Thuja belongs to the cypress family, and like all members of this family is a coniferous evergreen. In Russia, all species are only cultivated and are used in landscape and landscape design. Plants have different sizes, shapes and colors, but they have in common:
- close to the surface (at a depth of 5-8 cm) located roots;
- the neck is at a distance of 2 cm above the ground;
- fragile branches growing up to the top;
- non-falling needles, on which wet snow sticks in winter.
Thuja is a cold-resistant plant that can withstand frosts down to -35 degrees, but its listed features explain why winter, especially snowy, with wind and low temperatures, can be a serious test for it.
In the spring, the thuja, which was left unprotected in the winter, can be seen with broken branches, with a yellow lifeless crown.
The color of the crown is restored if frostbite is not critical, but it is much more difficult to eliminate the break of branches, this significantly worsens the decorative effect of the thuja.
Thuja prefers neutral or slightly acidic fertile soil and abundant watering. With a lack of moisture, the needles dry and turn yellow. A change in the color of the crown can also signal a violation of the optimal acidity of the soil. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor these indicators throughout the growing season.
Top dressing should be carried out no more than 2 times a year, mainly with phosphorus and potash fertilizers in the form of granules, since such fertilizers enter the soil gradually, as moisture enters.
Excess nitrogen leads to a rapid increase in the volume of needles, which, with fragile branches and features of their attachment to the trunk, leads to breakage of shoots and a violation of the shape of the arborvitae. The plant is sensitive to direct sunlight, so the best place for its growth is a slightly shaded place.
Preparing for winter
Termination of top dressing
All types of plant nutrition are stopped from the beginning of August. Otherwise, due to the active growth of the needles, the branches will not get stronger before frost and in winter they may freeze or break.
pruning
Work on preparing the thuja for winter includes freeing the crown from old needles and preventive protection against pests. This is done in stages to effectively protect the plant.
The start of pre-winter preparation is mid-August.
Root protection
Work with the root system begins with the destruction of weeds growing around the tree. Next, carefully dig the soil, not forgetting that the roots are near the surface. Plant root protection includes measures to prevent soil freezing.
This is done by insulating the root system at the end of October with the help of loose organics: leaf litter, straw, compost, rotted manure, pouring them in the near-trunk circle with a layer 10-30 cm thick.
Care should be taken with peat, which can acidify the soil under the thuja, however, due to its good thermal insulation, it is good to use it as a top layer. Such mulching retains moisture and protects the roots from cold weather, which is especially important for young seedlings.
Additional protection can be spruce branches laid on top of the mulch. In spring, the spruce branches are removed, and the mulch remains as a natural fertilizer.
Watering
Before winter, the trees are generously watered: with a lack of moisture, the plant may dry out after wintering, because with the onset of spring warming, intensive evaporation of moisture from the needles, which has a large area, begins. In addition, the loss of moisture leads to a decrease in the protective and decorative properties of the thuja:
To prevent this, before the onset of frost, the plants are watered abundantly. At the same time, root-forming preparations are added to strengthen the root system. This is especially important for young plants, they need: up to 10 liters per plant 2-3 years old, and up to 50 liters per older plant.
But! Excessive watering in winter can have a detrimental effect on the survival of the plant: the roots can rot or freeze, and branches that are excessively saturated with moisture can be torn due to osmosis.
Shelter time
According to the advice of experienced gardeners, the procedure should be performed at the end of autumn, in cloudy, without sun, weather. Precipitation at this moment is highly undesirable for a dry plant to go into shelter. Wet needles collected in a compact volume can rot.
The optimal temperature during the operation is not higher than +4 degrees, so as not to provoke the mating process. Shelter occurs in 2 stages:
- tying a bush;
- plant cover.
strapping
Due to its structure (the branches are attached to the trunk towards the top), the main problem in winter is the collapse of the bush. Therefore, first of all, it is necessary to prevent the plant from breaking under the weight of snow. With a rope, a tourniquet or a strip of fabric 3-5 cm wide, the entire crown is tied with a spiral from bottom to top.
The main thing when choosing a strapping material is not to injure branches and needles during the operation.
Fishing line, nylon threads and any other synthetic materials that can cut branches when pulled are categorically not suitable here. A tall tree can be tied not completely, but only to the height of human growth.
