Thuja western Brabant height. Thuja Brabant, planting and care

is a tree or shrub of the cypress family. Most often it has the shape of a pyramid, or a cone. The bright needles of this plant will delight you both in winter and in summer. The crown of the thuja can be green, silver, blue and yellow. This coniferous plant contains essential oils. The tree is able to release phytoncides. So, by planting it on your site, you will get not only a pleasant aroma, but also health effect.

Thuja Brabant

Initially, thuja felt comfortable only in warm regions. However, over time, they removed different types and varieties of this plant, now there are more than a hundred of them, some of which are more adapted to Russian climate. Today, arborvitae adorn gardens and parks not only in the western part of our country, but also in Siberia.

The most common and most sought after type of thuja is western. But not all of its varieties are wildly popular. Gardeners focus on two: smaragd and brabant. Each of these varieties has its own advantages. thuja western brabant fell in love in our country since the time Soviet Union.

Description and features of thuja brabant

• Dimensions

The most important quality for which the Western Brabant thuja variety has earned the love of landscapers is fast growth. Only larch can compete with him in this regard. Possible sizes of thuja brabant impress. During the years of its life, the tree reaches 20 meters in height. However, in Russia, four-meter specimens are most often found. In a year, the tree adds 30 cm in height, and 10 cm in width.

• Appearance

Dense branches growing from the very base of the tree form a canonical form. The bark of the tree is slightly greyish and flakes off. The needles are very thick green or light green. Thanks to these features, in private courtyards and city streets, you can often find live hedge of thuja brabant.

• Bloom

In spring, small brown cones appear on the tree. They have an oblong shape, and a length of not more than 1 cm.

• Endurance

Thuja Brabant can often be found in the northern part of our country. This variety of thuja is one of the most picky. This also applies temperature regime(resistant to frost), and the type of soil.

• decorative

Thuja Brabant in the photo looks just as impressive as in real life. This variety of thuja lends itself perfectly to a haircut. The tree can take almost any of the shapes you choose. Thuja Brabant looks great as part of landscape composition, as well as singly.

The "living fence" from this plant does not shine through and creates a dense shadow. In addition, unlike many of its "brothers", thuja brabant does not turn yellow in winter. The crown of the tree retains its color all year round.

Types of thuja brabant

Relatively recently, gardeners turned their attention to one of the types of thuja western Brabant - Golden (Thuja occidentalis Golden Brabant). lovers landscape design attracted the golden yellow color of the needles of this plant. The color of the crown of the tree does not change even in winter. Golden thuja looks great in combination with white snow. If you want the color of the needles to be more pronounced, thuja golden brabant should be planted in a sunny location.

Thuja Brabant "Golden"

Planting and caring for thuja western Brabant

There are three ways to get a Brabant thuja in your backyard:

• Buy ready-made seedlings
• cuttings
• Planting seeds

Let's start with transplanting finished seedlings. To get started, select on the site appropriate place for your plant. Thuja Brabant loves sunshine. But if the hot rays fall on the plant for too long, the needles may burn out. If, on the contrary, the tree does not have enough light, its crown will become looser. So look for partial shade.

Tui Brabant has a closed root system. This means that it can be transplanted all year round. But, in order to reduce the number of risks, it is better to do this in the spring. If the plant is older than 2-3 years, then it needs to be transplanted only together with a clod of earth. Otherwise, you risk damaging the roots of the thuja. In addition, you can harm the fungus called mycorrhiza. It develops on the roots coniferous trees and is essential for their life.

Planting scheme of thuja brabant

The hole for your seedling should be about a meter in diameter. Consider the size of the root system. The depth of the pit is also calculated based on the length of the roots, and should be 20-30 cm more.

The plant is picky about the type of soil. However, if planting thuja brabant will be carried out in fertile soil, "gratitude" will not keep you waiting. The crown of the tree will be more fluffy and bright.

Drainage must be laid at the bottom of the hole. It can be pebbles, small stones, broken brick etc. Next, pour a mixture of leafy soil, peat and sand into the hole. (proportions 2/1/1). We place the seedling in such a way that the root neck does not deepen, but does not rise above the ground.

Then water the plant thoroughly. So that the soil does not quickly lose all moisture, it must be mulched with fallen leaves. The roots of the plant will develop faster if you feed them with nitroammophos. One tree needs about 300-500 g.

If you are planning to grow hedge", then the distance between the seedlings should be at least a meter. In order to comply with the geometry, a rope can be pulled along the proposed green fence. And do not hope that in the first year of landing your "fence" will grow significantly.

