Thuya Thya is a coniferous plant from the cypress family. There are five species of trees or shrubs in the genus, but in Russia, in ornamental gardening, the most popular type of Thuja western Thuja occidentalis, it comes from North America, came to Europe in 1536.

Description of thuja western

This is a slowly growing tree, reaching a height of 15-20 m, although taller specimens are also found in nature, but this is already a rarity. The crown of the western thuja is pyramidal or ovoid, in the original species it is rather spreading. The root system is compact.

bark in young age brick-brown, smooth, becoming gray-brown with time, in a tree with more than a decade of history, the bark on the trunk is in deep longitudinal cracks, fibrous.

The needles of the thuja are scaly, green and very small, 2-4 mm long, covering the branches like scales. The life of the foliage is a maximum of 2-3 years, then it falls off, but not one at a time, but in small branches, the crown is renewed gradually and imperceptibly. By winter, the needles discolor to yellowish-green or Brown color. The concept of " evergreen"for thuja relatively, if spruce or pine do not change the shade of needles at all in winter, then most varieties of western thuja color the garden in yellow, brownish or light green colors.

The flowers are not decorative - monoecious, apical, solitary. Cones are also small, about 1 cm long, ovoid. Each cone contains two yellow winged seeds.

The saw cut wood has a reddish hue, often interspersed with brown, yellow and red veins. The wood is soft and durable, does not contain resin, does not rot and could be fine furniture material, but has not found wide application - this is prevented by too slow mass growth and fibrous bark.

Peculiarities

Thuja is very popular not only in private gardens, but is also widely used for urban landscaping, as the plant is extremely unpretentious to the ecology of the city: it tolerates gas, dust and smoke well. It easily takes root after transplantation, lends itself well to pruning and shearing, some varieties do not require shape correction at all - they grow by themselves in a pyramid, ball or cone. In addition, the western thuja and its varieties are winter-hardy (frost resistance zones from 2b to 8b, this is about minus 36 ° C in winter without shelter).

Varieties and varieties of thuja western

The western thuja has several decorative forms:

• weeping
• columnar (pyramidal)
• hemisphere
• spherical

According to the color of the foliage (needles) of the variety:

• variegated (several color variations)
• with green leaves

By height:

• full-grown from 5 m and more
• semi-dwarf from 3 to 5 m
• dwarf - mature trees up to 3 m
• miniature - less than 3 m tall

In terms of frost resistance: there are varieties that freely tolerate winters in central Russia, there are varieties that require mandatory shelter.

Here are some cold hardy ones:

• Danica (Danica) - a miniature variety up to 60 cm or slightly higher in height, spherical shape, winter hardiness - 3 climate zone.
• Globosa (Globosa) - a spherical miniature thuja, adult no more than 2 m, grows very slowly, winter hardiness - 3 climatic zone.
• Golden Globe ( Golden Globe) - semi-dwarf spherical, slow growth rate, very frost-resistant - climate zone 2b.
• Wagneri (Wagneri) - narrow-conical shape, semi-dwarf (up to 3.5 m), fast-growing, winter hardiness - 4 climatic zone.
• Woodwardy (‘Woodwardii) - semi-dwarf wide-round form, grows slowly, winter hardiness - 4 climatic zone.
• Hoseri (Hoseri) - spherical, fast-growing, up to 2 meters high, winter hardiness - 3 climatic zone.
• Brabant (Brabant) - conical, fast-growing, the variety is similar to Smaragd, but the growth rate is 2-3 times higher, winter hardiness - 3 climatic zone.
• Sunkist (Sunkist) - conical thuja of semi-dwarf growth, grows slowly, very frost-resistant - climatic zone 2b.
• Tiny Tim (Tiny Tim) - a miniature variety of thuja, no more than 1 m high, spherical in shape, grows slowly, winter hardiness - 3 climatic zone.
• Holmstrup (Holmstrup) - conical semi-dwarf variety, grows slowly, winter hardiness - 3 climatic zone.
• (Smaragd) - a slow-growing columnar variety, 3-5 m high - frost resistance is average - if all the above named varieties can be grown in the conditions of Siberia and the Urals, then Smaragd freezes at temperatures below minus 25-26.

