Thuja (lat. Thuja) - an evergreen plant with soft needle leaves, often used in landscape design. There are 5 types of this tree. Western thuja is the most popular among them: the demand for this variety is explained by a high level of decorativeness, unpretentiousness in care, and resistance to low temperatures. How to grow a beautiful thuja tree of the Brabant variety in the open ground, the article will tell.

Features of the tree, why it is so popular

Before you purchase a plant, you should familiarize yourself with its description, characteristics, and understand whether it can grow in the climatic conditions of the terrain and on the existing site. The western thuja variety called Brabant (Thuja occidentalis Brabant) in the regions of Russia and Ukraine reaches a maximum height of 3.5–4 m.

Did you know? Noting the dignity of thuja wood, such as resistance to decay, the people called this tree a "negligee." Often they make boats, canoes, and the tops of sports yachts.

In the southern latitudes, it grows 4-5 times higher. In trees, a crown is formed in the form of a cone with a diameter of 4 m. In young specimens, it is characterized by density, in mature specimens it is loose. Often closes the trunk almost to ground level. The needles of this species are scaly, painted green. When changing seasons, she does not change color.In spring, the thuja blooms. Blossom is inconspicuous, in the form of inflorescences-spikelets. Male flowers are located in the upper part of the crown and are painted in yellow-green tones, female flowers are formed on the lower branches, have a brownish-yellow color. After flowering, fruits are formed - small brown cones in size. In length, they reach 8-12 mm. In shape they are oblong, ovoid.

Thuja Brabant is appreciated due to such characteristics:

• high level of decorativeness;
• beautiful crown shape;
• compactness;
• unpretentiousness;
• frost resistance;
• drought tolerance;
• fast growth.

It is possible to grow thuja Brabant practically on all territory of Russia. It is not suitable for too cold regions, for example, Siberia, as well as for very arid areas.

Variety varieties

Among gardeners and designers, one variety of the Brabant variety, Golden, is most popular. This graceful shrub has a fluffy crown. The needles have yellow ends, which in general gives the crown a golden tint. This undersized variety is well planted against the backdrop of high thuja Brabant, which will emphasize the original color of the needles.

Landing

Planting a coniferous tree is not difficult: this process is practically no different from planting any other plant.

To grow a beautiful and durable tree, you should follow a few rules:

1. Choose a place in accordance with the preferences of the plant.
2. Properly prepare the soil on the site.
3. When landing, adhere to appropriate technology.
4. Provide regular quality care.

The thuja shows the maximum decorativeness when planting in sunny areas, sheltered from drafts. A tree can grow in partial shade, while the beauty of the crown will suffer insignificantly. But when landing in the shade, the thuja will be stretched, and its needles will acquire an ugly yellowish tint. This conifer grows best in light, well-moistened soil. Peaty, clayey clay loam and fertile loam are ideal for it.If you plant a tree in other soil - for example, depleted, dry - the plant will not be so beautiful. To purchase a seedling, you should go to a gardening shop or a well-established nursery. Planting stock is sold with a closed or open root system. It is better to choose a seedling in a container - it quickly adapts to the conditions of open ground, develops and grows better.

Important! When planting a thuja, it should be controlled so that its root neck is placed at the same level with the surface of the earth. Otherwise, the tree will grow poorly, it is also possible the development of rot.

When buying, you should opt for a healthy, strong specimen, on the bark of which there are no damages, spots. An unpleasant, putrid odor should not come from an earthen coma. Planting a seedling with protected roots can be carried out at any time, with the exception of winter and late autumn. As a rule, they plan it in the spring.

When planting planting material from the container, one should act on the following technology:

1. Clear the area of ​​plant debris in the fall.
2. Make a deep digging of the soil on the bayonet of a shovel.
3. In the spring, a few weeks before the seedling moves into the ground, dig a 60–80 cm deep planting hole.
4. Prepare a soil mixture of the following components: leaf soil or turf, peat, sand in a ratio of 2: 1: 1.
5. Add nitroammophosk in the amount of 50-100 g.
6. A day before planting, it is good to water the seedling.
7. Lay on the bottom of the pit a layer of drainage 10-15 cm high of coarse sand, gravel, broken brick, which will drain excess moisture.
8. Remove planting material from the container without destroying the earthen lump.
9. Set it in the center of the pit.
10. Fill the well with prepared soil mixture.
11. Lightly seal.
12. At a distance of 15–20 cm from the trunk, make a groove along the entire diameter of the trunk circle.
13. Slowly pour a bucket of water into it.
14. Lay a layer of mulch from compost, peat, bark.

Thuja care

The described conifer will not require much time from the owner of the site. He needs minimal care. The tree should be watered, fed with fertilizers, and take care of the soil around the trunk. One of the most important and time-consuming procedures is pruning. In order to prevent the spread of diseases and harmful insects, which can lead to loss of decorativeness or death of the plant, it must be regularly inspected.

Watering and feeding

In the first month after placing the seedling in the ground, it must be watered at least once a week. Under one plant, pour 10 liters of water. If there is no rain for a long time, watering can be done twice a week. Adult plants are able to independently take care of the extraction of moisture, so you can moisten them 1-2 times a month. In the summer, thuja needs to have a shower - pour a diffused stream of water from the hose. This will not only moisturize the tree well, but also wash away pollution from the needles.Drop watering for thuja. To improve the growth and decorativeness of the plant, it should be fed. Organics are not suitable for conifers - they need mineral fertilizers. Tue is enough for one feeding per season, and it is better to do it in the spring. Any ready-made universal fertilizer, for example, Kemira-Universal, or specially designed for coniferous crops, the most popular of which is Agrecol, is suitable.

