plant is not afraid of drought, not a hindrance for him and close proximity groundwater. But not all varieties of the family are frost-resistant.
Landing
The optimal time for planting oriental thuja is the time interval from late April to early May. You can extend this period until mid-September, but a plant planted in spring gets much more time to adapt in anticipation of the winter cold.
Adult thujas are undemanding to the composition of the soil, but for seedlings you need to prepare a nutrient mixture in the following proportions:
- 2 parts turf soil;
- 1 part peat;
- 1 part sand.
The hole must be prepared based on the size of the seedling, usually 80 cm deep and 60 cm long and wide. At the bottom of the hole, you need to lay a layer of drainage 15–20 cm thick. When planting, you should ensure that the root collar remains flush with the ground surface. The distance between thujas depends on the purpose of planting: hedge - 1 m, alley - up to 5 m.
Watering
At first (4–5 weeks), you need to water the seedlings at least once a week, with a volume of water of at least 10 liters for each thuja. In the intervals between waterings, sprinkling is used (irrigating the crown of the plant with water). The frequency of watering and the volume of water required for it depend on the type of soil: the drier the soil, the more often. Oriental thuja tolerates excess water better than its lack..
During hot, dry periods, adult plants also require watering, at least 20 liters per root.
To prevent the soil from compacting, after watering you need to loosen the soil to a depth of no more than 10 cm, since deeper soil can be damaged. root system. Mulching the tree trunk circle to a thickness of 4–6 cm will help maintain soil moisture and looseness until next watering. Sawdust, peat, crushed bark, etc. can be used as mulch.
Fertilizer application
Thuja orientalis does not claim frequent use fertilizers Fertilizers for coniferous crops can be added to the nutrient mixture prepared for planting. The next feeding may be needed after 2 years.
Trimming
All plants, regardless of age, are subject to pruning of dry and dying branches., and shaping haircuts are recommended for thujas that are at least 3 years old. To do this, use garden shears to cut off unnecessary branches, giving the plant the desired shape. Thuja is easy to trim, so there are enough options for determining the appearance of thuja: from strict geometric shapes to intricate, ornate images.
Preparing for winter
Thuja orientalis, with some exceptions, is not frost-resistant and temperatures of minus 25 degrees and below can become critical for the plant. Therefore, preparation for winter has vital importance for cultivating these varieties of thuja.
Before reaching the age of five, any oriental thuja should be protected from winter cold.. To do this, the plant is hilled high and mulched with a layer of peat. The crown of the tree is pulled together with a rope and wrapped with nonwoven fabric, protecting from wind, snow and cold. It is important to remember that having survived the winter, the plant may also be in danger in the bright spring sun, receiving fatal burns. Therefore, covering material should be removed after stable above-zero temperatures have been established.
Some people cover the plant with spruce branches for the winter and then sprinkle it with fallen snow.
Thaws during winter are dangerous for thuja; temperature changes can damage the tree bark, in which cracks form. In this case, you need to coat the damaged areas with garden varnish, and to make the bark heal faster, tighten its edges with twine.
Some types of oriental thuja tolerate Russian winters better, among them: “Aurea Nana”, “Harmony”, “Biota”.
Diseases and pests
Various diseases and insect pests can slow down the growth of thuja, negatively affect its appearance, and in some cases lead to the death of the plant. Therefore, it is necessary to pay attention to the emerging signs of the disease in time, correctly diagnose and carry out timely treatment.
Diseases
Pests
Some pests pose a danger to the oriental thuja; this applies to a greater extent to aphids and false scale insects. The appearance of yellow spots on the needles indicates that the plant is infected with a false scale insect. Grayish-brown aphids can be seen; they settle on the needles and also cause them to turn yellow and fall off.
To combat these pests, the tree crown should be thoroughly sprayed with Karbofos or Rogor.
Reproduction
Thuja orientalis can be propagated by seeds, cuttings and dividing the bush.
Seeds
To use this breeding method must be collected from thuja in the fall fresh seeds
. Until spring, the collected seed should be stored under snow or in the refrigerator (stratification). This is done in order to imitate the natural process where the seeds fall and survive the winter on the ground. This procedure accelerates seed germination and promotes friendly shoots.
In the coming spring, shallow grooves (0.5 cm) are laid in the soil, seed material is placed in them and covered with sawdust from coniferous trees to keep moist and loose soil. The resulting beds must be protected from direct sun rays. With the emergence of seedlings, the planting site must be mulched with peat. Mineral fertilizers applied to the soil 1-2 times a month will help small thujas grow stronger.
During the first season, thuja sprouts grow by 7–8 cm. For the winter, it is recommended to wrap them in spruce branches and stretch a film on top. With the onset of spring, caring for young plants will be the same as last year. Only the third spring is the time to plant plants in a permanent place, by which time they reach a height of 40–50 cm.