When choosing a variety, consider not only its size, shape and frost resistance, but also its general unpretentiousness. Some do not tolerate shading, even light partial shade, others do not tolerate long-term thaws in winter (with sudden temperature changes), as this provokes early sap flow. Some varieties practically do not need pruning, others need to be systematically pruned. There are varieties that are extremely sensitive to compaction of the soil surface, do not grow on pure loam, and require annual loosening and mulching.

Thuja western - a place in the garden

Varieties of western thuja are quite diverse not only in appearance, but also in needs. Among them there are varieties that are tolerant to the amount of sun, but most prefer to grow in full sun, if possible.

AT shady places the crown is formed loose, sometimes one-sided (if there is serious shading on one side).

In places where there is no sun, it is better to refuse to grow thuja - they will not only slow down their growth very much, but also increase the risk of various fungal infections.

If you have a close location of groundwater (1-1.5 m), it is permissible to plant conifers only on an artificial elevation - an artificial hill at least half a meter high.

Planting thuja western

Planting is carried out in prepared pits, on a site freed from perennial weeds - for digging, select all the rhizomes of nettles, thistle and other weeds.

The root system of the western thuja depends on the variety - in miniatures it is much less than in full-grown or semi-dwarfs. For example, in a thuja, 3-5 m tall, the roots extend to a depth of about a meter, in two meter ones - 50-60 cm.

To plant a thuja variety that will grow more than 3 m in 10-15 years, you need to prepare a hole measuring a meter by a meter wide and deep if the soil in your area is not adequate in structure. landing pit provides a supply of food for the first few years.

preparing the ground

Thuja prefers soils - medium loams, moderately nutritious, not too moisture-intensive and not dry, slightly acidic.

If the soil: heavy clay, light sandy, pure peat - it requires mandatory improvement. Therefore, you need to mix the earth dug out of the pit with other components:

• if the soil is clayey, replace half of the excavated earth with equal parts of peat and sand
• if the soil is sandy, replace half of the excavated land with equal parts of peat and loam (soddy soil)
• if the soil is peat, replace half of the excavated land with equal parts of loam (turf land) and sand

At the bottom of the pit, we fill the drainage from crushed stone with a layer of 10-15 cm, then we fill up the mixed soil. To plant the acquired plant in a prepared and filled hole, we make a hole 30–40 cm wider and 10–15 cm deeper than the root system of the plant (i.e., we make a hole in the filled hole).

Acidity and liming

You need to know that nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus, as well as most of the minor elements (iron, magnesium, sulfur and copper) are most easily absorbed on soils with a pH of 6.0 to 8.0.

For thuja, the optimal acidity is from 6.8 to 7.2, although they tolerate both more acidic and alkaline, which is what suppliers use. planting material, stating that thuja grow on any type of soil. This is not so, sooner or later stunting, browning of the needles, sometimes drying out of the branches or the entire plant becomes noticeable.

If the acidity of the soil in your area is below pH 6.5, they should be neutralized to the desired pH with lime or dolomite flour. Read about how to do this - soil deoxidation.

How to plant

Water the plant before removing it from the transport pot. Place the thuja taken out of the container in the center of the pit, spread the roots evenly. Then lift the tree so that the root collar is slightly higher (2-3 cm) than the ground level.

Fill in the prepared soil and gently compact the soil, pressing down with your hands, just do not compress it at the very trunk. The tree will settle a little with the ground, and the root collar will be flush with the horizon. You can not deepen it - this will lead to decay.

Now around the tree you need to make a "saucer" for watering - a side of the earth in trunk circle, 5-6 cm high, so that when watering the water does not spread far beyond the root system. If the conifer is planted on a slope, the "saucer" must be made higher.

It is better to immediately mulch the soil around the thuja with pine bark, wood chips, for the first time straw is also suitable (not the best option– passes weeds and quickly decomposes).

Mulching does not allow water to spread, protects the roots from overheating in hot weather, retains moisture in the soil for several days longer. Considering that thuja do not tolerate overdrying, mulching is a necessary measure. But at the root neck (10-12 cm in diameter), the minimum layer is to cover the ground by no more than 1 cm, or not cover at all, so that the trunk does not rot and rot if the weather is too wet.

At what distance to plant thuja

The recommendations for planting that you may be given when buying planting material are very contradictory. First of all, you need to decide on the question of whether you plant in a permanent place or allow the possibility of a transplant.

