Content
Thuja hedges are very popular among owners of private houses and summer residents. And this is not surprising, such a fence has many advantages, but questions arise during planting. And the most common problems are the choice of variety and the peculiarities of caring for thujas.
Benefits of creating a thuja hedge
An evergreen hedge is not only beautiful but also functional. Such a thuja fence can hide unsightly buildings that are located outside the territory of the site. In addition, hedges purify the air thanks to phytoncides. The fence keeps dust, dirt, and harmful gases in check.
If you plant the thuja bushes close, you get a dense hedge, which will serve to frame the garden or divide the territory into zones. However, these are not all the advantages of evergreens. With the help of thuja on the site, you can create beautiful shapes that will become the main design element.
The best varieties of thuja for hedges
Perennial thuja are versatile plants, it remains only to choose the best varieties for hedges that will take root well in a particular region.
The climate in Russia is so diverse that thuja will not feel comfortable everywhere. To create an evergreen fence in the south of the country, all varieties are suitable; you need to choose only for decorative qualities and purpose. But for the Northern regions and the middle zone, the frost resistance of the plant must be taken into account. The hedge takes a long time to recover and there should be no mistakes when planting it. For these climatic regions, thuja Brabant and Smaragd are more often used.
In addition, hedge shrubs are selected from the destination. There are undersized varieties of this plant that are well suited for curbing and garden zoning. Fast-growing tall varieties are preferable to plant along the edge of the site. Such plants recover well after winter, the hedges remain dense and attractive for a long time.
Fast growing varieties of thuja for hedges
Thuja Brabant is not only frost-resistant, but also fast-growing, which is especially good for hedges that frame the site. It is not difficult to grow a real green wall in a short period of time. Over the course of a year, the shrub grows by 15 cm in width and up to 35 cm in height. The plant recovers well after winter or an unsuccessful haircut, quickly grows green mass. This is ideal for beginners who are inexperienced in growing green hedges.
However, the Brabant shrub has one drawback - in the fall the needles of the thuja turn red, and in the spring they need careful care, especially during the drought period. And frequent haircuts can be stressful. Shaping and pruning should be done twice a year.
The Smaragd variety does not grow so fast. It forms young shoots well, but somewhat slower than the previous one. This can be attributed to both advantages and disadvantages. The plant is suitable for both professional and experienced gardeners. Indeed, after an unsuccessful molding, the hedge will not be restored so quickly. However, a live fence does not need frequent haircuts either.
Tuyu Smaragd can be used to create green shapes in the garden. Her needles are dense, even, of the correct shape. But to maintain a rich color, the shrub requires more moisture than the previous variety.
The fast-growing varieties include the thuja Globoza. From its spherical shrubs, an attractive hedge is obtained, the height of which reaches 2 m. The shoots grow densely, evenly, but they need to be rejuvenated every 2 years. The variety tolerates frosts well, but the branches can decay under the weight of the snow, so it is better to pull them off. Thuja Globoza tolerates drought well and grows well in the shade, which can be called an advantage of the variety.
Which thuja is best for a hedge
For a hedge that will be inside a plot or a curb, thuja varieties with a small annual growth are better suited. You can dwell on the Danik variety. The peculiarity of the variety is in its spherical crown, which reaches 0.5 m in an adult plant. Thuja grows slowly and does not require pruning, as it perfectly retains the shape of the crown.
Thuja Columna grows very slowly. The average plant reaches a height of 1-1.5 m, but this takes a long time. A green fence made from these shrubs will not be a hassle and will remain attractive for a long time. Adult plants grow up to 7 m. The shrubs are beautiful, with a dense pyramidal crown, when properly cut, they give dense shoots. The frost resistance of the plant is very high, so there is no reason to be afraid that the hedge will freeze.
Thuja Holmstrup can be considered the best for a green fence. The plant grows slowly, you need to cut it every 2 years. And the indisputable advantage is the needles of the plant - it changes color throughout the season. Such a hedge will look attractive. The maximum height of a living fence is 3 m. Tuya Holmstrup is unpretentious, winters well and does not suffer from the spring sun.
