Content
Thuja is a small evergreen tree or shrub. It is appreciated for its unpretentiousness and decorative appearance. Thuja is grown in various regions of Russia, including the Urals. The plant develops well in the shade, undemanding to the composition of the soil. Planting and caring for thuja in the Urals have their own characteristics, which are taken into account when carrying out work.
Thuja varieties for the Urals
Western thuja is best suited for growing in the Urals. It is a durable tree that grows in one place for up to 1000 years. Such plants have a pyramidal crown, which eventually takes on an ovoid shape.
Western thuja is capable of developing in any conditions, and retains decorativeness in the shade. It easily tolerates the close occurrence of groundwater, while being resistant to drought.
Brabant
Thuja of the Brabant variety is a tree with a height of 15 to 20 m. The crown of its conical shape, up to 4 m in diameter. The bark is grayish or reddish in color. The needles are green, scaly, do not change color in winter. Cones are brown, elongated. Annual growth is 10 cm in width and 30 cm in height. The tree prefers fresh fertile soil, resistant to drought and frost in the Urals.
Emerald
Western thuja Smaragd perfectly tolerates the conditions of the Urals. Its crown is conical, up to 2 m high. The branching of the ephedra is weak, the annual growth is at least 10 cm. The shoots are glossy, light green at any time of the year. The tree tolerates pruning well. Thuja of the Smaragd variety is not demanding on the composition of the soil, it grows even in the shade, and is resistant to winter frosts.
Europe Gold
Thuja of the Europa Gold variety grows slowly. For a year, its dimensions increase by 10 cm. The tree reaches a height of 4 m, growing in girth up to 1.2 m. A young thuja has a crown in the form of a narrow pyramid, over time it becomes conical. The crown is usually brown or reddish. The needles are dense, scaly, in winter they have a golden yellow color. The variety Europe Gold is winter-hardy, prefers fertile loams. It is suitable for single plantings and creating a hedge.
Little Jam
Thuja of the Little Jam variety is a dwarf coniferous shrub. It grows in breadth and reaches 1.5 m in girth at a height of up to 1 m. In summer, the needles of the plant are light green, scaly. In winter it takes on a bronze tint. Ephedra grows best in fresh, drained soils. Its frost resistance is high, up to -40 ° С. Thuja Little Jam is suitable for a small garden, rock garden, border decoration.
Golden Globe
Thuja variety Golden Globe is a dwarf shrub that has a decorative appearance. Its shoots are usually golden in color and acquire a copper color in the fall. The growth of culture is slow, no more than 10 cm per year. For 20 years, the shrub reaches 1.2 m in girth. In the Urals, the variety requires minimal maintenance: watering and feeding, the plant does not need pruning. Thuja Golden Globe is hygrophilous, does not tolerate drought.
T-shirts
Thuja Mikey is a dwarf shrub with a wide conical shape. Gives an annual growth of no more than 8 cm. At the age of 10 it reaches a height of 1 m, at 20 years old - 2 m. The needles of the plant are glossy, dark green, soft. Mikey grows well in sunny, moderately humid places.
Teeny Tim
Thuja varieties Tini Tim are a dwarf shrub. Its crown is branched, spherical. The needles are green, scaly.For 10 years, the bush reaches a height of 30 cm. In girth, it does not exceed 40 cm and grows to a height of 1.5 m. The Tini Tim variety is not picky about the ground, frost-hardy. Used for single plantings and decoration of rock gardens.
How to plant thuja in the Urals
Planting thuja in the Urals has a number of features. A suitable place is chosen for the work. If necessary, improve the composition of the soil.
Timing
In the Urals, thuja is planted in early spring before the leaves bloom. The works are carried out at the end of April or in May. They are guided by weather conditions. If frosts are predicted, then it is better to postpone the work.
A spring landing for the Urals is considered more reliable. The bush adapts to a new place and begins to actively develop. Autumn planting is allowed, which is carried out after leaf fall. The work is performed 3 to 4 weeks before the cold weather. In the Urals, October is considered the best time for autumn planting.
Site selection, soil preparation
Thuja is unpretentious to the place of cultivation. The decorative properties of the shrub are manifested in sunny areas. It is allowed to land in partial shade. In shady areas, thuja grows more slowly, and its needles lose color. The best option is to plant a thuja on the east side. Then the plant will receive good lighting in the morning, and after lunch it will remain in partial shade.
For thuja in the Urals, they choose a site protected from the wind. Temperature fluctuations are most dangerous for a plant. Ephedra is suitable for landscaping cities, hedges and alleys. Low-growing varieties are planted in rock gardens, heather gardens, borders.
In the Urals, thuja is able to grow on any soil: swampy, clay, sandy, peaty, etc. Best of all, the bush develops in fresh fertile loam. At the same time, the moisture content of the soil should be moderate, without water stagnation.