In general, thujas tolerate a transplant well, especially if the root system is preserved as much as possible, and the time is suitable for such an operation. But sometimes after a few years it will be technically impossible to transplant trees to a new place. Therefore, plan your garden design in advance.

The distance between plants should take into account the final size of the variety and the possibility of crown correction by pruning. For example, in some varieties of columnar thuja, the diameter at the base of the trunk can be almost 2 m, in others - narrowly columnar no more than a meter. Tui grow slowly average growth in height per year - 10-30 cm, in diameter about 5-10 cm. But you need to imagine the garden in the future, how it will look in 10-15 years, because it will be almost impossible to transplant a full-grown tree.

If you are planning a hedge, say, from the Brabant variety, which has a crown diameter of an adult plant of about 1.5 m, with a frequency of planting in a row: every 50-70 cm (there is such a recommendation), you will have to thin them out after a few years, removing them after one. Such large thujas need to be planted at a distance of 80-100 cm.

In addition, you need to consider whether you want to preserve the natural shape of the planted variety - so that the cone (pyramid) is clearly visible or not - with a dense planting, the hedge forms a dense green wall, it is impossible to distinguish individual instances with the eye.

Another factor is the possibility of curly pruning, there should be enough space around a tree or shrub to freely care for it - tying, cutting, treating diseases and pests.

Western thuja care

Beauty requires effort - they begin with regular watering, especially the first month after planting - overdrying is unacceptable.

Thuja grows well only on fertile and moist soil. Plants growing in a flowerpot or container do not tolerate overdrying at all. Tracking the loss of moisture in conifers is more difficult than in deciduous ones - in those, the leaves hang down like rags, and in conifers, they turn yellow and dry. Therefore, watering open ground should be regular when there is no rain approximately once a week.

It is believed that thujas are very good at sprinkling watering, water washes away dust from the crown and increases air humidity, but thujas love moist air and in nature grow along the banks and slopes of rivers and reservoirs.

However, during sprinkling, you need to make sure that water not only falls on the crown, but also wets the root layer under the trees. If there are signs of a fungal infection on the thuja, try to exclude sprinkling during treatment, and carry out regular watering from a watering can.

There are varieties that do not tolerate both overdrying and low humidity air, for example, Globoza nana (miniature spherical), these are best planted near a garden pond, fountain, stream.

Improvement of the soil and top dressing

After landing nutrients thuja is enough for several years, as a rule, top dressing is not needed for the first two years.

In the future, it is possible to improve the structure of the soil and the fertile soil layer by adding a 7-10 cm layer of compost under the trees, rake the top layer of the earth and replace it with humus, and mulch it with chopped pine bark on top.

Some varieties, such as Columna, are sensitive to compaction of the soil surface, the roots do not have enough oxygen, the plants wither, so annual loosening and renewal of mulch is a must.

If there is no cow or horse humus, you can replace it with leaf humus.

As top dressing, it is desirable to use mainly phosphorus-potassium fertilizers, better complex with a set of other minerals, designed specifically for coniferous plants. Usually two top dressings per season at the beginning and end of summer are enough.

Don't forget that entering mineral fertilizers lowers the pH, and excessive dosages can burn the roots, which manifests itself in the browning of the needles, usually not immediately, but within a month.

crown inspection

Western thuja is an evergreen plant, but the renewal of leaves and twigs occurs regularly, as a rule, “leaf fall” occurs in the fall, and since the crown of many varieties is very dense, the process can go unnoticed by us.

Therefore, do not forget to look inside the crown, push the branches apart and choose yellow needles sometimes it accumulates between the branches near the trunk, gathering in "tangles".

pruning

Usually, thujas lend themselves perfectly to pruning, do not get sick, but only become thicker after cutting.

If a variety has a columnar shape, this does not mean that the plant will grow branches with a strict pyramidal geometry, some varieties, such as Smaragd, have a clear outline of the shape, others, such as Brabant, grow shaggy and need constant pruning to form a well-groomed appearance.

In young plants, only acquired in the nursery, it is often necessary to reduce the number of leading branches, otherwise the plant grows in two or three trunks (double-topped) and all decorativeness is lost. If possible, choose specimens of columnar thuja with one leader trunk in advance. If there are several, leave one, carefully cut the second. The crown will grow over the season.