How to make a thuja hedge
Tui are unpretentious plants, but there are still some aspects in their cultivation. They must be taken into account when planting shrubs, because some varieties take a long time to recover and do not forgive the gardener's mistakes.
Recommended timing
The best time to plant is in autumn when the ground is wet. In different regions, the timing is different, but before the frost there should be time for the thuja to get stronger and take root well. You can plant hedges in early spring, but no later than April.
Soil preparation
The place for the thuja should be well protected from gusts of cold wind. The soil is preferably acidic, well-drained. It is prepared in advance. The perimeter groundwater should be deep. The root system of thuja is vulnerable and does not tolerate such a neighborhood well.
The distance between the thuja in the hedge
It is necessary to place thuja for a hedge in one row at a distance of about 50-60 cm. It all depends on the variety and growth rate of the plant, as well as on the desired planting density. For some varieties, the planting spacing may be different. For example, fast-growing thuja, such as Brabant, are placed 70 cm apart for a hedge. Plants gain green mass well and are easier to care for if they are not planted too densely.
To make the fence look denser, the plants are planted in a checkerboard pattern, leaving about 1 m between them.
How to plant thuja for a hedge
To create a thuja fence, not adult plants are chosen, but young seedlings, which are about 4 years old. Such shrubs are cheaper, and they take root better. The optimum plant height is 1 m.
Thuja planting is carried out by the trench method according to the following plan:
- Dig a trench around the perimeter of the site, about 50 cm deep. The width of the ditch is slightly larger than the root system of the seedling.
- The bottom of the ditch is well drained, a layer of nutrient soil is placed on top, then compost and humus.
- The seedlings are set at the right distance so that the root collar is flush with the soil or slightly lower.
If thuja is planted in 2 rows, then the same recommendations are followed.
How to care for a thuja hedge
Growing a thuja is not a hassle, but this does not mean at all that the hedge will grow on its own. Shrubs need good and regular maintenance. You need to take particular care of the plants at first, until the thuja take root.
Watering and feeding schedule
The most important thing in growing thuja is watering. Everything is not so simple here, many gardeners make typical mistakes, trying to moisten the soil after certain periods of time. It is not right. You cannot select the interval between waterings. Young seedlings are watered abundantly at first, then, as needed. The soil under the thuja should be checked regularly, in the hot period it is moistened more strongly and mulched.
For the first years, they do not feed the thuja if the planting trench is filled according to the rules. Further, they apply specialized fertilizers for thujas, the choice of which is large. In the spring and summer, nitrogen fertilizing is used, and in the fall they switch to phosphorus.
Loosening and mulching of the soil
A hedge grows well if the soil is loose and allows air and moisture to pass through well. Therefore, after each watering, it is recommended to loosen the soil under the plantings so that a crust does not form. However, this must be done carefully so as not to damage the root system. Loosening depth - no more than 10 cm.
So that the roots of the thuja do not overheat and do not suffer from a lack of moisture, the trunk circle is mulched. They use different materials, most often humus. It will not only retain moisture, but also serve as a top dressing.
Thuja hedge trimming
Haircutting and shaping play an important role in the life of a thuja green hedge. There is one rule here - the minimum number of shoots is cut at a time, no more than 30%. If you cut more, the thuja will simply dry out and the fence will die.
The timing of haircuts is different, it all depends on the climatic zone and the purpose of trimming. If you need to restrain the growth of the fence, then they begin to form before bud break. For recovery and rapid growth, the hedge is sheared after flowering.
Use good quality garden shears or pruning shears to trim the fence. Instruments must be clean and well-sharpened to avoid introducing dirt into wounds.
Correctly trimmed thuja from the side resembles a pyramid. Experienced gardeners recommend cutting one side of the fence in the first year, and the second the next season. So, the needles will grow evenly and mistakes will not be so noticeable.
Not everyone succeeds in cutting thuja correctly the first time, so many use special frames. They are put on the bush and all unnecessary is cut off. After such a haircut, the entire hedge is even and uniform.
Conclusion
The thuja hedge on the site is not a myth, but a reality. It is quite possible to grow it yourself. You just need to decide on the variety and from the very beginning to devote enough time to the shrubs to avoid mistakes. Thuja is a grateful plant, it perfectly tolerates haircuts and frosts.
