Thuja has recently become an increasingly popular tree, especially when it comes to coniferous hedges. Indeed, thuja is a relatively fast-growing plant that is easy to shape and rarely exposed to disease. Thanks to the dark green color of the needles, it looks great both indoors and outdoors. Learn more about cultivating a beautiful North American tree - folded thuja.

General description of the species

Folded Thuja (Thuja plicata) or, as it is called, giant, Canadian red cedar - a species from the genus Thuja (Thuja), belonging to the Cypress family. The origin of this evergreen culture is North America and East Asia. Under natural conditions, the tree can grow up to 60 m in height.

The introduction of the plant into the European ecosystem made it possible to grow crops up to 20–30 m high. Already at the age of eight, the tree reaches 1.5 m. In the climatic conditions of Russia, they often grow thawed western rather than folded, since red cedar tolerates Russian winter frosts worse.

Important! Varieties with colorful needles are recommended to be planted in full sun, and plant varieties with a green crown can grow in partial shade.

Thuja is a single-stem, coniferous plant. Evergreen trees or shrubs have a dense crown formed by branching growths in the same plane. The scaly needles are firmly attached to the branches. The plant is characterized by the presence of elongated cones. Their size is 10-12 mm. At the top of the cones are flakes with indentations. The seeds are dipterous, flat in shape.

The reproduction of folded thuja can occur by seed, cuttings, or branches and layering. It will take about 6 years to grow a conifer in a seed way; in addition, all the maternal properties of the plant will be lost. Therefore, gardeners most often propagate thuja cuttings, using seedlings for this, which are 4-5 years old.

Growing Features

Thuja prefers to grow in medium humidity, on well-drained soils. The plant needs full sun, but light partial shade will do. Permanent shadow will lead to deterioration of the crown and loss of decorative properties of the plant. The coniferous tree has a rather wide range of soil tolerance, but nevertheless it prefers moist, neutral, alkaline, well-drained loams. Dry conditions are bad. When landing, avoid open, windy places.

Frost resistance of folded thuja is somewhat less than western. Varieties of folded thuja can withstand thirty-degree frosts in central Russia (in Moscow and Moscow region). At lower temperatures in winter it can freeze slightly. In the Crimea and Krasnodar Territory, it may suffer from drought. Observing all the rules of agricultural technology, gardeners manage to achieve good results when growing this evergreen plant.

Landing

Thuja seedlings with an open root system are planted at the age of 4-5 years. When planning planting a group of plants, it is necessary to maintain a distance of 3-5 m between the seedlings, depending on the type and size of the adult.

The landing algorithm is as follows:

1. The soil for growing thuja must be loose, fertile, moisture- and breathable. The soil can be purchased at any garden store or made independently from 1 part sand, 1 part soil and 2 parts peat. Also, for young plants, a soil mixture is suitable, which includes: coniferous earth (2 parts), leafy soil (4 parts), sand (1 part).
2. In spring, you should dig a hole 30-40 cm deep. If the landing area is characterized by a high level of groundwater, good drainage should be provided. Expanded clay, pebbles, chipped bricks (layer 5-6 cm) should be laid at the bottom.
3. Set the seedling so that the root neck is at the level of the topsoil. Spread the roots.
4. Sprinkle the seedling with earth, tamp to make a small depression.
5. Pour 10 liters of water. She must be defended.

Care

During the growing season and for a recently planted tree, watering varies somewhat. In summer, thuja care consists of regular watering. Water the plant as the soil dries, preventing its cracking. You need to loosen the soil regularly.

Important! In humid climates, dead shoots are considered ideal soil for breeding pests, so crowns should be inspected regularly.

Top dressing

In summer, thuja requires potassium, and in spring - nitrogen. For an adult tree, a little phosphorus can be added. Feeding should be carried out no more than 2 times in 30 days. All mineral fertilizers must be purchased for conifers. The last time fertilizers are applied in the last month of summer.1- potassium top dressing in the summer; 2 - nitrogen top dressing in the spring; 3- phosphorus top dressing for an adult tree

Pruning

Dive the plant in the first 2-3 years after planting is not necessary. Any shaping and trimming is done in the summer, the shoots are shortened by 1/3 of the entire length. Thuja is perfect for creating decorative geometric shapes when cropping. You can not cut the crop before the start of the growing season and before the winter "sleep" of the plant.

For winter, young plants are covered with non-woven material, necessarily mulching the earth: tree bark, peat or organic matter.

Diseases and Pests

Thuja can be affected by fungal diseases, and their spread is fast. The appearance of faded needles and dry shoots is a sign to the gardener about the beginning of the development of a fungal disease. A solution of copper sulfate in this case is a lifesaver. Processing must be done in 3 stages, with an interval of 14-20 days.

Did you know? The name "thuja" the tree got thanks to the Swedish botanist Linnaeus. It comes from the Greek word thuo, which means “sacrifice”, since ancient cedar trees were often burned to add a pleasant aroma to the fire in the temples.