Pruning of the tips of the shoots should be carried out in the spring, with the opening of the buds and until mid-summer, some varieties, especially fast-growing, spherical or ovoid, need to be cut twice a season, others, slow-growing less often - once in the spring, then the crown overgrows a little over the summer, and the plants look more natural. Branches can be shortened by 1/3 of the length maximum, or less if necessary.

Thuja shelter for the winter

Almost all varieties of western thuja need protection from snow and ice. Their branches grow vertically upwards, the snow accumulated and frozen into an ice cap presses on them and breaks them out. Therefore, it is necessary to tie the trunks so that the snow flies off without stopping.

Strapping should be done with soft material - just perfect for this role nylon tights- do not rot and stretch. You can not tie the crown too tightly, like Christmas trees before falling into the body, otherwise the needles inside will rot.

Small specimens, no more than 1.5 m tall, are best protected not with a harness, but with a hut. Make a tripod out of wooden slats and wrap with burlap or white lutrasil.

It is important to consider the tendency of some varieties to sunburn. There are varieties that are very resistant - the same Smaragd, occasionally the tops can burn, and there are varieties that require shelter for the most dangerous period - from late February to April in the form of burlap or a protective screen.

Sometimes thujas do not burn in the sun for only one reason - they are heavily covered with snow, this applies mainly to young plants and undersized spherical ones, but if the winter turned out to be little snowy, they are threatened sunburn, so be guided by the weather and precipitation.

Reproduction of thuja western

Thuja can be propagated by seeds and vegetatively: cuttings and layering.

Far from all varieties reproduce by seeds, and this is rarely practiced due to the possible loss of varietal qualities, in addition, often non-viable seeds are formed in thuja that do not germinate. Some varietals, like Danica, are propagated exclusively by cuttings. Others, for example, Vareana, Malonyan - during reproduction give a high preservation of varietal characteristics (80-85%).

Tui seeds ripen by the end of October, by November, they cannot be stored, they quickly lose their germination capacity - immediately send them to stratification for 2-3 months in a cold place (+ 2-4C) and sow.

Propagation of cuttings is quite easy if you cut branches for rooting in winter. Optimal time- November, not early autumn, but late, if the autumn is long, you can cut it in December, before frost.

The cuttings take root in the warmth of 22-24C, in a room greenhouse, i.e. at high humidity soil.

Alternatively, you can use a zip package - i.e. transparent plastic bag with a zipper - it is convenient to hang it on the window - it can be attached to the glass or frame with adhesive tape or on a clothespin.

Thuja cutting rooting technique

We prepare the soil: 1 part of leafy soil (leaf humus) and 1 part of large river sand, or vermiculite and sand in equal parts. For one cutting, you need about half a glass - a glass of substrate. We mix the components and be sure to sterilize in the microwave or oven. We fall asleep in a bag and pour a little boiled water. The soil for germination should not be too damp, only slightly moist.

We cut the stalk about 15 cm long, preferably with a heel, but do not tear it off (the bark lifts up), but cut sharp knife. At the cutting, you need to remove the lower branches and place it in a bag in the soil.

Close the package tightly and hang it in a bright place - for winter - this is the south window, if the windows are too dark - next to the lamp. It is desirable that the total daylight hours be 12-14 hours.

Due to the fact that the package is closed, nothing needs to be watered and sprayed. Roots are formed within a month. Do not remove the cutting from the bag, observe: while the needles are green - everything is in order, wait until the root (it is dark) is visible through the bag, you can take it out and plant it in a pot in a substrate consisting of 2-3 parts of leaf humus, 1 part of a large river sand.

A pot with a planted thuja should be placed in a transparent bag, sprayed with boiled water and tied. After 2-3 days, open the bag for an increasing time - gradually accustom to lower air humidity.