It is worth noting that a hedge obtained by transplanting Brabant seedlings is not a cheap pleasure. After all price thuja brabant considerable. To purchase one tree a meter high, you will have to pay about one and a half thousand rubles.

The distance from the house must be at least one meter

The most economical way to propagate thuja brabant is cuttings. Thuja shoots need to be harvested in the spring. It is at this time of the year that the plant is actively developing. Harvested shoots should be no older than 2-3 years. The length of the branch can be from 20 - 40 cm.

Tear off the cutting so that the bark from the "parent" tree (heels) remains at its base. The process must be torn off, not cut off. Further, at the base of the cutting, we remove all the needles, and immerse it in a growth stimulator. There the branch should stand for a day.

Tui seedlings are placed in boxes filled with wet sand. What is important is that holes must be made in these containers so that the earth “breathes” and water does not stagnate. The cuttings are dug into at an angle of 45 degrees, 3 cm deep. Seedlings are covered with a film and placed in the shade.

For cuttings to root easily, they need temperature. environment about 20 degrees. Seedlings need to be watered and sprayed daily. If it becomes too hot, the film must be replaced with gauze. Very early - time to plant your seedlings in open ground. The first winter of a young thuja is best spent in a greenhouse.

Thuja Brabant can also be propagated with the help of seeds. This is the way for the patient. However, there is an opinion that trees grown in this way are stronger. The algorithm of actions is as follows: we collect the cones from the tree and put them in a warm place. After the cones crack, we extract the seeds from them.

They need to be sent to wet sand for a couple of days. Then we prepare a mixture of soddy soil, peat and sand (3/1/1), and plant seeds in it. After the seedlings appear, we begin to accustom them to street conditions. To do this, periodically take out a box with seedlings on the street.

Planting thuja brabant

Now let's discuss care for thuja brabant. As mentioned above, the tree is very picky. It can easily endure short-term drought and dampness. A young plant should be watered at least once a week. A bucket of water is enough for this. If it is very hot outside, then it is worth increasing the number of waterings to twice a week, and adding spraying.

So that the roots of the tree get more nutrients, and the soil was more enriched with oxygen, the earth must be constantly loosened. Young thuja is prone to spring burns. Therefore, it must be covered with light material. Also in the spring, you can start feeding with special fertilizers for conifers.

Brabant is a frost-resistant variety. However, if we talk about young trees, then thuja brabant in autumn needs shelter. This will ensure that the tree will safely endure the winter. For this, light light material can serve, from which special covers can be sewn. If you do not want to spend your time on this, you can buy ready-made ones, they are sold in gardening stores.

Haircut and pruning thuja

2-3 years after planting, the thuja brabant can be cut. Sanitary pruning is carried out in the spring. Broken and dried branches during the winter are removed from the tree. At the beginning of summer, after the appearance of buds, and at the end of August, a shaping haircut is carried out. Haircut contributes to the formation of a dense green crown.

original haircut thuja brabant

If you are growing a "hedge" then this is especially important. The shoots should be shortened by a third. Less is possible, more is not recommended, because the plant may become weaker. So that the thuja takes the shape you need. You can gradually equalize the crown throughout the summer. All this work is best done on a cloudy day. Then the tree will not actively lose moisture in places of cuts.

Possible tree diseases and treatments

If the Brabant thuja is not properly cared for, the tree is susceptible to pest attacks and diseases. Let's start with the latter and tell you what they are fraught with.

Diseases of thuja western Brabant:

1. Phytophthora

Wherein fungal disease the root system of the tree is completely destroyed. The needles turn gray and wither, and the trunk rots at the base. All this can happen to thuja as a result of lack of drainage. As a result, water stagnates at the roots of the tree. It will not be possible to save the affected plant. Such a thuja should be dug up, and in the place of its landing, replace it with an earthen clod. The only salvation from phytophthora can be prevention. Periodically, thuja Brabant should be watered with fungicides.

1. brown fungus

If in early spring you saw yellowed scales on your thuja, this may be a sign of another disease - brown fungus. The cause of the disease is a lack of minerals in the soil. Simply put, you were "giving" the tree less fertilizer than it needed. It is urgent to take action, otherwise the plant will die. First, cut off all affected shoots. After that, do not forget to feed the thuja with fertilizers, and also spray the plant once every 2 weeks with a 2% solution of Fundozol.

