Content
Thuja is a small evergreen tree or shrub. It is valued for its unpretentiousness and decorative appearance. Thuja is grown in various regions of Russia, including the Urals. The plant grows well in the shade and is undemanding to the composition of the soil. Planting and caring for thuja in the Urals has its 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. This is a long-lived tree that grows in one place for up to 1000 years. Such plants have a pyramidal crown, which over time takes on an egg shape.
Western thuja can grow in any conditions and remains decorative even in the shade. It tolerates close groundwater without problems, and is resistant to drought.
Brabant
Thuja variety Brabant is a tree with a height of 15 to 20 m. Its crown is conical in shape, with a diameter of up to 4 m. The bark is grayish or reddish in color. The needles are green, scaly, and do not change color in winter. The cones are brown, elongated. The annual growth is 10 cm in width and 30 cm in height.The tree prefers fresh, fertile soils and is resistant to drought and frost in the Urals.
Emerald
Western thuja Smaragd tolerates the conditions of the Urals well. Its crown is cone-shaped, up to 2 m high. The branching of the conifer 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 variety Smaragd is not demanding on soil composition, grows even in the shade, and is resistant to winter frosts.
Europe Gold
Thuja variety Europe Gold grows slowly. Over the course of a year, its size increases 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 shape of a narrow pyramid, over time it becomes conical. The crown is usually brown or reddish. The needles are thick, scaly, and have a golden-yellow color in winter. The Europe Gold variety is winter-hardy and prefers fertile loams. It is suitable for single plantings and creating hedges.
Little Jam
Thuja variety Little Gem is a dwarf coniferous shrub. It grows in width and reaches 1.5 m in girth with a height of up to 1 m. In summer, the needles of the plant are light green and scaly. In winter it takes on a bronze tint. Ephedra grows best in fresh, well-drained soils. Its frost resistance is high, up to -40 °C. Thuja Little Gem is suitable for a small garden, rock garden, and 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 turn coppery in autumn. The growth of the crop is slow, no more than 10 cm per year. In 20 years, the shrub reaches a girth of 1.2 m. In the Urals, the variety requires minimal care: watering and fertilizing; the plant does not need pruning. Thuja Golden Globe is moisture-loving and does not tolerate drought.
Mikey
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 years it reaches a height of 1 m, at 20 years - 2 m. The needles of the plant are glossy, dark green, soft. The Mikey variety grows well in sunny, moderately humid places.
Teeny Tim
Thuja variety Tini Tim is a dwarf shrub. Its crown is branched and spherical in shape. The needles are green, scaly. In 10 years, the bush reaches a height of 30 cm. Its girth does not exceed 40 cm and grows to a height of 1.5 m. The Tini Tim variety is not picky about the soil and is frost-resistant. Used for single plantings and design of rock gardens.
How to plant thuja in the Urals
Planting thuja in the Urals has a number of features. A suitable location is selected for the work. If necessary, improve the soil composition.
Deadlines
In the Urals, thuja is planted in early spring before the leaves bloom. Work is carried out at the end of April or in May. Focus on weather conditions. If frosts are predicted, it is better to postpone work.
Spring planting for the Urals is considered more reliable. The bush adapts to its new location and begins to actively develop. Autumn planting is allowed, which is carried out after leaf fall. Work is carried out 3 - 4 weeks before cold weather. In the Urals, October is considered the best time for autumn planting.
Site selection, soil preparation
Thuja is unpretentious to its growing location. The decorative properties of the shrub appear in sunny areas. It can also be planted in partial shade. In shady areas, the thuja grows more slowly, and its needles lose color. The best option is to plant thuja on the east side.Then the plant will receive good lighting in the first half of the day, and in the afternoon it will remain in partial shade.
For thuja in the Urals, choose an area protected from the wind. Temperature fluctuations are the most dangerous for the plant. Ephedra is suitable for urban landscaping, hedges and alleys. Its low-growing varieties are planted in rock gardens, heather gardens, and borders.