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Landscaping of the site

Landscape design of the site is a real art, which involves a whole group of specialists. Landscaping is individual, because you can hardly find two identical plots: each house with its surrounding plot and landscape is unique. Therefore, designers and planners create a landscape design that is suitable only for you and where all your dreams come true. Landscape design is only up to your imagination. For example, you need to beautifully decorate your terrace for a pleasant pastime. Or maybe you're dreaming of small pond, where a cascade with murmuring water will be arranged. If the project provides for a swimming pool, then a changing cabin is needed, and the ground around the entire perimeter must be covered with safe materials.
Having equipped the fountain, you can listen to the sound of falling water. To someone the presence of reservoirs on personal plot is not necessary, then a landscape designer can realize the appearance of the presence of water with the help of a "dry" stream. The fantasy of our landscape designers unlimited, and the photo gallery of our completed projects will help you in determining what a summer cottage should be like. Our company employs creative personalities, who are experienced and highly qualified specialists, ready to fill your garden with life, which will bring the joy of communicating with it for many years.
Our landscape design studio strives to preserve and ennoble the natural environment that has developed on the site. In this regard, each tree, shrub or part of the relief, according to your desire, will become an integral organic element of the new garden design. Our experts love their work and will be happy to provide any assistance!

Nursery ornamental plants

We are engaged landscaping household plots, dachas, suburban and urban areas. Our task is A complex approach to landscaping. We are ready not only to give you beautiful and adapted plants, but also to deliver them and plant them.

Only competent and qualified specialists in various fields work in our plant nursery. Each of us has unique knowledge of planting and transplanting plants, pruning trees and shrubs, we will tell you how to properly care for the garden and give recommendations on landscape design.

Thuja Columna is one of the most popular evergreen conifers. Belongs to the Cypress family. Most often, "western" is attributed to its name, since its name in the scientific literature includes the word "occidentalis", which means western. It is a plant of the gymnospermous coniferous genus, widely used in landscape design around the world. It can be seen not only in public parks, but also on the territory of private estates.

Thuya Columna: description

This plant is characterized by a narrow, fairly dense cone-like crown. mature tree can reach a height of up to 10 meters, but in most cases growth stops at 8 meters. The needles have a characteristic luster, are distinguished by density and bright green color.

Thuja western Columna is a long-liver among trees. This factor strongly affects the rate of its growth. In just 12 months young plant can gain up to 15 cm in height. At the same time, its crown is distributed in diameter up to 5 cm annually. In winter, the needles slightly change their usual appearance, acquiring a slightly brown tint, which becomes less noticeable already in the spring. In cold regions of growth, this process is even more intense. The bark of the tree becomes red-brown.

The fruits of Tui Columna are small cones that turn brown closer to autumn. The seeds of the tree are two-winged. They have a flat shape and appear already in the first year of the plant's life. The root system is characterized by thin and dense shoots of a mycorrhizal type (similar to the mycelium of a fungus).

Experts recommend planting a coniferous tree at a certain depth - preferably no more than 80 cm. It is better to choose a place for this protected from strong wind. The distance between landings should be at least one and a half meters. If you are going to plant young seedlings in several rows, the distance can be reduced.

Growing features

In order for the tree to grow quickly and remain healthy, you need to be careful about the planting process. If you do not follow the rules of care, the condition of the Tui Columna will deteriorate very quickly and the plant will simply stop growing. Trees require seeds to propagate. The plant is most often used in landscape design to create, so planting should be done in groups. If the project for registration garden plot allows, single landings can also be used.

This type of thuja is quite resistant to low temperatures, so do not worry about wintering the plant in frost. However, in order to still protect young seedlings in the first two or three years after planting, it is worth covering them. In the spring, it will be difficult for them to endure intense ultraviolet light, so at this time they should also be shaded. It is necessary to ensure that the seedlings do not have a lack of moisture, because in this case they will begin to lose their juiciness and dry out quickly. As a top dressing (during the planting process), it is recommended to use nitroammophoska.

Thuja Columna, whose photos are presented in a wide variety, is an evergreen slender plant. This tree has a high aesthetic value, so it can transform any garden plot.

Differences from other varieties

has a wide variety of varieties, so every gardener can choose the option to their liking. Plants may differ from each other in growth rate, height, color and other parameters.
The most common varieties are thuja Columna or Smaragd. Which is better for growing is difficult to say, since it all depends on personal preferences.
The determining factor in the choice is often the height of the hedge, which is planned to be grown.
In order to select the most suitable variety, you should carefully consider the features and properties of each of them.

Thuja western ( Latin name Thuja occidentalis) - evergreen tree cypress family. The homeland of thuja is North America; the plant was brought to Europe in the middle of the 16th century by Spanish and Portuguese navigators.

general information

The name "thuya" in Greek means sacrifice or incense. The fact is that when burning wood of some species of arborvitae, pleasant aroma, so it was used during worship and sacrifices.