Important! When tying a thuja, it is not necessary to tightly tighten the bush; there should be enough air between the branches so that the plant does not dry out during wintering.
Covering material for preserving thuja
Trees are covered by:
- non-woven textiles, for example, agrofibre, lutrasil, spunbond, agrospan;
- a natural product with a loose structure (gauze, burlap);
- artificial material with a loose structure (old tulle with noticeable holes);
- kraft paper.
How to insulate thuja
The canvas must be breathable so that the plant can breathe. Polyethylene is not suitable here. Using a stapler, covers (bags) are made from the material in accordance with the shape and size of the trees. Shelters for industrial-made arborvitae are currently being sold.
It must be remembered that during winter thaws, condensate accumulates on non-woven materials, they begin to pass air poorly, and this can lead to rotting of plants. Unlike materials such as agrofibre, burlap, gauze and tulle do not collect condensate and remain breathable.
When working with gauze, first cut pieces from the roll along the height of the tree. They are laid, starting from the top and descending to the base of the crown. Laying is made multi-layered, connecting pieces of gauze with a stapler. An alternative to fabric is kraft paper.
The plant is wrapped in paper in a spiral, starting from the top and going down to the base. The paper is overlapped, fixed using a stapler and rope.
Frameworks
Frame devices are suitable for protecting young plants of small size. They can be made independently or purchased ready-made. To make frames for shelters, wooden blocks, slats or plastic pipes and wire are required.
Depending on the size of the plant, structures with three or four supports are made. The length of the racks is at least two-thirds of the height of the tree, and if possible, capture the top of the crown.
The supports are connected by crossbars, and such a frame is covered with a cover material or a cover is put on it, fixing it all on the frame. This will help keep the thuja in winter, even with sleet and freezing rain.
Thuja care in winter in the Moscow region
In central Russia, snowy winters are characteristic, with temperature fluctuations. After heavy snowfalls, in order to keep the tree intact, it must be rid of the snowdrift. No need to rush to remove the shelter in early spring. Here there is a risk of sunburn needles.
Thuja shelter as an element of site design
Tui - the best decorations of the garden plot. But in winter, ugly buildings break this harmony. The problem can be solved by giving shelters a decorative character. Design solutions will turn them into works of art and decorate any garden.
It takes time and effort to grow thuja. This is especially important when the plant is young and needs special care and protection, and, first of all, in winter. However, the efforts expended will return a hundredfold, coniferous beauties will delight the eye, decorating your site.
We shelter for the winter thuja:
Preparing for the winter of conifers: how to do it right:
Thuja refers to frost-resistant plants. But some types of culture, and without fail young trees, require preparation for winter. Under the peculiarities of the regional climate and taking into account the variety of thuja, covering material and the most acceptable method of protecting plants from frost are selected.
Whether thujas should be covered for the winter is decided based on a number of factors. The age of the plant, its adaptability to the regional climate, and even the amount of snowfall are taken into account.
Trees and shrubs are hidden under shelters not so much from the cold, but from the negative influence of the winter sun, snow and wind. Plants of the first years of life are especially in need of protection - they have not yet developed enough immunity to the weather conditions of the region.
Warming measures are carried out before the onset of frost. It is difficult to specify specific dates - in each region, autumn and winter come at the right time (and this does not always coincide with the calendar):
- southerners the luckiest of all - their autumn is always warm; therefore, adult plants do not need shelter, and young trees begin to wrap up in mid-November;
- in the Moscow region, the Middle lane night frosts are expected by the end of September, and in November a sharp cooling sets in; in this region, it is better to start work in the first half of October;
- in the Leningrad region September, although sunny, but already with frosts; therefore, thuja should be sheltered a little earlier than in the Moscow region;
- in Siberia a consistently cold autumn falls on the first month of the season, and in October it is already snowing everywhere; covering events here are best done in late August - early September;
- in the Urals it all depends on the region - the northern zone is close to the conditions of the Siberian climate, the southern zone is close to the conditions of the Middle Strip.
Preparatory moments should be carried out even earlier. And they include pruning branches and the necessary top dressing. As for watering, the latter is carried out immediately before the shelter of the plants.