1. Rust and Shutte

Most often, this fungus affects young thuja. The needles darken, and then completely fall off. To avoid such consequences, every spring it is necessary to treat the thuja Brabant with "Bordeaux liquid". If you forgot to do this, and the tree began to fade, treat it with Fundozol.

• Thuja false shield

• Thuja Moth

This small butterfly strikes the thuja needles, it begins to turn brown. Insects gnaw through the scales. The tops of the shoots of the tree die off. If you notice these signs of disease on a thuja, treat the tree with pyrethroids.

• thuja aphid

These small insects are covered in gray dust. They live in colonies and suck all the juice out of the tree. To get rid of the pest, spray the tree with Korbafos.

• Thuy beetle

This pest gnaws through the bark of a tree and lays eggs under it. The beetle can destroy your tree in a month. How to deal with it, gardeners do not know. It is known only about preventive measures - this is the treatment with insecticides.

Thuja western Brabant price

The price of thuja brabant will depend on the form in which you want to purchase it. If we are talking about seeds, then this is about 700 rubles per pack. If you are planning to purchase mature tree 3 meters high, you will have to fork out for 10 thousand rubles. The best option there will be a sapling, a meter high. Its cost is in the region of 1000-1500 thousand rubles.

An evergreen plant will decorate any personal plot. Bulky spruces are increasingly being replaced by representatives of the Cypress family, including the thuja western Brabant. Its juicy color is pleasing to the eye regardless of the season, and a slender crown is an excellent element of any flower bed.

Cones of thuja western

The plant exists in the form of a shrub or tree. IN comfortable conditions the height of the arborvitae reaches 20 m, but in our region they grow no more than 5 m. The lush crown has a conical shape up to 4 m in diameter. Branches cover the entire trunk to the ground.

The needles are directed upwards, the structure resembles scales.

The color of thuja Brabant ranges from rich green to light and even yellowish hues, sometimes with golden tips.

The plant blooms in spring, after which small cones are formed in the shape of an egg. Brown color. Propagation is good, most often by cuttings.

Unpretentious to growing conditions, tolerates frost well. However, the plant will not survive if the temperature drops below 30ºC or the area is too dry. He loves moisture, but feels uncomfortable during a period of prolonged thaw with sudden changes in temperature.

Brabant is a fast-growing thuja, annually adding 40 cm in length and 15 cm in width. Due to this advantage, it has found wide application in the landscape as a hedge. The rapid growth of thuja implies frequent pruning of shoots and crown formation. Haircut should take place 2-3 times a year.

Video "Thuja western Brabant"

Planting a plant

Thuja western Brabant cuttings are best planted in open ground in spring, but it can also be done in early autumn. The main thing is that the plant has a month left for rooting before the frosts come.

Thuja is unpretentious to soils, but feels better in fertile soil. You should prepare the mixture in advance, taking peat, sand and leafy soil in a ratio of 1: 1: 2.

Poorly tolerates the burning sun throughout the day or deep shadow. It is worth giving preference to a place slightly shaded, but do not forget that the plant is photophilous.

The diameter of the planting hole must match the root system. As a rule, a meter is enough. In heavy soils, drainage should be used:

• expanded clay;
• pebbles;
• broken brick.

When planting a thuja, the root collar should be in line with the ground. Excessive lifting or deepening will lead to the death of the tree. Before planting the plant, it is necessary to remove the ropes, burlap and other fasteners with which it was connected from it. Remove from the container carefully so as not to damage root system. Lightly dry the earthen ball without destroying it.

Thuja western Brabant

The distance between the trees should be left 3-4 meters, if planting takes place in several rows, then the row spacing should be 7-8 meters. In order for the thuja to form a dense hedge, they should be planted at a distance of half a meter from each other.

If the area of ​​\u200b\u200bgrowth of the western thuja is subject to strong winds, it should be tied up. To do this, three wooden pegs are driven around the trunk, which are tied together with a rope, nylon or other strong, but soft material. The trunk should not be fixed tightly, it must remain flexible under the influence of the wind so that the plant is formed strong and hardy.

Video "Landing thuja"

Care for thuja Brabant

Tui Brabant is not needed special care, the tree perfectly adapts to growing conditions. Special attention should be given in the first months after landing in open ground. Regular watering is required (once a week is enough). One tree needs about 10 liters of water, and in hot, dry weather, irrigation is carried out every 3-4 days at the rate of 15 liters per tree.