Thuja western (occidentalis) - a tree with valuable strong and durable wood and high decorative qualities, therefore, it is bred everywhere, pursuing its goals, which are different for gardeners, landscape designers, clergymen, wood carvers and furniture makers.

Description: Western thuja grows up to 12-20 meters, has a compact pyramidal or oval crown, and a compact root system. Grows slowly.

In a young thuja, the bark is smooth, red-brown in color, becomes gray-brown with time, begins to peel off in old age, separating narrow long strips.

The needles differ from the needles of other evergreen trees - it is scaly, in winter it acquires a brownish tint. Needles small size- 0.2-0.4 cm, tightly pressed to the branches. The needles live for 2-3 years, after which they fall off with small branches.

The fruits are small cones, 8-12 mm in size, scaly. Each of the cones contains two seeds with yellow wings.

The wood of almost all types of arborvitae is of a reddish hue, soft, but durable, with a pleasant coniferous aroma, has no resin passages, and is resistant to putrefactive bacteria.

Variety of varieties

Grow in nature different kinds arborvitae, on the basis of which its various varieties were bred for planting in gardens and parks. In Russia, western thuja is represented by 10-14 winter-hardy varieties. Let's name some varieties of thuja western, adapted to Russian conditions, and provide a brief description of them.

(occidentalis Brabant) - a tree with a columnar crown and green needles, turning brown in winter time. The height is 4-5 meters, the diameter of the crown is 1.5 meters, in a year the increase in height reaches 30-35 cm, and in width - 15 cm.

Brabant - frost-resistant variety, not requiring complex care. It can be planted in sunny or shady places, but thuja must be protected from strong winds. It tolerates a haircut, which allows you to form the necessary shape of the crown. Cones are brown, small - within 1 cm, ripen in autumn. The variety is suitable for planting in alleys and hedges.

Variety Smaragd (occidentalis Smaragd) - a tree with a crown of dense structure and conical shape. Height up to 4.5 meters. The needles are dark green, in winter the color remains the same.

It grows very slowly, so frequent haircuts are not needed, which greatly facilitates care. Smaragd is a light-loving, frost-resistant tree, but it must be protected from severe frosts and drafts.

Variety Columna (occidentalis Columna) - the tree is distinguished by a narrow, compact columnar crown and a height of about 7 meters, with a diameter of up to one and a half meters. The shoots are horizontal, dense, the needles are dark green, its color almost does not change in winter.

The growth in height is about 20 cm per year. It does not tolerate drought well - caring for it involves abundant watering.

Variety Holmstrup (occidentalis Holmstrup) - low, up to 3.5 meters in height tree, columnar crown with a diameter of 1 meter. The needles are green, not changing depending on the season.

It grows slowly - about 12 cm high and 3-4 cm wide, does not require frequent cutting, and tolerates it well. It grows well on any soil, is resistant to frost and temperature changes, it can be planted in sunny or slightly shaded places. All this makes caring for thuja Holmstrup quite easy.

Variety Fastigiata (occidentalis Fastigiata) is a winter-hardy tree with a columnar crown and branches compactly pressed to the trunk. The needles are soft, green, not changing depending on the season. It has a strong aroma. Grows up to 6 meters in height annual growth about 30 cm. Cones are small, brown.

Caring for fastigiata consists of frequent mowing, watering, mulching the soil with needles, which eventually becomes fertilizer for it.

Prefers moderately moist loamy soil, planting in wetlands is allowed, but with a high-quality drainage system.

Variety Sunkist (occidentalis ‘Sunkist’) is a frost-resistant tree or shrub 3-5 meters high, with a conical crown 1-2 meters in diameter. The branches are thick, lush, the needles are bright, golden, becoming lemon yellow with age, bronze in winter.

The growth is slow, in 10 years it grows up to two meters in height. Easily tolerates shearing and crown formation. Care is not difficult, but it does not tolerate drought well. With a lack of moisture, mass seeding begins, because of which the decorative effect suffers. The lack of light negatively affects the quality and shade of the needles. Suitable for single landing or together with other trees and shrubs.

