Thuja in the Urals - planting and caring for evergreen beauty
The homeland of the evergreen beauty of the thuja is North America, whose climate, compared to ours, is warmer. However, thanks to breeders, today it can be grown even in harsh climatic zones, knowing some of the nuances. For example, thuja feels great in the Urals, planting and caring for which, in general, is not particularly difficult. The most important thing is to pick up a zoned variety of thuja and plant it on time. And then you will only have to support the development of a young beauty, providing her with moisture and nutrition.
Thuja in the Urals - planting and care
Do not rush to be upset by the meager choice, because in fact it is not. The western thuja has more than a hundred varieties, among which there are both real giants up to 20 m high and compact low thuja. Most often in the Ural expanses you can find thuja Dannik, Brabant, Emerald, Woodworth.
When and where to plant thuja
The second most important nuance is the landing time. For the Urals, it is best to spend it in the spring. Before the onset of winter, such a seedling will grow new roots and get stronger, which means that it will survive the winter better. In autumn, you run the risk of not guessing the timing, and the early frosts that appear will destroy the thuja that has not yet taken root.
The landing site is also important. Tui love the sun, but they can easily grow in light shade. Direct rays bring them more harm. But the culture has no requirements for soil. Of course, it will grow a little faster on fertile soil, but it will not disappear in poor soil either.
Purchase a seedling with a closed root system, so it will more easily transfer a transplant. Although the price will be more expensive, but you will get an already grown tree. It can be planted together with an earthen lump, so there will be no risk of damaging the roots.
Dig a planting hole according to the size of the root system of the purchased seedling. It will measure approximately 50x50cm. Lay drainage at the bottom of the pit, and add a little sand, humus to the excavated ground and mix. You can add some mineral fertilizers. Place the seedling so that the root collar is flush with the soil, and cover with earth.
How to care for thuja
Water the planted tree well and mulch with peat or sawdust. Further care for thuja will be as follows:
- Water it regularly, especially in summer - at least once a week.
- Loosen the tree trunk to give air to the roots and get rid of weeds.
- Feed the tree in summer with potash fertilizers, but only if you did not apply them when planting. In subsequent years, carry out at least two top dressing per season (in spring - nitrogen, in summer - potassium). But be careful, thujas do not like excess nutrients.If you have fertile soil, then you can do without additional nutrition altogether.
- To give the thuja a beautiful shape, prune the tree. In the spring, be sure to remove dry, broken and diseased branches. And start forming in the middle of summer.
In the fall, start preparing the thuja for wintering. Despite their high resistance to low temperatures, young trees are still weak and need shelter. The most convenient option is to make a frame. Pull a non-woven fabric over it, and inside you can fill it with leaves. When the thuja grow up, their branches will need to be attracted to the trunk and wrapped with a cord. Otherwise, under the weight of the snow, they can break.