When the soil dries out a little after moistening, it should be loosened. The roots of the western thuja are located close to the surface, so do not deepen the tool by more than 10 cm. You can mulch with peat, bark, wood chips or compost. Mulch layer 7 cm.

Young trees or thuja shrubs (the first two years of life) need to be covered, protecting them from severe frosts and bright sunlight. To do this, use spruce branches or kraft paper. mature plant no such procedure is required. However, do not forget to tie up the branches so that they do not break under the weight of snow.

With the onset of spring, mineral supplement thuja. Can be used complex fertilizers for coniferous plants. It is necessary to inspect and remove damaged, dry or diseased shoots.

For 2-3 years of life of the western thuja, pruning can be carried out. For this purpose, a garden pruner is suitable, powerful, leaving no damage to the cuts. At right choice tool, the cut point will soon be delayed, and will not interfere with the development of the tree. Pruning is best done in early summer, when all the branches and buds have formed. Repeated haircut takes place in early autumn.

Regular pruning of the shoots will form a dense crown. Such a procedure will give the plant an aesthetic appearance, so that the thuja becomes a real decoration, both in the garden and in the city flower bed, especially when growing hedges.

The cuttings remaining after pruning 10-15 cm in length do not need to be thrown away. They can be dipped in a glass of water, where they will quickly take root. Such a plant should be transplanted into a pot, and in the second year safely planted in open ground. For prevention and treatment, fungicides for coniferous plants are used, for example Fitosporin, Alirin, Gamair, the Bordeaux mixture has proven itself well.

Diseases

Yellow needles at thuja western Brabant

Poor care for thuja Brabant often leads to the appearance of a fungal disease:

• mold;
• rotting of the root system;
• stem rot.

Such lesions in the early stages are almost invisible, so it is necessary to inspect the plant more often. If an uncharacteristic plaque appears on the trunk and branches, or the needles change their color, you should immediately start treating the tree.

Pests

Aphid on thuja western Brabant

Among the pests of the western thuja, the most common are:

• moth moth;
• scab;
• leaflet;
• spider mite;
• false shield;
• thuja beetle.

It is necessary to regularly treat thuja Brabant with insecticides, such as Fufanon, Aktara, Decis pro. To prevent the occurrence spider mite you can spray it with water.

The endurance, frost resistance and unpretentiousness of the plant to growing conditions made thuja Brabant a favorite. Due to the pliability in shearing, shrubs and trees of this species are given a wide variety of shapes, which is only enough for the gardener's imagination.

Useful video about thuja western

Video "Pruning thuja"

Video "How to propagate and grow thuja"

Thuja is a genus of coniferous plants belonging to the Cypress family. They are evergreen and delight with their rich color all year round.

This genus contains more than 100 various kinds and forms. One of the most unpretentious and widely used varieties is the western thuja Brabant or "tree of life".

Description

• Height: up to 4 m, in warm regions up to 20 m;
• Trunk: reddish or brown;
• Crown: conical or columnar, compact, sometimes reaching the ground;
• Needles: green or light green, may have golden tips. In winter, it does not change color, like most thujas;
• Buds: small, brown;

Advantages of Tui Brabant

Unlike other Tui varieties, Brabant is valued for:

• Rapid growth: up to 10 cm wide and 30 cm long annually;
• evergreen needles;
• Unpretentiousness in care;
• Frost resistance;
• Increased decorativeness and well-growing crown.

Planting Tui Brabant

Brabant - photophilous plant, but at the same time it should not be in the sun all day, as this can lead to dehydration of the needles and poor tolerance of the wintering plant. Therefore, it is better to choose semi-shady places.

Planting and transplanting thuja tolerates quite easily, thanks to the compact root system.

Landing is carried out in several ways, the choice of which depends on the purpose and the ability to purchase one or another planting material.

Planting seedlings

Planting seedlings better in spring by observing the following steps:

• Prepare a hole with a diameter of 1 m. The depth of the hole should be 20-30 cm more than the length of the roots;
• At the bottom, place drainage (pebbles, broken bricks, etc.) up to 20 cm high;

• Pour the soil mixture from soddy, leafy soil, sand and peat in equal proportions;

• Add a pound of nitroammophoska if the plant is mature;
• Plant a thuja without deepening the root neck, it should be flush with the ground.

Planting cuttings

The branches cut off when pruning the plant can be used as cuttings for growing new trees.