In the Urals, thuja can grow on any soil: swampy, clayey, sandy, peat, etc. The bush develops best in fresh, fertile loam. Soil moisture should be moderate, without stagnation of water.
The selected area is dug up and cleared of plant debris, stones and other debris. For planting, prepare a substrate consisting of turf soil, sand and peat in a ratio of 2:1:1. Such soil ensures the active development of the bush. On heavy soils, drainage is provided. If the soil is poor and not fertile enough, then add humus or compost.
Landing algorithm
When planting, thuja is separated 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 deeper.
The procedure for planting thuja in the Urals:
- Dig a hole, taking into account the size of the earthen ball.
- Place drainage at the bottom to remove excess moisture.
- Place the roots of the seedling in water.
- Pour the prepared substrate, taking into account the composition of the soil.
- Form a small hill from the soil and place the plant on top.
- Leave the root collar above the ground.
- Fill the voids with soil and 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
To successfully grow thuja in the Urals, it is important to provide the plantings with good care. Plants are watered and fed, the soil is loosened and cleared of weeds. If necessary, trim. In autumn, thuja is prepared for wintering.
Watering and fertilizing schedule
Caring for thuja in the Urals is not complete without watering and fertilizing. Ephedra prefers moderately moist soil. With a lack of moisture, the crown of the thuja thins out. For irrigation, take warm, settled water. It is poured strictly into the circle around the trunk.
The first sign of lack of moisture is the drying out of the upper shoots. In the spring in the Urals, thuja is watered every 7 days. In summer, the intensity of watering is increased 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 conifer scales open, its development and the metabolic processes of the tree improve.
If fertilizers were placed in the hole when planting thuja in the Urals, then fertilizing begins after 2 years. To do this, choose Kemira or Fertik mineral complexes, 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. Feeding is repeated in mid-summer. For thuja in the Urals, fertilizer in the form of compost is suitable. It is embedded 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 loosening depth is no more than 8 - 10 cm. As a result, thuja better absorbs moisture and nutrients from the soil.
In the Urals, mulch is poured into the trunk circle of thujas. 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.
Trimming
Thuja responds positively to pruning, which stimulates the growth of new strong shoots. Every year, sanitary treatment is carried out in the Urals. The tree is inspected and dry, broken, diseased branches are identified. 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 tolerates pruning painlessly.
The formation of thuja is recommended for group plantings. After pruning, the trees take on a neat appearance. In addition, it is recommended to form thuja, which grows in the form of a hedge. Shoots are cut to no more than 1/3 of the total length. Dwarf varieties, which initially have a compact and well-groomed appearance, are less often processed.
Preparing thuja for winter in the Urals
Most varieties of thuja are winter-hardy, so they tolerate winters well in the Urals. In the fall, the trees are prepared for wintering: for this purpose, the tree trunk circle is hilled up and covered with peat 15 cm thick. Such a layer will provide the conifer with additional insulation from the cold.
In the Urals, dwarf varieties and young plantings are covered with non-woven fabric. First, a frame is built over the conifers, to which 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 may suffer from fusarium, brown scute, and cytosporosis. Diseases are diagnosed by dark spots on the needles and trunk, drying out of the shoots. When the first symptoms are detected, the thuja is sprayed with Bordeaux mixture. Medicines containing copper help to cope with diseases. Treatments are carried out every two weeks.
Conifers are often attacked by pests. First of all, these are false scale insects and aphids. As a result, the shoots of the crop turn yellow, the tree develops slowly and withers. To combat insects, the drugs Karbofos or Actellik are chosen. To prevent 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. Winter-hardy varieties are chosen for cultivation in this region. Before planting, prepare the site and improve the soil composition. The plant is provided with care: watered, fertilized, shoots are pruned. In the fall, a number of activities are carried out that will prepare the thuja for winter.