The selected area is dug up, cleaned of plant residues, stones and other debris. For planting, a substrate is prepared, consisting of sod land, sand and peat in a 2: 1: 1 ratio. This soil ensures the active development of the bush. On heavy soils, drainage is provided. If the land is poor and not fertile enough, then add humus or compost.
Landing algorithm
When planting, thuja is removed from other plants by 0.5 m or more, depending on the variety. To create a hedge, up to 0.7 m is left between the bushes. The size of the hole depends on the size of the seedling. It is made 40 cm wider and 20 cm deep.
The order of planting thuja in the Urals:
- Dig a hole, taking into account the size of the earthen coma.
- Place a drain on the bottom to drain excess moisture.
- Dip the roots of the seedling into the water.
- Pour in a prepared substrate, taking into account the composition of the soil.
- Form a small hill from the ground, place the plant on top.
- Leave the root collar above the ground.
- Fill the voids with soil, compact it.
- Pour 2 watering cans of warm water under the seedling.
- Mulch the soil with peat or pine bark.
Features of growing thuja in the Urals
For the successful cultivation of thuja in the Urals, it is important to provide the plantings with good care. Plants are watered and fed, the soil is loosened and cleaned of weeds. Trim if necessary. In autumn, thuja is prepared for wintering.
Watering and feeding schedule
Thuja care in the Urals is not complete without watering and feeding. Ephedra prefers moderately moist soil. With a lack of moisture, the crown of the thuja thins. For irrigation, take warm, settled water. It is poured strictly into the trunk circle.
The first sign of a lack of moisture is the drying of the upper shoots. In the spring in the Urals, the thuja is watered every 7 days. In summer, the intensity of watering is increased up to 2 times a week. In rainy weather, plants do not need additional moisture.
Ephedra responds well to sprinkling. It is carried out in the morning or evening, when there is no direct sunlight. As a result, the soil will be filled with moisture, which will also wash away dirt and dust.After sprinkling, the stomata of the ephedra scales open, its development and metabolic processes of the tree improve.
If, when planting thuja in the Urals, fertilizers were laid in the pit, then feeding begins after 2 years. For this, the mineral complexes of Kemir or Fertik are chosen, which contain all the necessary components. Fertilizers are applied in the spring after the snow melts. The norm is 120 g per 1 sq. m. Top dressing is repeated in the middle of summer. For thuja in the Urals, fertilizer in the form of compost is suitable. It is buried in the soil in the spring.
Loosening and mulching the soil
After watering, the soil under the thuja is loosened. The root system of the tree is located in the upper layers of the soil. Therefore, the depth of loosening is no more than 8 - 10 cm. As a result, thuja better absorbs moisture and nutrients from the soil.
Mulch is poured into the trunk circle of thuja in the Urals. Use peat, pine bark or sawdust. The thickness of the mulch layer should be up to 7 cm. Mulch prevents moisture evaporation and weed growth.
Pruning
Thuja responds positively to pruning, which stimulates the growth of new strong shoots. Sanitization is carried out annually in the Urals. The tree is examined for dry, broken, diseased branches. They are cut off at the base. The best time for the procedure is early spring or late autumn after leaf fall. During these periods, the tree is at rest and painlessly tolerates a haircut.
Thuja formation is recommended for group plantings. After pruning, the trees take on a neat look. In addition, it is recommended to form a thuja that grows as a hedge. Shoots are cut no more than 1/3 of the total length. Less commonly, dwarf varieties are processed, which initially have a compact and well-groomed appearance.
Preparing thuja for winter in the Urals
Most varieties of thuja are winter-hardy, therefore they tolerate winters well in the Urals. In the fall, the trees are prepared for wintering: for this purpose, the near-trunk circle is spud and covered with peat 15 cm thick. Such a layer will provide the ephedra with additional insulation from the cold.
In the Urals, dwarf varieties and young plantings are covered with non-woven fabric. First, a frame is erected over the conifers, to which the agrofibre is attached. Be sure to provide an air gap between the plant and the covering material. In the spring, the insulation is removed.
Pests and diseases
With high humidity, thuja is susceptible to fungal diseases. In the Urals, a tree can suffer from fusarium, brown shute, cytosporosis. Diseases are diagnosed by dark spots on the needles and trunk, drying out of shoots. When the first symptoms are found, thuyu is sprayed with Bordeaux liquid. Preparations containing copper help to cope with diseases. Treatments are carried out every two weeks.
Ephedra are often attacked by pests. First of all, it is a false shield and aphids. As a result, the shoots of the culture turn yellow, the tree develops slowly and withers. To combat insects, Karbofos or Actellic preparations are chosen. For the prevention of parasites, thuja is sprayed in early spring before the beginning of the growing season.
Conclusion
Planting and caring for thuja in the Urals will ensure the active development of this plant. For cultivation in this region, winter-hardy varieties are chosen. Before planting, they prepare a place and improve the composition of the soil. The plant is provided with care: watering, fertilizing the soil, cutting off the shoots. In the fall, a number of activities are performed that will prepare the thuja for wintering.