Planting in this way is best done in autumn in closed ground. For this you need:

• Take a cutting 10 to 15 cm long;
• Put in a jar of water or immediately in moist soil;

• When roots appear, plant in the ground and place in greenhouse conditions or leave it indoors, but not outdoors. Since grown from cuttings young plant will not endure the winter;

• The following year, in spring, seedlings can be planted in open ground.

Reproduction by seeds

Thuja can also reproduce by seeds, but at the same time it is lost. decorative properties. The advantage of growing plants from seeds is that the trees grow healthier and stronger.

For reproduction in this way you need:

• Collect the cones and keep them in a warm place until they crack;
• Get the seeds and place in wet sand;

• After a couple of days, plant in a container with a soil mixture consisting of soddy soil, peat and sand (3: 1: 1);

• After planting, they must be placed in a basement or other cool room;
• After this time, the containers are placed in a warm place and periodically moisten the soil;
• With the advent of seedlings, they should be accustomed to cool conditions, exposing them to a balcony or outside first, increasing the time the plants spend outside every day, before transplanting into open ground.

Care

After planting, the tree should be watered once a week, spending a bucket of water per plant. In the dry season, it is better to water 2 times a week for 15-20 liters. In summer, if the weather is hot and dry, both seedlings and mature trees need to be watered every day.

note

Thuja quite easily tolerates waterlogging of the soil, only slowing down its growth. When drying out, the crown of the tree thins, and the needles turn pale. Therefore, for thuja, excessive watering is better than drying out the soil.

If it is possible to carry out sprinkling or spraying, then these procedures can also be carried out. After them, the needles acquire shine and even greater decorative effect.

After each watering, the soil must be loosened.

To improve the quality of the soil, as well as to maintain moisture, the earth can be mulched with peat or wood chips.

In the spring, be sure to remove diseased shoots.

In the same period, it is necessary to apply mineral fertilizers for coniferous plants, the second top dressing is carried out in the summer. Also introduced in the spring. Particularly important spring top dressing the first two years after planting.

The first two years, seedlings for the winter should be protected from frost and early spring bright sunlight with spruce branches or kraft paper.

Thuja easily tolerates pruning, but at the same time, you can cut no more than a third of the length of the shoot.

• The first pruning is done a couple of years after planting with a pruner. Usually pruning is done in early June after the formation of buds and branches.

• The second pruning is done at the end of summer, which allows you to get a dense crown.
• Throughout the summer, small haircuts can be made to give the crown the desired shape.
• Another pruning should be done after the snow melts to remove branches broken and damaged during the winter.

The use of thuja

Thuja Brabant is used in landscape design as:

• Single landings;

To create a hedge, it is better to plant thuja at a distance of 50 cm or 1 m from each other, depending on the desired wall density. And it should be cut twice a year: in April and August to create a dense wall.

It is better to cut in large fragments, after which the thuja will grow better. But at the same time leave some new shoots. The crown is usually sheared in the shape of a pyramid: the wide part at the bottom, narrower at the top.

As a single planting, thuja Brabant is also widely used, giving the site an unusual look. In addition, it creates an openwork shadow and exudes a pleasant coniferous aroma that is beneficial to health.

What is better thuja Brabant or Smaragd

Smaragd, unlike Brabant, forms a pyramidal crown, which retains its shape even without a haircut, it has a more saturated color of needles and, like Brabant, tolerates frost well and is unpretentious in care. But to create a hedge, it is better to use a Brabant, as its crown grows well and creates a dense living wall.

Thuja Brabant is in great demand among gardeners. And this is not surprising, because it unpretentious plant remains attractive all year round. In addition, the culture is growing rapidly, it is easy to create a hedge from it for short term. You will learn how to plant and care for a plant in this material.

Description

Thuja Brabant, whose photo is presented in the article, is prominent representative cypress family. In its natural environment, this attractive tree is found in the forests of North America. There it grows up to 20 meters in height. At home, the size of the conifer is much more modest. And the culture does not exceed the mark of 4-5 meters. But height is not the main quality for which this plant is valued. After all, the main advantage of Brabant is rapid growth. For a year, the seedling adds up to 30 cm in height and 10 cm in width. Thanks to this quality, a beautiful hedge can be grown from trees in 2-3 years.

Location selection

Thuja Brabant is a photophilous plant, so choose well-lit areas for it. Of course, the green beauty will take root in the shade. But the color saturation and the density of the needles will suffer from a lack of light. The ideal place for the plant will be the east or west side of the site.

As for the soil, the plant takes root on any type of soil. But the most decorative qualities of thuja appear on fertile loams. If the soil is depleted, then do not forget to feed the crop regularly. Then she will delight with a lush crown and emerald color all year round.