To protect thuja from frost, gardeners use various materials:
- some prefer to use burlap or kraft paper;
- others prefer multi-layered gauze, but there is a small nuance here - you can not make a tight bandage of the plant, otherwise the material will get wet and shrink, which will damage the branches;
- agrotherm and agrospan performed well;
- but lutrasil and spunbod, although they are used, have poor throughput, so moisture accumulates inside, and this leads to decay.
The lighter the covering material is, the better it reflects the sun's rays. This will eliminate the formation of a greenhouse effect inside the shelter, which only harms the plants.
In regions with cold winds, plywood panels are preferred. They also justify themselves in heavy snowfall, preventing branches from breaking off under the weight of precipitation.
In conditions of little snowy winters with severe frosts, the roots of plants also need shelter. For this purpose, trunk circles are mulched with loose organic matter (peat, humus, sawdust and other material). In this case, the covering layer must be at least 20 cm thick.
How to cover thuja for the winter
There are several methods for sheltering thuja for the winter. The method is selected based on the shape of the crown and some other features of the plant.
Regardless of weather conditions and regional climate characteristics, plants up to 4-5 years old need winter shelter every year. To protect them from the cold, non-woven material is best suited, from which something is constructed in the form of a bag.
Its dimensions should be such that the plant does not shrink - the young thuja still has too tender shoots. In order not to take risks, some gardeners put the bag not on a tree, but on a special frame built around the plant.
The frame system will be especially useful on spherical plants. If snow rolls down the covering material from the pyramidal thuja, then in this case, heavy rainfall can push through the middle of the bush, pushing the young branches to the side. This will lead to the deformation of the thuja, and it will lose its decorative effect.
Soil mulching is carried out if the base of the frame does not go beyond the circle of the stem.
Shelter for spherical thuja step by step
Plants with a spherical crown always need shelter (regardless of age) to prevent thuja from damage and sunburn. Wrapping a bush is not very convenient, so it is recommended to install a frame.
A metal structure can be bought at the store, but if you need to wrap several plants, this option will be expensive. Therefore, it is better to build a frame from improvised materials.
The step-by-step algorithm for hiding a thuja looks like this:
- all debris is removed around the plant - withered grass, broken branches, old leaves;
- the soil near the trees is mulched with peat or compost;
- wooden stakes are taken 30 centimeters long above the plant itself; they will need 3-4 pieces;
- from one end the stakes are sharpened;
- around the plant at a distance of 10 cm outside the crown, a square or a regular triangle is described and stakes are driven into the tops (at an angle);
- the upper ends are connected together above the plant strictly in the center, tied with a rope; so that it does not slip, notches are either made on the stakes with a knife, or small self-tapping screws are screwed in;
- now it remains to cover the frame with material.
If it is possible to use spruce branches, this will be the best shelter option. The branches are tightly wrapped around the frame and in 2-3 places in height they are tied with ropes.
You can also use gauze or spandex, wrapping it around the structure and fixing the material with something so that it does not blow away with the wind.
It is easier with columnar thujas - it is enough to wrap them with material, and not be afraid that the branches will be damaged. The main thing is not to make a tight winding yourself, because first you will have to tie the plant itself with ropes, pressing the shoots slightly against the trunk. Then a free bag is put on top of the plant, which is also wrapped with ribbons.
When using gauze, perform the following actions:
- the end of the material is fixed at the crown of the plant;
- they begin to systematically wrap the thuja, moving spirally to the base;
- the second tape is also fixed on top and wrapped around the plant, but already moving in the opposite direction.
If it is necessary to apply 1-2 more layers, they act identically, each time changing the movement of the turns. It will remain in some places to fix the gauze with a stapler.
You can also use wooden frames to shelter Smaragda. But here it is recommended to apply a slightly different design than for a spherical thuja:
- 4 wooden beams are taken a little higher than the tree itself;
- they are interconnected with planks, which are stuffed from all sides, forming a truncated pyramid with a base wider than the tree itself;
- there should be small gaps between the slats for air movement;
- there is also free space at the base.
From above and on the sides, the frame is lined with coniferous branches. Paws of small size cover the soil around the plant. If a winter with strong winds is expected, the frame under the branches should be covered with one of the above materials.