Cuttings
Cuttings are harvested in June, breaking off two-year-old branches immediately with the heel. Parts of the scrap must be treated with a solution of indoleacetic acid (“Heteroauxin”), which is an organic plant growth stimulator. After treatment, the cuttings are planted shallowly, 2–3 cm.
The nutrient planting mixture consists of equal parts: sod land, sand and peat. Before use, it is recommended to disinfect it using a warm solution of potassium permanganate. After completing all the preparatory procedures, the cuttings are buried, covering the top with film or glass or plastic containers. Thus, a microclimate with high humidity is created.
The soil under the shelter should not be watered, but sprayed. Rooted cuttings need to be ventilated, increasing the time spent outdoors day by day. So, young thujas undergo adaptation and harden. In mid-October, preparations for winter begin, when the cuttings should be covered with dry leaves, sawdust or spruce branches. When the temperature is below 4–6 degrees below zero, the film is pulled on top.
Dividing the bush
Often a tree grows with several trunks. By selecting suitable plant you can divide it so that each share has a trunk and a root. It is best to divide the mother plant in the spring.. Before the procedure for dividing the thuja, the instrument should be disinfected. It is preferable not to dig up the plant at all, but to make sure that one part remains in place, and the second is carefully separated and uprooted. The cutting areas should also be disinfected, and then the excavated part of the plant should be planted in a new permanent place. All that remains is to take care of the newly planted thuja in the same way as in the case of planting a seedling.
Conclusion
Eastern thuja - heat-loving plant, and growing it in harsh conditions is not easy and time-consuming. However, plants can be grown in central Russia, not to mention its southern regions. When choosing a variety for cultivation, you should pay attention to its frost resistance. The varieties of oriental thuja such as Pyramidalis Aurea, Aurea Nana, and Biota are considered to be the most suitable for cultivation in our country.
Thuja Aurea Nana- one of the most popular varieties dwarf coniferous shrubs with yellow needles. It's slow growing evergreen Because of its durability it is called the “tree of life.” It was once considered a symbol of Beijing, but today it has spread widely throughout almost the entire world.
There are two varieties of Aurea Nana - eastern and western. By and large they are not very different. But thuja Aurea Nana occidentalis adapts better to development in partial shade, while thuja Aurea Nana eastern prefers open sun.
General description
Thuja Aurea Nana is a beautiful evergreen plant with thick crown oblong shape. The branches are branched and golden. In winter, the needles become even more beautiful - a bright bronze hue. Young shoots are arranged in two rows. In the fourth year they become rounder and darker.
The maximum height of an adult shrub is 1.5 m, crown diameter is 0.7 m. Thuja grows slowly. The annual growth does not exceed 5 cm. Thuja Aurea Nana tolerates well low temperatures and quickly adapts to difficult urban conditions.
It is better to choose for planting sunny places with light shading. The soil should be fresh, moist, drained and slightly acidic. Lack of light changes the color of the golden needles - they turn green. If the seedling grew in a container and you decide to replant it, then the depth of the planting hole should be 1.5 times greater than the plastic tank.
To form a drainage layer, gravel or expanded clay is used. The optimal layer thickness is 20 cm. The hole is filled with turf and peat mixed in a 1:1 ratio. To make the thuja quickly take root and grow better, add it to the hole mineral fertilizer. When planting, pay attention to the fact that the neck of the root should be at ground level. After planting, the bush is watered abundantly, and the soil is mulched with peat or tree bark.
Plant care rules
In the first year after planting, thuja Aurea Nana especially needs watering. The bushes are watered at least 2 times a week. Then once a week will be enough. The exception is hot summer days. Carefully check whether the soil is dry, spray the needles with water from a spray bottle. Mulching with wood chips or pine bark will help reduce moisture evaporation.
In April-May, the bushes are fed with nitroammophoska (30 grams/square meter), and in October potassium supplements are added. Thuja Aurea Nana tolerates frost well, but young plantings must be protected with covering material. The spring sun is destructive for delicate needles - cover them with agrofibre.
Sanitary pruning is carried out annually - in the spring. There is no special need for form-building, because crown acquires beautiful crown ovoid without human intervention.
Thuja Aurea Nana in landscape compositions
Thuja Aurea Nana is actively used in landscaping gardens and dacha areas. Ideal for small rocky gardens, alpine slides, mixborders and flower beds. The compact plant can be used to decorate balconies, roofs and terraces.
A hedge formed from miniature shrubs planted close to each other will become the most noticeable element of the site. This variety is no less remarkable in its composition landscape compositions of low trees and shrubs with bright textured foliage.
Video: Review of the eastern thuja Aurea Nana
The evergreen thuja tree has many varieties, which vary in size, crown shape, and needle color. Depending on the type, thujas are used as an independent element garden design or addition to flower beds, alpine slides, rockeries. Thujas are unpretentious and unique in their own way - we will look at the types and varieties with photos of the most common coniferous representatives. In Russia, gardeners have received special recognition from Western varieties. They can have the appearance of a lush shrub or tree with a columnar, pyramidal, spherical or spherical crown; so-called weeping thujas are also found.