If the thuja was planted according to technology, and fertilizers were introduced into the planting pit, then the first dressing should be done no earlier than 2 years later. Up to this point, the already introduced nutrients will be quite enough for the young plant.

Video: how to fertilize thuja

Loosening and mulching

Each watering and precipitation should be combined with loosening the soil around the trunk. This is necessary to prevent the formation of a hard crust on a surface that impedes the normal access of moisture and air to the roots. In order not to damage the root system, you need to loosen it shallow - to a depth of 8-10 cm. Do not forget about such an important procedure as cleaning the site of weeds.

Weeds are one of the most common causes of the spread of diseases and pests. Many of them are intermediate hosts of pathogenic bacteria and insects, so they should be destroyed with roots in a timely manner. Around the trunk at least once a year you need to lay a layer of mulch. Such an event will reduce the amount of moisture, loosening and weeding.

Mulch maintains an optimal level of moisture, inhibits weed growth, and improves soil structure. The near-trunk zone can be mulched with various materials - mowed grass, sawdust, straw. However, it should be noted that in winter they can attract rodents to the tree, so it is better to replace them with spruce branches. Can be used as mulch peat and wood chips. The recommended height of the mulch layer is 7–10 cm. In the cold, it must be increased to 15–20 cm.

Cropping and shaping

Pruning is an important plant care procedure.

Important! It is necessary to cut a tree only with a disinfected tool. One pruner or saw for different plants cannot be used without disinfection.

It is done for several purposes:

• to form a beautiful crown;
• to prevent the development of diseases and pest attacks;
• to give a certain shape to the crown;
• to restrain the growth of a tree;
• to stimulate the formation of young shoots.

The procedure with sanitary goals is planned for early spring, the shaping haircut - in June, when the formation of a kidney and a branch is completed, and August. The first haircut is done when the tree is 2-3 years old. To limit growth, conventional pruning is used, during which the side shoots are shortened by 1/3. More than one third of green mass cannot be removed in one haircut.

Breeding

To breed thuja, they resort to two methods: seed and vegetative. The first of them is not used at home, as it is very troublesome. The seeds are bred by thuja breeders in nurseries. Houses carry out cuttings. Planting material is cut in adult plants in late autumn. The cuttings are separated from the mother plant and planted in a plastic bag with a fastener, filled with a soil mixture of 1 kg of leaf soil and 1 kg of sand.

Before the roots appear, the stalk needs to be ventilated and moistened every day as needed. It is better to grow it in a dark place. Rooting should occur a month later. After this, the handle should be moved to the pot, putting it in a place well lit by the sun. Humidify the earth in it every 2 days. As soon as the plant grows, it can be planted in open ground.

Possible diseases and pests

Thuja Brabant is distinguished by strong immunity. She is only affected by diseases or pests if she is improperly planted or too little attention is paid to her. The fact that the plant is unhealthy, it is signaled by changes in appearance: a decrease in decorativeness, oppression, yellowing and dropping needles.

Timely preventive procedures, such as: prevent the development of diseases and parasite attacks

• top dressing;
• autumn cleaning of the site;
• deep digging of the soil;
• sanitary scraps;
• early spring spraying of the crown with fungicides "Fundazol", "KhOM", "Abiga-Peak", "Topsin-M", Bordeaux liquid, copper sulfate.

You can find out what the thuja got sick and how to treat it, by reading the information in the table:

To cause enormous damage to the plant, harmful insects can lead to the loss of its decorative effect. Danger for thuja are several species, among which are gnawing and sucking parasites.

Ways to combat them are presented in the table:

Winter preparations

Due to the ability to tolerate low temperatures well, the thuja does not need shelter for the winter. Only young trees should be covered, the root system of which is still poorly developed. The near-trunk zone should be mulched with a high layer of pine bark, sawdust or peat.

So that the snow does not damage the branches, in late autumn they should be tightly tied with a rope and pulled to the trunk. Like all conifers, thuja is prone to burns caused by the first rays of the spring sun. Therefore, in February, the crown should be wrapped with an opaque material that does not allow sunlight, for example, kraft paper, agrofibre, burlap. It is necessary to remove such shelter in April, when the threat of burns is over.

Video: preparing thuja for winter

Tree growth time

The growth rates of the thuja western Brabant are accelerated: over the year it adds 30 cm in height. The crown becomes 10 cm wider every year. The tree reaches its maximum height by about 15 years of age. In total, she is able to live for about 150 years.

Did you know? The Latin name Thuja is borrowed from the Greek language, which means incense, sacrifice. The ancient Greeks called this plant because they burned it during the sacrifices, designed to appease the gods.

The use of wood in landscape design

Most often, thuja Brabant is used to form hedges. It is also recommended for single and group landings. Often these trees can be seen in the alleys. Thanks to a skillful haircut, you can form both tall slender trees and undersized lush bushes.

As a fence

The described thuja is an ideal tree for "living fences". This is due to its ability to grow quickly and tolerate any haircut well.Thuja fences are able to hide a resting place, backyard or summer cottage from prying eyes, and reliably protect it from the wind. When planting in hedges between seedlings, a distance of 50–70 cm should be left.

Single landing

Thuja looks beautiful on the site and as a tapeworm, i.e., a separate tree. It can be shaped like a cone or ball, a pyramid. You can leave it growing as a tall slender plant, or using a haircut to make a stunted bush.So, growing thuja Brabant is not difficult.Planting and growing a beautiful tree on the site will turn out even at the beginning gardener. After all, this variety is considered one of the most unpretentious among thuja.