How to cover thuja correctly: video
Inexperienced summer residents rely on the fact that conifers are frost-resistant. Although here one should take into account the adaptability of each variety to the regional climate. Those breeds that feel comfortable in the southern regions even in winter can hardly endure the harsh weather of Siberia.
But even fairly winter-hardy thuja varieties can die if some rules are ignored:
- young trees under 5 years of age need shelter without fail - they have not yet developed enough immunity;
- preparation of a tree for wintering begins in advance, without waiting for autumn; at the end of summer, the last top dressing is carried out; later application of fertilizers will lead to the fact that the plant will continue to develop and will not have time to enter the dormant phase by cold weather;
- some summer residents make the mistake of stopping watering in the fall; on the contrary, their number should be increased - this will saturate the soil with moisture and help the thuja to winter comfortably; but you should not be too zealous, so as not to create stagnation of water, otherwise the roots will freeze;
- sanitary pruning of the crown will also be needed - on warm autumn days, trees are inspected and damaged branches are removed;
- it is important to check the thuja before shelter for the presence of diseases and pests; you may need to treat the plant with medicinal preparations.
If the thuja was not covered for the winter, it is advisable to do this in early spring (March-April, depending on the region). Plants at this time are just beginning to wake up and are still weak, and the sun is already gaining strength.
Green needles attract the sun's rays, but since the sap flow has not yet begun, there is a risk of getting burned. As a result, a plant that has not had time to move away from hibernation will lose its decorative effect, and may even die.
Thuja winter shelter is an important point in caring for decorative conifers. But you need not only to be able to properly wrap trees and bushes, but also to open them in the spring. The shelter is removed gradually to avoid burns that the rays of the spring sun can inflict on the plant.
You don't have to worry about mature trees that have reached impressive sizes. Over the decades of their lives, they have matured well and learned to resist natural negative factors. Huge thuja endure winter without covering material, but in a cold cold season with little snow, it is better to worry about mulching the root zone.
In winter, the real danger for the arborvitae, which is considered a frost-resistant crop and can easily endure quite severe frosts down to -35 ... -30 ° C, is not at all a low temperature, but a piercing wind and bright burning sun rays. Therefore, it is necessary to equip a winter shelter for it.
We cover the thuja for the winter correctly
Young and not fully grown plants (up to 4 years old), especially those planted in the current season, need the most protective winter shelter. In addition, some especially tender southern varieties may also not survive the cold season and require shelter.
Protecting the roots
The surface root system of the thuja can suffer from frost if it is very cold in winter and there is little or no snow. Under the plants lay a layer of mulch 10–20 cm from:
- dry leaves;
- peat;
- compost or humus;
- coniferous needles;
- crushed bark;
- cones, etc.
In the northern regions, where winters are much more severe, mulch is thrown from above with spruce branches.
The root system of the thuja must be insulated with a layer of mulch
If the thuja is not placed in an open sunny area, but is located in the shade of a building or other larger tree, when its needles are not exposed to the burning rays of the sun, then in regions with warm winters this shelter will be enough.
Circular binding
In areas where strong gusty winds blow during the cold season or a lot of snow falls that can break the branches of plants, thujas will need a circular strap. To do this, the branches are pressed against the trunk, but not too tightly, and fixed with a rope or twine. They usually start from the bottom, gradually winding the tree in a spiral and moving up. This should be done at the very end of autumn, but while the temperature has not yet dropped below +4 ° C, otherwise the branches become brittle and break.
So that the branches of the thuja are not broken by the wind or the fallen snow, they must be tied
Video: why tie thuja
From the first spring rays, as well as from the bright January and February sun, when the incident light is reflected from pure white snow and falls directly on the thuja branches, shelter from various materials will protect:
- non-woven agrotextile (spunbond, agrospan, lutrasil, etc.);
- natural fabrics with a loose texture (canvas, gauze, burlap, etc.);
- openwork artificial materials (fine mesh, old tulle, etc.);
- packaging craft paper.
The whole tree is wrapped with material, secured with a rope or a furniture stapler.
Thujas are protected from sunlight with covering materials.
You can not use a plastic film to cover the conifers, as it does not allow air to pass through and condensing moisture accumulates under it. The resulting greenhouse effect will lead to damping off.