Landing

You can plant coniferous thuja Brabant in spring and autumn. But experienced gardeners It is advised to start work in September-October. Then the plant manages to take root well before the cold weather, and with the advent of spring it continues to grow. Moreover, at autumn planting no need to water the plant.

Although the thuja is unpretentious to the soil, it is advisable to prepare the soil in advance. Then you will be sure that the culture has enough nutrients. To do this, mix the following ingredients:

• sod land - 2 parts;
• sand - 1 part;
• peat - 1 part;
• humus - 1 part.

For seedlings, dig holes 0.7 m deep and 1 meter wide. If you grow an alley of coniferous plants, then keep a distance of five meters between crops. If you want to create a hedge from thuja Brabant, then the distance between the trees should be 0.5-0.7 meters. So, how to plant a plant:

1. Lay a 20 cm layer of drainage at the bottom of the recesses. For these purposes, use expanded clay or broken brick.
2. Cover the drainage with a layer of prepared soil. It is advisable to add 500 g of nitroammophosphate to each pit.
3. Remove the plant from the container and place it in the recess along with earthy clod. To make the thuja easier to get out of the pot, do not water it before planting for 2-3 days.
4. Fill the voids with soil. At the same time, make sure that the root collar is level with the ground.
5. Tamp the soil, make a watering circle and moisten the plant well.
6. When the water is absorbed, mulch the surface with a layer of sawdust, peat or pine needles.

The first 2-3 years after planting thuja Brabant needs careful care. In spring and summer, shelter delicate needles from the scorching rays of the sun. Also, do not forget to remove dry shoots. When the plant takes root, it will require a minimum of attention.

Watering

If thuja Brabant was planted in the spring, then water the plant once a week at the rate of 10 liters per tree. In summer, increase hydration, especially in hot and dry weather. At this time, each seedling needs 20 liters of water 2 times a week. Reduce watering in the fall. An adult plant has enough rainfall and ground water. And thuja should be watered only during dry periods.

The plant responds well to irrigation. After this event, the needles acquire a rich color and shine. Therefore, carry out the procedure as often as possible. Remember that thuja Brabant tolerates waterlogging much easier, from which the growth of seedlings only slows down. But the lack of moisture affects the plant much worse: the tree drops its needles, its needles turn yellow and die.

top dressing

For the first 2 years after planting, feed the seedlings every spring. mineral fertilizers for coniferous crops. In the summer it is desirable to make compost. But do not overdo it with fertilizers and in no case increase the dosage. Otherwise, you risk burning the coniferous beauty. In the future, it is recommended to feed the thuja every 2-3 years.

Loosening and mulching

Loosen the soil the next day after each watering or rain. Otherwise, a crust will form on the surface of the soil, which will block the access of air to the roots. But don't go too deep. The roots of the coniferous beauty are superficial. And they can be damaged when loosening.

After the procedure, be sure to mulch the soil. This will help the plant retain moisture at the roots. In addition, the mulch will nourish the crop and prevent weeds from growing. For these purposes, use sawdust, dry grass, peat or needles of coniferous trees.

pruning

The first time the plant should be trimmed two years after planting. Moreover, it is better to carry out this event at the end of spring, when twigs and buds form. Further pruning is carried out as follows:

• Every spring, as soon as the snow melts, cut out any damaged or broken branches. This will improve the appearance of the plant and protect it from diseases and pests.
• Perform shaping pruning at the end of summer every year. Then next year the thuja needles will become thicker.

It is better to carry out sanitary or shaping pruning on cloudy days. Then the shoots hidden under the crown will not get burned. If you attach certain form coniferous beauty, then shorten the branches no more than 1/3 of the length. Otherwise, "bare places" will overgrow for a long time.

Preparing for winter

Young plants will not be able to survive the frost on their own, so prepare them for the cold. To do this, tie up the crown and cover the crops with lutrasil or other nonwoven fabric. In addition, do not forget to mulch the soil near the plant and cover the roots with spruce branches. Adult thuja calmly tolerate a drop in temperature to -25 ° C. Therefore, it is not necessary to cover them. But still tie up the needles of the trees. Otherwise, it will break from the weight of the snow.

Reproduction by cuttings

Coniferous beauty seedlings are quite expensive. Therefore, if you want to propagate thuja Brabant cheaply, use the cutting method. But keep in mind that shoots of a plant that has reached at least 2 years of age are suitable for this. Get started at the end of the summer. Then the sprouts will become stronger during the autumn and winter, and in the spring they can be planted in a permanent place.