Variety Wagneri (occidentalis Wagneri) is a frost-resistant tree with a dense ovoid crown up to 3.5 meters high and about one and a half meters wide. Branches are vertical, drooping. The needles are gray-green, turning copper in winter. The growth is average, the shape of the crown keeps well, so pruning is not necessary to be carried out too often.

Special care is not required, but demanding on the soil, can be planted in an open, bright place. The variety is bred for planting in alleys and in containers.

Variety Cloth of Gold (occidentalis Cloth of Gold) - hardy shrub about two meters high and a crown up to 1.2 meters in diameter. The crown is conical, the needles are needle or scaly, lemon-yellow or yellow-orange, in winter it acquires a copper color.

Grows slowly, care is simple. It is better to plant a shrub in a bright place, protected from winds and drafts, in the shade the needles fade. Grows well in moderate, alkaline fertile soil. Drought tolerant, waterlogging does not tolerate well. The variety is suitable for planting in alleys, and in compositions with other shrubs and trees.

For planting and growing in Russia, not only the western thuja is suitable, but also the eastern thuja (Thuja orientalis) - Aurea, whose homeland is northwestern regions China.

Description: thuja aurea - most often it is a tree 15-20 meters high. However, specimens growing in the wild are known, the height of which reached 35 meters, and the diameter of the crown - up to 14 meters.

The crown of young trees is pyramidal, in adults it becomes rounded, irregular shape, which is easily corrected by a haircut. Thuja orientalis aurea is a multi-stemmed plant, but can also grow as a shrub.

The cones of the eastern thuja are different from the cones of the western thuja. At thuja aurea they are juicy, fleshy and green, with kkyuchkoobrazny outgrowths. When ripe, they change color and turn brown, they form seeds similar to wheat grains.

Thuya aurea grows well on neutral, slightly alkaline and even chalky soil. The first two months of caring for her consists of watering, which is carried out every 10 days. If the seedling takes root well, you can do without watering. Thuja aurea is a long-lived plant, in favorable conditions able to live 1000 years.

All types of thuja - both western and eastern, are suitable for the formation of hedges, alleys, rocky gardens, mediterranean landscape. Despite some differences, almost all types of thuja are frost-resistant, decorative and well adapted to a new area.

cultivation

Thuja western - unpretentious plant, capable of growing on soil of any type, and in any conditions, however, she also has her own preferences.

Thuja western loves bright places, but in the shade the decorative effect of its needles is better preserved. The tree grows well on dry soil, but planting is also possible in areas with high level ground water. In gratitude for caring care and optimal watering, the western thuja will grow into a beautiful tree with a beautiful luxurious crown.

Thuja is propagated by cuttings, seeds or seedlings. Since thuja grows very slowly, the easiest way is to purchase ready-made seedlings in the nursery, however, if desired, the whole process of growing thuja from seed to large tree can be done on your own.

Tui seeds rarely retain all the features of the parent tree, especially for hybrid varieties, and seedlings in garden centers and nurseries are quite expensive. Therefore, it is best to propagate thuja cuttings at home - only in this case you can get desired view with all varietal characteristics.

At the same time, you can experiment with seeds - perhaps many new specimens will have excellent decorative qualities and you will want to breed them in the future.

Seeds for planting are collected in autumn, in winter the cones open, and the seeds fall out of them. Cut cones are dried in a room with a temperature not higher than +7 degrees. When the scales dry, you can remove the seeds and store in a cloth bag. With the first snow, the bags are taken out of the room, placed on the ground and sprinkled with snow with a layer of 30 cm - this is how the seeds undergo the necessary stratification.

Planting seeds is carried out in the spring, in grooves, with a distance of 10-15 cm. The seeds of the thuja are small, so they are not buried deep - 0.5 cm is enough. The grooves for planting are filled with water, and after sowing the seeds they are sprinkled with dry soil, mulched on top needles or sawdust.

Shoots are watered regularly, but in moderation, at first they are shaded from the strong rays of the sun. Thuja western grows for a very long time - in the first year it grows by 4-5 cm, in the next two years by 10-20 cm and 25-40 cm.

Care of seedlings consists in mulching the soil around them with peat or sawdust. Dive is carried out three years after sowing, landing in a permanent place is allowed after 4-5 years.

Thuja western from cuttings. Cuttings are cut in the spring in the morning or evening hours, as well as in cloudy weather. It is better to take cuttings from the apical lateral shoots of this year, from a tree aged 4 to 8 years. The length of the cuttings should be within 10-12 cm.