I cover very small coniferous plants for the winter with cardboard boxes, in which I make additional holes for ventilation. In principle, from any cardboard with the help of a stapler, you can quickly build a shelter.
Some gardeners believe that agro fabrics transmit ultraviolet rays, so they cannot be used for shelter.
Video: choose material for shelter
Building a frame
For young seedlings, so that they are not broken by the fallen snow, they additionally construct a frame, on which the protective material is then pulled.
Special frames will better protect against heavy snow
Ready-made cases
Gardening stores sell special cone covers that can not only protect plants, but also decorate a gray winter garden.
You can install a protective screen on the south side, where the sun's rays hit the most
Video: how to protect thuja and other conifers in winter
Having spent quite a bit of time and effort in the fall to shelter the thuja, it will be possible to protect it from the cold penetrating winter winds and the bright burning sun, and also to preserve the beautiful appearance of this decorative culture as much as possible.
Along with fruit plantations, ornamental plants are also grown on our plots. And if the gardener knows whether it is necessary to cover the thuja for the winter, they will permanently decorate the landscape design of the park, square, home lawn, giving it a special zest.
The people call the "green beauty" the "tree of life" from the Cypress family. It is distributed on most continents, grows in different climatic conditions and can be both a tree and a shrub with flat evergreen shoots.
Thanks to the painstaking work of breeders, many varieties of thuja were bred that are resistant to any adverse effects of nature, but each of them needs personal care, preparatory work for wintering at least in the first two years of life.
Thuja western, as the original species, does not hide because it endures our winters. But it does not have that colorful decorative effect, thanks to which the plant has gained such great popularity.
The most common variety is Smaragd with dark green needles, but it can change to rusty due to the influence of the scorching rays of the spring sun. Dwarf species - Hovey, which has a textured crown of a rounded shape. It is easily deformed under the accumulated snow on the branches and the same dwarf - Woodwardii with a crown in the form of an original ball. Its light green stems often suffer from exposure to low temperatures.
The peculiarity of this plant is the plasticity of wood, which is why, under a heavy layer of snow, under strong gusts of frosty wind, the branches break, lose their shape, and so that the crown does not fall apart, does not deform, it should be tied or used a suitable thuja shelter for the winter.
Its wonderful advantages are a pleasant smell, unpretentiousness, the ability to plant in any soil, the formation of a luxurious crown of any shape and the beautiful design of any site.
Tui care in the fall
Most gardeners think that conifers themselves are hardy and easily survive extreme cold. They also withstand thirty-degree frosts, but they are not dangerous for temperature indicators, but for strong winds and bright ultraviolet rays. Such weather happens at the end of winter, from the beginning of spring, and it is at this time that irreparable burns appear on the needles.
So, how to care for thuja in the fall:
Nutrition
Some mistakenly believe that feeding with potassium-phosphorus fertilizer helps her survive the winter. This is fundamentally wrong! Having received a good dose of nutrients, the plant will begin active growth, and then, with the advent of real frosts, the developed, but still fragile young shoots, will easily die. Yes, and the tree itself is late, but it will also begin to prepare for the cold period. This will be noticeable when the green mass changes color to dark or brown. So that the plant can “understand” that the time has come to change the season, from August any top dressing is stopped, especially nitrogen ones, which stimulate the growth of green mass
Checking branches
The gardener will definitely have to remove broken branches, affected by a fungal infection, pests, and this must be done with sharp garden shears. Stems tending inside the crown, dubious yellow, dry, twisted, are also removed
Watering
It depends on the weather conditions of the climatic zone of plant growth. If the autumn turned out to be rainy, it is not necessary to water the thuja, if it is dry, then until the time of constant frosts, additional watering is required for all varieties, especially for Smaragda, because it continues to grow throughout the winter. The presence of moisture gives such trees the opportunity to develop further, and the rest are more likely to survive. It would not be bad with the onset of autumn to water the plant with Kornevin or another similar preparation, which will contribute to deep and firm rooting.