For cuttings, choose strong shoots 50 cm long. Moreover, do not cut off the branches, but pull them out with a piece of bark. Before rooting, hold the shoots in a solution of potassium permanganate or heteroauxin for several hours. This will disinfect the cut sites and protect the cultures from pathogenic microbes.

Root cuttings in a special substrate consisting of equal parts soddy soil, sand and peat. Before planting, be sure to disinfect the soil. How to root cuttings:

1. Pour the substrate into boxes or containers and moisten.
2. trim lower part the needles of the cuttings, treat the sections with "Kornevin" and root them into the soil. Bookmark depth - 2-3 cm.
3. Cover the landing with glass or polyethylene and place in a warm, bright place.

In order for the cuttings to take root, regularly moisten the soil with a spray bottle. In addition, do not forget to periodically air the seedlings, otherwise they will rot. In winter, provide cuttings additional lighting phytolamp. When the plants take root, and new shoots appear on them, harden off the seedlings. To do this, first remove the film for 5-10 minutes and gradually increase the time. After that, accustom the plants to the open air. Provide proper care thue Brabant, and the coniferous beauty will delight you attractive view and rapid growth over the years.

Advantages and disadvantages

Gardeners argue: what is better to plant for a living fence - thuja Smaragd or Brabant? Each variety has its own advantages and disadvantages. For example, in Smaragd, the color of the needles is more saturated. But Brabant grows faster, and in a year the growth of the variety is 0.5 meters, in contrast to 10-20 cm of the first grade.

At the same time, frost resistance in Smaragd is much higher, and the variety takes root in the shade, but does not tolerate waterlogging. Brabant, on the other hand, feels good in areas with a close occurrence of groundwater. But the variety loves a lot of light. In general, which of these varieties is suitable for the site, you decide. In any case, these types western arborvitae you will not be disappointed. After all, they are unpretentious and delight with their beauty all year round.

Giving it additional attractiveness and naturalness, it protects from dust and snow, and much more.

It looks like a hedge from Tui

And the thuja hedge remains very popular today. Why do thousands of people around the world prefer thuja, and not some other plant out of dozens of possible ones? In such interesting question it would be helpful to go into more detail.

Thuja is evergreen tree or shrub (depending on the variety) of an attractive round-pyramidal shape. It perfectly tolerates frequent haircuts, remaining thick and maintaining a pleasant color. Therefore, you can give it almost any architectural form.

With proper care, the plant can easily live for many decades, delighting its owners with a beautiful appearance. Grows best on sunny side, but if necessary, it can grow quite successfully in the shade. True, in the latter case, many varieties retain their decorative effect. Thuja is not too demanding both on the composition of the soil and on moisture. Most cultivars tolerate low temperatures air.

Many owners of thuja hedges like that the air in the area where it grows a large number of of these plants, differs in freshness and aroma. This is not surprising: the plant is able to ionize the air and, importantly, the leaves contain essential oil, thanks to which a faint, subtle, but very pleasant aroma always hovers in the air.

No less important is the fact that a healthy thuja retains a luxurious crown both in summer and in winter - like most other conifers. If many coniferous plants have certain preferences for climate, then thuja can grow well both in the southern and northern regions of our country, easily and quickly adapting to the climate.

Thuja also tolerates transplanting much more easily than most other conifers. That is why thuja hedge length is one of the best and most common options.

However, before you start creating a living fence, it will be useful to learn about some varieties of arborvitae. Of course, in general, varieties are quite numerous. Therefore, in order to make a final choice suitable variety, you should learn at least about the most common and popular varieties.

What is interesting thuja variety Brabant

Among the many varieties of western thuja, thuja Brabant is one of the most sought after. One of its main advantages is its rapid growth and large size.

In a warm climate, this thuja can reach a height of 20 meters, and the diameter of the crown of such a tree is 4 meters!

However, in middle lane thuja rarely reaches a height of 4-6 meters.

However, for most people who decide to get a thuja hedge, this is more than enough. With regular watering, soil sufficiently rich in microelements and the absence of diseases, thuja can add up to 40 centimeters in height in a year. During the same period, its crown can add up to 15 centimeters in diameter.

The shape of the crown is very pretty - a pronounced cone. At the same time, even a neglected crown is very compact: thick branches descend to the very soil, but practically do not stick out to the sides. The brown or reddish-brown bark would give a special elegance to the plant, but it is almost invisible due to the extremely dense crown.

