This plant was imported from East Asia and North America. It is not whimsical at all - practically every gardener can study the theory and understand how to plant thuja correctly. The name of this plant means "sacrificial incense" and is associated with a strong smell of needles. The latter does not consist of needles, like many evergreen shrubs, but of flat scales.
How to plant thuja?
This plant of the cypress family in natural conditions is very tall - up to twenty meters and even higher. In parks and gardens of the middle zone of our country, it is much lower. There are also spherical and dwarf varieties. Thuja western is very popular in Russia and the CIS countries . How to plant it on your site? It can become both a decorative element and part of a hedge (provided that proper and timely pruning is regularly performed). The seeds of this plant ripen in small cones. In the fall they can be used for reproduction. Seedlings reach maturity at the age of about five years - but during this time they not only grow, but also adapt to the harsh climate. Therefore, it is better not to leave them in greenhouses and greenhouses for this time, since there is a possibility that after this the bush will not be able to take root in the open ground.
How to plant thuja on your site?
First, select an open, sunny place with nutritious soil. In the spring, immerse the seeds in the ground to a depth of about five centimeters. From above, mulch with sawdust or turf. Thuja rises quickly and requires protection from direct sunlight. Its delicate sprouts are very sensitive not only to excessive light, but also to prolonged shading, surrounding weeds, aridity. Regularly moisten the soil, loosen it and feed young shrubs with a weak solution of manure. How to plant thuja if you do not want to mess with seeds? You can take cuttings from three-year-old healthy shoots. Treat them with a growth biostimulator and root them in a mixture of turf and peat. At first it’s better to keep them in a greenhouse with high humidity and protection from direct sunlight.
How to plant arborvitae and care for them?
Regular watering will allow the plant to achieve its maximum splendor. The shade tolerance of the thuja does not exclude the fact that it can grow in the dim sun. Drafts can damage shrubs. A well-groomed thuja is lush and decorative, its needles are bright, juicy green and forms a moderate number of cones. Maintaining stable soil moisture should go hand in hand with moderate top dressing. Then the thuja grows evenly and its crown harmoniously develops. For better formation, remove excess and dry branches every year (in spring). For winter, the crown should be tied. Top dressing should begin in spring - first by applying nitrogen fertilizers, and then, in the middle of summer, by potash. If the soil is poor, then phosphoric ones will be required. A dangerous pest of thuja is a false shield. To prevent the defeat of this parasite, the plant needs to be sprayed with malathion in the early spring, before the appearance of the buds. The same substance will help prevent the appearance of aphids.