The cuttings are placed in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for 24 hours. After that, they are planted in the soil to a depth of 5-6 cm, at a slight angle - 20-30 degrees. Cuttings can be planted in containers, pots or in open ground, but under a film, at a distance of 10-15 cm from each other.

The cuttings are planted in a soil mixture of leafy soil, humus and sand, since the western thuja loves fertile, light soil.

Containers with cuttings are stored in the basement, and with the advent of real heat they are transplanted into open ground, preferably together with a clod of earth.

Cuttings in the spring enable the cuttings to take root well in the first year and start growing. Summer cuttings are less fruitful - in the first year, callus appears in such cuttings, but mass rooting occurs only in the second year.

Thuja western is a light-loving plant, it needs the sun 6-7 hours a day, otherwise it will begin to stretch, and the crown will be rare.

Planting seedlings from the nursery. A hole for this is made more than a pot in which a seedling is still growing. Needles are poured into the hole, a little humus and the top layer of earth, a bucket of water is poured. The seedling is carefully removed from the pot, placed in a hole and the roots are straightened, after which they are covered with earth and watered again.

At first, it is not necessary to fertilize the seedling, this will interfere with its normal adaptation in a new place. AT further care for a grown seedling should consist of watering, loosening the soil, weeding and fertilizing with nitrophos.

Danica(Danica) An ideal ball from a young age, it grows no more than 60 cm. It grows slowly, at 20 years old, a height of about 50 cm. The needles are thick, soft, shiny, light green, slightly bronze in winter. Prefers sun and partial shade, undemanding to the soil, tolerates dryness and excessive moisture. Wintering under the snow, it practically does not suffer from spring burns.

Dumosa(Dumosa) The crown is flattened or slightly rounded, height and diameter 1 m. At the top there are many vertical thin shoots 10-15 cm long. The needles are green all year round.

Globosa(Globoza) Shrub of spherical shape, diameter and height no more than 2 m. The crown is dense, grows evenly in all directions. The needles are green in summer, brownish or grayish in winter. Grows slowly. More than other thujas need frequent watering, rejuvenating pruning is recommended every 2 years. Its shape is initially rounded, later cone-shaped, and can reach 2 m in height. The needles are dull green, brownish in winter.

Golden Globe(Golden Globe) Shrub rounded, 1 m high and 1 m in diameter. It grows slowly, 8-10 cm per year. The needles are golden yellow, in autumn it acquires a copper hue. Prefers sun or partial shade. Haircut enhances the density of the crown.

Little Champion(Little Champion) Dwarf thuja rounded. The ends of the branches hang slightly. At first it grows quickly, after reaching 50 cm, growth slows down. The needles are bright green, turning slightly brown in winter.

Recurva Nana(Recurva Nana) The name translates as "curved low". The branches are curved, the ends of young shoots are twisted. The crown is dense, terry, resembling moss.

Stolwijk(table) Shrub up to 1.5 m with a hemispherical crown. The lower part is dense, the upper sparse, consists of several trunks. The needles are green, young growth is yellow-white. He loves the sun and fertile moist soil, does not tolerate dry air.

Tiny Tim(Tiny Tim) Very beautiful dwarf form with a rounded crown. It grows slowly, rarely grows more than 1 m. The branches are short, form lacy spirals. The needles are dark green, turning brown in winter. Photophilous.

woodwardii(Woodvari) It is a dense ball, its height and diameter is 1.5 m. The needles are dark green, do not change color in winter. Grows slowly. In very severe winters, the ends of annual shoots can freeze slightly.

Varieties of thuja of the western original form

Today, thujas are very much appreciated. original form escapes, for example, Cristata(cristata), which means "comb". It's beautiful slender tree about 3 m high with a narrow uneven crown, the branches are curved and directed upwards, the needles are grayish-green.

No less interesting Spiralis(Spiralis), graceful, with a narrow-conical or columnar crown and a long, sharp top, grows up to 5 m. The surface of the crown is strongly wavy, because side branches twisted in a spiral, the needles are bluish-green. In terms of growth rate, it is ahead of all garden forms.
Thuja cascade looks unusual Filiformis(Filiformis, "filamentous"). She has a dense, rounded crown and long hanging shoots.