Protection of the root collar from freezing
This is especially vital for young seedlings. The soil around the trunk is well mulched with organic material - dry sawdust, walnut shells, bark, peat. You should not take that coating (roofing material, film), under which everything will rot and promote the development of fungal bacteria, harmful infections. The thickness of such a loose layer should be no less than seven centimeters, and with the advent of spring it will need to be removed so that the surface roots can warm up well, but not rot.
Tui, recently planted in the ground, have not yet grown strong roots by autumn, so that they winter well, they are fixed.
The first option - on the western side of the crown, bales of hay and straw are placed to protect against strong gusts of wind.
The second option is a powerful stake, a strong pillar is installed parallel to the trunk and tied.
Coniferous beauty shelter methods
There are enough reasons to cover thuja for the winter, but you also need to know what is best to use as a shelter? It could be:
Any white breathable fabric
burlap, gauze, from which you can make a shelter yourself. The length of the fabric is determined more than the height of the tree, while the splendor of the green mass should be taken into account, the shelter should be sufficiently free due to the shrinkage properties of the material. It is collected spirally in the form of a bag, fastened and tied into a bundle like a cover. Specialized retail outlets offer a good selection of materials for warming decorative trees - spandbond, lutrasil, agrotherm. They are reusable, easy to use, let moisture, heat, air through, they are well cleaned, but they can only protect against frost and create a shadow from the burning sun in early spring.
Packaging paper
A tree is wrapped in a spiral from top to bottom, while pressing the crown to the trunk. Paper sheets are overlapped and fixed either with a stapler or a strong rope.
frame
these are special designs designed for warming young trees and shrubs. They are purchased in special stores or do it yourself. The protective frame can consist of a rail, wire, bar, thin plastic pipe, metal corner. A structure with three supports is made on a low thuja, if the tree is taller and wider, then another support, the fourth, is added.
The length of the legs of the frame must be at least two thirds of the height of the plant itself, taking into account that twenty centimeters of the total length must enter the ground. If the availability of materials at hand allows, then you can make a design that captures even the top of the plant. Crossbars, connecting racks will fix the case from any material. But there is also a drawback in this device, the gardener in the winter will have to constantly monitor the accumulation of snow, that is, clean the branches
shield protection
The simplest method, a shield made from ordinary wooden boards, is installed from the side of the most abundant sun
Thuja care in winter
How to cover the thuja for the winter and how to figure it out. Now we should move on to how to care for the thuja during the winter. Experts recommend keeping an eye on the state of coniferous ornamental trees, especially after heavy snowfalls. It is necessary to clean from the collected heavy snow, not only the crown, but also the near-trunk zone.
If the shelter is of high quality, meets all the requirements - it breathes, protects, you should not rush to take it off, because the trees can quickly get burned from the bright spring sun. Covers can be removed as soon as the weather normalizes. The best option would be to initially plant the thuja in the most favorable place for it - near the fences, in the penumbra of buildings.
Any shrub or tree needs to be prepared for the winter cold so that the plant can endure them as easily as possible. Caring for a thuja is quite simple: it does not require special fertilizers, it is not difficult to cut it, you do not need to constantly feed the soil. But even with such minimal care, the thuja will delight you with its blooming appearance.
If you want to decorate your dacha with trees, then thuja will be an excellent option for decorating any area.
If you want to decorate your cottage with trees, then thuja will be an excellent option for decorating any site. This evergreen plant from the Cypress family impresses with a variety of shades, and due to its excellent winter hardiness, it is perfect for central Russia.
The most popular are 14 types of western thuja, which gardeners choose:
- Brabant. Resistant even to severe frosts, has a rich green color.
- Emerald. Dark green, needs abundant watering.
- Column. With a dense narrow crown, dark green needles do not fade even in summer.
- Holmstrup. Does not require careful maintenance, perfect for suburban areas that are not often visited. Resistant to cold.
- Fastigiata. Due to the conical crown, it looks like a cypress. Prefers moist soil and sunny areas.
- Sunkist. An interesting species with a slightly messy shape, which the tree acquires due to the numerous well-developed branches. The color is green, in summer the needles fade to a yellow tint.
- Wagner. Grey-green with a copper sheen.
- Claude of Gold. With a lemon or orange color, the needles are tender and thin.
- Globoza. The bluish tint is most pronounced during the winter months.
- Woodwardy. It is famous for its rich emerald needles.
