Content
In landscape design techniques and decorative gardening options, thuja takes a leading place among large-sized plants. For use in a temperate climatic zone, western thuja is suitable - a coniferous tree with a high index of frost resistance. The wild-growing species became the basis for work on the creation of new varieties. Thuja Reingold is an artificially derived form of German selection, which received from the western progenitor high frost resistance, unpretentious care, longevity.
Description of thuja Reingold
Western thuja Reingold is a highly decorative representative of the species. Culture culture was created for the design of plots, gardens, urban areas. Thuja grows in the form of a bush, by 10 years of vegetation, the height reaches 1.2 m, the average growth is 6 cm in 12 months. The crown of thuja Reingold is thick, round or spherical, and lends itself well to molding. The tree reaches its final point of growth at the age of 35-40 years. Depending on conditions, it can grow up to 2-3 m.
External description of thuja western Rheingold (pictured):
- Thuja is formed by numerous short branches of medium thickness. The length of the lower and upper branches is the same. The color of the bark is maroon with a brown tint.
- At the tops of young shoots, needle-like needles are formed for the next year, the form turns into a scaly one. The needles of the current year are light yellow with a pink tint, in the middle of summer the color changes to bright orange, in the fall the crown turns brown. The arrangement of the needles is dense, they are tightly pressed to the stems. The decorative effect of thuja Reingold is given by the uneven coloring of the crown: the lower part is green, to the top it is orange.
- Thuja Reingold forms cones every year in small numbers, they are dark gray, up to 10 cm long, consist of thin, densely spaced scales. Seeds are brown, small, equipped with light beige narrow lionfish.
- The root system is mixed, intertwined, the central roots go 50 cm deep.
A variety of western thuja Reingold does not react to gusts of wind, it resists drafts well. The vegetation is not affected by gas pollution and smoke from the surrounding urban environment. The peculiarity of the exotic color of thuja Reingold is fully revealed in the area with no shade.
Once every three years, the crown is renewed, the upper part of the shoots falls off, in their place the thuja forms a replacement.
Application of western thuja Reingold in landscape design
Western thuja of the Reingold variety is one of the popular decorative forms used in the design of gardens and personal plots. Thanks to the color of the crown, the plant is harmoniously combined in any combination with undersized flowering plants, shrubs and large conifers. A slight annual increase is among the priorities when choosing a thuja. The shrub keeps its given shape for a long time, does not require constant cutting. Photos of the use of western thuja Reingold in ornamental gardening are presented below.
Thuja as part of a composition with flowering plants and exotic shrubs.
On the sides of the path to the main entrance.
Thuja in group planting with juniper and dwarf conifers.
It is harmoniously combined in mixborders with plants of various colors and shapes.
As a hedge, as a padding for large-sized trees.
Solitaire in the center of a blooming flower bed.
Breeding features
According to the description given by the originator, thuja Reingold reproduces vegetatively and generatively. Regardless of the method, the survival rate of the bush is good. Planting seeds takes longer than vegetative propagation.
Seeds of western thuja Reingold fully retain the characteristics of the parent bush. Collect the material at the end of October, sow directly into a container or mini-greenhouse. The capacity is left on the site, covered. During the winter, the seeds will undergo natural stratification, and in the spring they will sprout. During the spring-summer season, the seedlings are watered, when the weather settles, the covering material is removed. The next year, in the middle of summer, the seedlings dive into separate containers. A year later, in the spring, thuja Reingold is planted on the site. At least three years must elapse from the moment of sowing the seeds to placement in a permanent place.
Reproduction by cuttings of western thuja Reingold is more effective: two years pass from harvesting material to planting. Cuttings are cut in July from last year's shoots. Take the middle part with a length of 25-30 cm. Placed in fertile soil. Cover for the winter. The next season, the plant is watered, by autumn it will be clear which cuttings have taken root. In the spring they are planted in a permanent place.
The western thuja of the Reingold variety also propagates by layering. This method is less productive, it is used less often, the layers take root in 60%, while there is no guarantee that the young growth will overwinter even with good protection from frost. To obtain planting material, the lower branch of the thuja is bent to the ground and dripped in, constantly watered, the soil should not be allowed to dry out in place of the cut. The work is carried out in the spring, after a year it will be seen how many plots have turned out, they are cut and immediately planted on the site.
Planting and caring for the western thuja Reingold
If the cultivation of western thuja Reingold involves the use of independently prepared material, examine the root system, remove damaged fragments, place in a manganese solution for 6 hours, then for the same time in a growth stimulating preparation, Kornevin will do. Seedlings obtained generatively are removed from the container along with the root ball, disinfected, and a growth stimulator is used. The seedling purchased in the nursery does not require antifungal treatment. It is better to take planting material with a closed root at the age of three years. The photo shows a thuja Reingold sapling of the optimal size for planting.