The shade of the needles can vary significantly (from dark green to light green). In some cases, golden tips can also be seen. First of all, it depends on the type of soil and its moisture content. Many experts highly appreciate thuja Brabant for its peculiarity: in winter period it retains its color. For most varieties of thuja, this is extremely uncharacteristic: they turn yellow for the winter. But not Brabant!

Thuja begins to bloom in mid-April (plus or minus a couple of weeks - depending on the climate in the area). Small brown cones with a diameter of about 1 centimeter are ovoid or oblong in shape.

In general, this variety is great choice for people who decide to acquire a luxurious hedge. It is suitable for landing in almost the entire territory of our country. The only exceptions are dry areas, as well as areas with extremely low winter temperatures (-30 degrees Celsius and below).

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What you should know about thuja Smaragd

Almost as popular as the variety Brabant and thuja Smaragd. This plant is widely used in modern gardening of land. Outwardly, the Smaragd variety is similar to Brabant. The same large bush with a crown of almost regular cone. The popularity of this variety is due to the accuracy of the crown shape and dense, tightly adjacent branches.

At good conditions this thuja variety quite quickly reaches 4-6 meters, after which the growth, which is not too fast, further slows down. The crown diameter at the base usually reaches 1-1.5 meters.

The Smaragd variety grows much more slowly than Brabant - in one year, at best, the growth is 10-12 centimeters. Therefore, the thuja reaches a height sufficient for the formation of a hedge (2-2.5 meters) only at the age of 10-12 years.

Like Smaragd, this variety retains rich green color crowns both in the warm season and in the cold.

The crown of most other thuja varieties, as mentioned above, turns yellow or turns brown.

If you decide to arrange a hedge of Smaragd thuja on your site, you should know that it not only grows rather slowly, but is also very picky about the moisture content and composition of the soil. It grows slowly, often gets sick, and sometimes dies if the soil does not contain all the necessary nutrients. Therefore, the soil must be regularly fertilized and constantly moistened. However, excess moisture can also be detrimental to the plant. Therefore, if the level of groundwater is quite high, it is necessary to take care of high-quality drainage.

When planting, it is best to place the bushes at a distance of 50-60 centimeters from each other. It grows well not only in well-lit areas, but also in the shade. If in the landing area are often observed strong winds, it is worth providing the plant with appropriate protection. Otherwise, the plant may be uprooted, or many branches will simply be broken.

In the first two years after planting a thuja of this variety, it is necessary to carry out shallow loosening of the soil near the trunk once a month. This will allow easy access fresh air to the roots, providing excellent well-being and the fastest engraftment in a new place. From time to time, mulching can be carried out by introducing a small amount of peat, mixing it with the soil.

In the spring, it is necessary to eliminate dry shoots so that they do not spoil appearance plants and at the same time did not interfere with the growth of young branches. When it comes time to cut the thuja, you can give its crown almost any shape. But it is better not to cut the branches too much - one third of the maximum length.

In general, the Smaragd variety was bred for growth in northern countries with a harsh climate. Therefore, it perfectly withstands low temperatures (excluding extreme ones, up to -35 degrees and below). But still, in the first year after planting, the plant can be covered with burlap to prevent freezing. This must be done very carefully if you do not want to break young branches.

Of course, thuja varieties for hedges are much more numerous than those given here. But to tell about all varieties is simply impossible.

How is the planting of thuja

by the most in a simple way to acquire a hedge from a thuja will be an appeal to specialists. Yes, you have to spend. But they will do all the work quickly, efficiently and competently. But still, many people prefer to do this work with their own hands.

So, if you want to plant thuja on your site, you can do it in two ways: seeds and cuttings. The first option takes much longer (2-3 years more!), but it is much simpler and cheaper. But it is worth talking about both options.

So, if you decide to grow thuja from seeds yourself, you will have to:

That's all. Now you need to take care of the plant, removing weeds and watering the ground if necessary.

In a few years (usually 5-7 years), a luxurious row of young bushes will appear in this place.

How to care for thuja?

If you do not want to spend so much time creating a living fence, you can opt for cuttings. They are best cut from a young, strong tree.

You can also buy cuttings in specialized stores.

Planting mature trees is not worth it. They are quite expensive, and their survival rate is very low: thuja does not tolerate transplantation from place to place. Therefore, you risk throwing thousands of rubles down the drain.