- Stolvik. It tolerates winter well, does not suffer from bright sunlight.
- Danica. The globular tree is light green and does not suffer from severe drought.
- Golden Globe. The variety is interesting for its unusual golden color. Demanding in care.
- Hoseri. Deep color in winter takes on a light grayish tone. Doesn't need a haircut.
Gallery: thuja in landscape design (25 photos)
How to care for thuja (video)
When and where to start preparing thuja for winter
To prepare the shrub for the cold period, stop fertilizing, which contain nitrogen (the exception is weakened plants after an illness, but even in this case it is better to halve the amount). This is done already at the end of summer: August.
The thuja will stop growing actively, its branches will become quite woody and will be able to survive the frost.
General principles for caring for thuja in the fall
Although the shrub is frost-resistant, it also needs to be prepared for wintering. So you can keep the plant healthy, and it will delight you for several decades.
Purpose and features of moisture-charging irrigation of thuja in autumn
Moisture evaporates at any time of the year, therefore, the plant can easily dry out after wintering. A large loss of moisture leads to a decrease in protection, the bark begins to wrinkle, and the branches become brittle and break easily in the spring. To prevent this, abundant watering is arranged before frosts.
Thuja before frost arrange abundant watering
Thuja requires 5 to 8 buckets of water. This volume is enough for sufficient soil moisture (up to 1.5 m deep). The higher the instance, the more liters the tree “drinks”. But water even low varieties to the eyeballs if they were planted this or last year, young trees need more water due to their active growth.
But it is important not to overdo it, as overly moist soil contributes to rotting and freezing of the root system. Check it so as not to make a mistake in the calculations: squeeze the lump of earth in your fist.
- If, after opening the palm, the ball does not lose its shape and leaves a wet imprint on the paper (take an ordinary toilet paper), then it contains a sufficient amount of water. Carry out minimal watering (10-20% of the specified displacement);
- if the form is not lost, but no trace remains, reduce the amount of water by 30-40%;
- if the lump crumbles after unclenching the fist, pour the thuja in full.
It is necessary to carry out water-charging watering at a time when the trees have almost dropped all the leaves. This is mid to late October and early November.
How to cut thuja (video)
The scheme and technology of pruning thuja in the fall
Pruning is needed:
- dried branches;
- significantly lost their color;
- sick;
- with sunburn.
The procedure will require:
- Secateurs;
- garden shears with long blades.
Thuja perfectly tolerates pruning at any time of the year.
The first tool removes damaged branches, the second gives the desired shape to the crown. There is no need to use special putty. For the procedure, choose dry and calm weather. Check the forecast for no rain for the next 2-3 days.
- Remove diseased shoots. Cut off the damaged part, do not touch the healthy part.
- Carefully inspect the shrub for their presence, it is important that all branches are removed.
- With the help of scissors, give the bush the necessary shape, for convenience, use a rope. Tie the tip to the top and mark the slopes to see where you need to cut the overgrown needles. It is not necessary to do this if the resulting shape suits you.
It is necessary to prune the thuja not only for decoration purposes, but also to maintain the healthy state of the plant.
Autumn top dressing of thuja
Thuja is not a very whimsical shrub. It does not need constant fertilization, except for rare breeds or transplanted/young plants.
necessary, but it must also be carried out according to the rules:
- Do not fertilize after mid-September. The best time is the end of August.
- Do not apply nitrogen, potassium, bacterial and micronutrient fertilizers later than the specified time, so as not to provoke the active growth of the tree.
- It is best to use peat, compost, bone meal or wood ash to enrich the soil with nutrients. Such fertilizers will not cause harm, but will only benefit. They are great for warming, you can use them in the fall.
The best time to feed the thuja is the end of August
How to cover thuja for the winter
Some lovers are wondering: is it necessary to protect the thuja in winter? After all, this plant is known for its good frost resistance, which means that it is quite capable of enduring the cold without negative consequences. But experienced gardeners advise to play it safe so as not to notice significant deterioration in the spring.
Shelter must be carried out in the following cases:
- When frosts in your region fall below 30-35 degrees;
- if the plant has been transplanted or it is still very young;
- if the thuja is in an open place and exposed to direct sunlight.