Types of thuja occidentalis, what varieties are there
One of the most favorite and widespread varieties of these conifers is the thuja occidentalis Smaragd. This majestic tree looks like a cypress and grows up to 5 meters high. No matter what time of year it is, its needles have a constant emerald hue. Smaragd is hardy, frost-resistant, undemanding to the type of soil, but especially loves loam or calcareous soils. It prefers sunlit places or, in extreme cases, partial shade. This type characterized by slow growth (up to 10 cm per year), optimally suited for decorating a variety of hedges.
This variety has a remarkable variety, which is also loved by summer residents, owners adjacent areas– Golden Smaragd thuja. It got its name due to the golden hue of the branches, which does not change throughout the year. Mature tree reaches 2 meters in height, has a cone-shaped crown with dense, short shoots. This representative of conifers loves fertile soil, which should be well-moistened and drained. Doesn’t like gas pollution, dirty air of the city, so a dacha or suburban area will become suitable growing conditions for it. The ideal place for planting such a thuja is slightly acidic loam, a sunlit area. Smaragd is adapted to the Russian climate and is hardy.
Golden Smaragd, photo:
This variety requires careful loosening of the soil, as it has a superficial root system that can be easily damaged. The digging depth should not exceed 10 cm; for the same reason, with the onset of hot summer, it is advisable to mulch the ground near the trees to slow down the evaporation of moisture. The thickness of the mulch layer should be approximately 8-10 cm.
Description of the variety: Thuja western Danica is a ball-shaped shrub, which is called dwarf because of its small sizes. The height of this bush reaches about half a meter, width - 1 meter. It is characterized by the presence of dense soft needles and shoots growing upward. Growth is slow, no more than 5 cm per year. Thanks to its compact size, unpretentiousness, and external decorativeness, Danika fits perfectly into any garden design or composition. The crown of the bush lends itself well to shaping and trimming. Green hedges, curbs are an excellent option for this dwarf species. This conifer is also called spherical.
Globular thuja Danika, photo:
Another representative of the dwarf spherical Danica is the Aurea variety, which is distinguished by a more yellowish tint of needles. The requirements for conditions of detention and the characteristics of both types are similar. These shrubs love fertile soil, fresh water, regular moisture, and irrigation of the crown when it’s hot. They do not require haircuts, are easy to shape, and are frost-resistant. It should be taken into account that in the first years of life, the bushes need to be insulated for the winter (mulching, covering with appropriate material), and also protected from sunburn early spring. In 2-3 years the thuja will get used to the new place.
Aurea Danika - globular thuja, photo:
Among the varieties of these coniferous crops there are also giants, which are characterized by rapid growth and can reach a height of up to 20 meters. In central Russia, this variety most often grows up to 2-3 meters, less often - up to 5. Thuja western Brabant adds about 30-40 cm in height every year, the width of the columnar crown also does not stand still - it is approximately 10-15 cm of growth. This variety does not change the color of its needles with changing seasons; it has rich green branches, sometimes with golden tips.
This is an unpretentious frost-resistant variety that gets along well in any type of soil, but fertile soil is more preferable for it. Well tolerated by both weak and excessive abundant watering. It blooms in April-May, lends itself well to pruning and crown formation. Also popular is a relatively new variety of the Brabant-Golden variety, which demonstrates the golden color of the needles while maintaining all the basic qualities.
Brabant thuja, photo:
Eastern thujas - Aurea Nana, Biota - photo, description
There are approximately 60 varieties of eastern thuja species. Despite the fact that they are more demanding than their western counterparts, under the right conditions these trees can become a real decoration of the site. All varieties of oriental thuja have differences in the color of needles, bark, crown shape, shoots, and other characteristics.
They all love the sun, a lot of light. If you plant the oriental thuja in a shaded place, its crown will not develop properly, which will subsequently affect its decorative appearance. Such trees are excellent for creating living barriers from the wind and designing rocky gardens. Like Western varieties, they come in tall, upright, dwarf varieties (for example, Aurea Nana). Oriental thuja species are not winter-hardy.
Thuja orientalis, photo:
Dwarf Aurea Nana, photo:
Oriental thuja Biota, photo:
Most eastern representatives of conifers are heat-resistant, tolerate drought well, and thrive in areas with close groundwater and rocky soils.
Fluffy green thuja, species of which may be similar, is actually unique in each of its species. The color of the needles can be golden yellow, rich green or even blue. The size, height, shape, structure of branches, their direction can also be very diverse.
Choose for yourself which thuja you like best, the types and varieties with photos were presented above.
These are the most popular representatives of the cypress family, which are chosen by gardeners, owners of dachas, and country houses. With proper care it is decorative, useful tree will decorate your territory and delight the eye for many years.
Thuja occidentalis Spiralis 
On the right is Thuja Smaragd, on the left is Thuja yellow-leaved Lutea 
Example of a design with thuja 
Relaxation area with thuja