False scale insects and aphids are malicious pests of conifers. The drug "Karbofos" (in aerosols or in powder) can help get rid of them. Spraying is carried out in 2 stages with a break of 2-3 weeks. Using this tool, you need to clearly follow the instructions.

To combat aphids, which settle on the ends of young shoots and suck juice from them, as a result of which they cease to grow and dry, apply “Fitoverm”. If quick measures are not taken to combat this pest, the tree will lose its decorative effect and may even die. The plant can be treated with other insecticides according to the scheme specified in the instructions for the drug.

Varieties

There are varieties of arborvitae that are most loved by Russian gardeners. For years, they have noted the survival of plants in the climatic conditions of Russia, especially in the care and decorativeness. Gardeners agree that caring for varieties of folded thuja is approximately the same, but it is important to remember that almost all varieties may not survive at very low winter temperatures.

Did you know? Native Americans in ancient times made tea from branches and leaves of arborvitae. This drink has been a valuable source of vitamin C during the winter months.

Atrovirens

Thuja plicata Atrovirens is one of the most impressive evergreen pyramidal trees. It grows to 6-7.6 m, develops slowly, survives to 80 years. Erect, dense, fast-growing evergreen. The crown is widely conical, dense. The branches are mostly straight or slightly open, densely spaced. The needles are densely located, scaly, ovate (0.1-0.5 cm), leathery, glossy, saturated dark green in color.

The variety is undemanding in care. It grows best on moderately moist, well-drained soils, in places with high humidity. Easily resists wind and urban conditions. Requires regular watering for best performance.

Fastigiata

Thuja plicata Fastigiata is a tree with fragrant, dark green, thin needles that generously “wrap” branches, reaching a height of 12 m. The crown width ranges from 2-3 m to 3–3.6 m, forming a narrow pyramidal or columnar silhouette with strongly horizontal branches. The composition of the soil Fastigiata undemanding, relatively winter-hardy.

Whipcord

Thuja plicata Whipcord - a small, wide, dense, slowly growing evergreen shrub, 1.2-1.5 m high. The crown is wide, domed, picturesque. Young shoots are thin, not branched, filiform, drooping. The needles are located densely, scaly, ovate (0.1-0.5 cm), leathery, glossy, dark green. In winter, it acquires a copper-red hue.

The variety is undemanding in care. It grows best in soils with moderate humidity, with good drainage. Prefers high humidity. Easily tolerates pruning, tolerant to windy and shady places. In the climatic conditions of Western Siberia, it requires winter shelter. Vipkord is suitable for cultivation in urban environments. The annual growth of the plant ranges from 7 to 15 cm. The ten-year-old will have a height of up to 1.2 m.

Kagers Beauty

The giant thuja Kagers Beauty is a medium, wide, slowly growing evergreen shrub. It reaches a height of 1.5-1.8 m. The crown is spherical, bright, picturesque. Branches are wide, slightly hanging. Young shoots are thin, long.

The needles are dense, scaly, ovate (0.1-0.5 cm), leathery, glossy, bright from dark green to medium green, with a copper-red tint in the winter. Undemanding plant care. It grows best on deep, moderately moist, well-drained soils, in areas with high humidity. It tolerates pruning.

Zebrina

Zebrina is the mottled form of western red cedar. The variety is notable for lilac-green needles with stripes of cream yellow color. It usually ripens in the form of a narrow pyramidal tree up to 9 to 15 m in height, and grows rapidly. Variegated needles provide a good vertical accent in landscape design.

Often it is grown as a high hedge. This coniferous plant, even freezing in winter, is able to quickly recover in the spring, therefore it is recommended for cultivation in colder regions of Russia. Zebrina grows slowly, at the age of ten the tree will have a height of about 1.2 m.

Martin

Martin Red Cedar is a medium-sized, evergreen conifer with neat, medium-green foliage that has a bronze hue in winter. This narrow conical plant is often used for hedging (creating a barrier, a border in landscaping using thuja or using coniferous culture as an artistic method of dividing space into separate sections).

If you rub the needles with your hands, you can feel the aroma of pineapple. The tree reaches a height of 6 m, every 10–20 years adding about 2 m in growth. Martin grows well in moist, carefully drained soil.

The composition of the soil, this variety is unpretentious, can grow in soil with an advantage:

• clay;
• loam;
• sand.

The soil may be acidic, alkaline or neutral.

Tui are attracted by the smell of needles and a dense crown with distinct forms. This is a very valuable material for landscaping. Folded thuja can be used in single and group plantings, like a living wall, to form malls. In the garden, it goes well with other conifers (eastern spruce, European larch), cypress, hemlock. In addition, you should not forget that all 365 days a year an evergreen will delight the eye. The main thing is not to make a mistake with the choice of variety and to properly care for the plant.