Recommended timing
According to the description, thuja western Rheingold is a frost-resistant plant, capable of withstanding a drop in temperature to -38 0C and withstand recurrent frosts down to -7 0C, but these indicators refer to an adult plant. Young saplings of Thuja Reingold are less resistant, if the shrub does not have time to root well before the onset of frost, there is a risk that the thuja will die. Therefore, autumn planting in temperate regions is not recommended. A western thuja seedling is placed in a permanent place only in the spring. It is necessary to wait for the soil to warm up to +6 0C, for the Central strip this is the beginning or mid-May. In the South, thuja Reingold manages to root after an autumn planting, if the work was carried out in early September. The spring planting time for regions with a mild climate is early or mid-April.
Site selection and soil preparation
Thuja western Reingold is valued for its decorative effect and density of the crown. In order for the needles to have a bright color, to grow densely, the shrub needs a sufficient amount of ultraviolet radiation. In the shade, the color will be dull, the crown is rare. The site is chosen open, without shading.
Thuja prefers fertile, well-oxygenated, light, neutral or slightly acidic soil. The best option for Reingold is loamy soil without groundwater close to the surface.If the area is swampy, thuja is planted on a hill from the south, east or west.
Before planting thuja Reingold, the site is dug up, organic matter is introduced, if necessary, the composition is neutralized with lime or dolomite flour. A nutritious substrate is preliminarily prepared from sand, peat, compost and sod soil in equal proportions. 200 g of urea and 100 g of superphosphate are added to 10 kg of the mixture.
Landing algorithm
The planting pit for the thuja western Rheingold is prepared in a day. The size of the depression depends on the volume and length of the root system. If the root is closed, the width does not exceed the size of the earthen coma, the depth is 70 cm.If the root system is open, the width of the hole is 15 cm wider, approximately 50 * 50 cm.
Description of the planting process of thuja western Rheingold:
- At the bottom of the recess, a drainage cushion is poured with a layer of 20 cm, consisting of coarse gravel from below and fine gravel from above.
- The fertile mixture is divided into two parts, one part is poured onto the drain.
- The seedling is placed in the center.
- Fall asleep with the rest of the substrate, compacted so that there are no voids.
- Fill up to the top with the remaining soil.
- Watering, mulching.
It is impossible to deepen the neck or raise it strongly above the soil, the success of thuja survival on the site depends on this moment. In the photo, a thuja Reingold sapling after planting.
Growing and care rules
Thuja western Reingold is unpretentious in care. To achieve a decorative habit, it is recommended to follow simple rules regarding watering, sanitary cleaning of the crown and preparatory measures for winter.
Watering schedule
Thuja Reingold is a heat-loving plant with medium drought resistance. The irrigation schedule is oriented towards seasonal precipitation. The required amount of moisture for young seedlings: 7 liters twice a week. An adult plant is watered 2 times a month (15-20 liters). Watering is carried out in the morning or evening. At low air humidity, Reingold requires sprinkling, which is best done early in the morning, the amount of water is not limited, the procedure can be carried out daily. To preserve moisture and prevent burns of the root system, the trunk circle is mulched.
Top dressing
Trace elements introduced during planting are enough for a seedling for 4 years of growth. Then thuja Reingold requires annual feeding. In the spring, the seedlings are fertilized with special means for the Cypress family; they can be replaced with "Kemira-wagon". In July, an organic solution is introduced at the root.
Pruning
Western thuja Reingold grows slowly, the crown is dense, of the correct rounded shape, young shoots do not protrude beyond the visual border, so a shaping haircut is not required. Cleaning is carried out in the spring before sap flow, it is of a health-improving nature, dry fragments are removed, weak curved shoots are cut out.
Preparing for winter
Adult thuja Reingold tolerates low temperatures without loss, frozen shoots are fully restored during the growing season. For the winter, the shrub is watered abundantly, the root circle is mulched. Young thuja seedlings for the winter are covered with a special material and covered with dry leaves.
Pests and diseases
Thuja western Reingold is distinguished by high resistance to pests and diseases. At high humidity, late blight may develop. They get rid of fungal infection with fungicides, reduce watering. From insects, thuja is affected by aphids, destroy the pest "Karbofos". Less often, caterpillars of moth moths parasitize on the bush, they are harvested by hand, the crown is treated with "Fumitox".
Conclusion
Thuja Reingold is a dwarf evergreen representative of the western thuja. A highly decorative shrub with a bright golden crown, due to its drought resistance, winter hardiness and undemanding care, leads in terms of consumer demand. The plant is used in landscape design. Thuja is harmoniously combined with tall trees, dwarf conifers and flowering shrubs. The culture gives a slight annual growth, does not need the formation of a crown.
