Content
- 1 Description of thuja Brabant
- 2 The difference between Thuja Brabant and other varieties
- 3 The use of thuja Brabant in landscape design
- 4 Peculiarities of reproduction of thuja Brabant
- 5 Planting and caring for Thuja Brabant
- 6 Caring for Western Thuja Brabant
- 7 Creating a hedge from Thuja Brabant
- 8 Pests and diseases
- 9 Conclusion
- 10 Reviews
The use of coniferous plants in landscape design is gaining more and more popularity every year. Thuja Brabant is one of the most popular representatives of its genus. Thanks to its ease of planting and low maintenance, this tree has gained immense popularity among homeowners.
Description of thuja Brabant
This species is one of the representatives of the western thuja. Brabant needles have a beautiful light green hue.In late summer and autumn, the tree may change the color of the tips of the crown to greenish-yellow. Unlike most of its fellows, Thuja Brabant does not turn yellow and retains its green tint throughout the winter.
The bark on the trunk of the plant can range in color from light brown to deep brown, and due to its structure, it can peel off slightly. Flowering occurs in spring from mid-April to late May. At this time, Brabant appears small, 1 cm in size, ovoid or oblong shaped cones.
Breeders bred from this plant a related variety of thuja - Golden Brabant. From the name you can guess that the leaves of this tree have a yellow-green color close to gold. A photo and description of this thuja Brabant variety proves that with age the tree loses the density of its crown, its branches become sparser and looser.
Dimensions of an adult plant
In its natural habitat, an adult Thuja Brabant plant can reach an impressive 20 meters in height. Moreover, the diameter of its crown can be up to 4 m. In the middle zone and in the Moscow region, the usual size of the thuja Brabant rarely exceeds 4-5 m.
Most often, owners of personal plots when growing thuja have two options in mind. On the one hand, it is a large tree with a thick and lush crown. Another option is to periodically trim the plant and actually turn it into a shrub up to 1 m high - this is most often used to create hedges.
How does Thuja Brabant grow?
One of the differences of this type of plant is its fairly rapid growth and set of green mass. During a year of active growing season, Brabant can grow up to 40 cm. The increase in crown diameter over the same period can be up to 15 cm.It is not surprising that in terms of growth rate this type of thuja is second only to the leader among all conifers - Siberian larch.
This type of tree has a conical crown. At the same time, it stands out among other thujas due to its compactness and branchiness. Often the branches of Brabant reach down to the ground.
Characteristics of Thuja Brabant
Like any coniferous plant, Brabant perfectly tolerates cold snaps and sudden temperature changes. In the middle zone, this tree easily survives long frosty winters and severe soil freezing. According to research, thuja can easily withstand a drop in ambient temperature down to -35 degrees. In this case, the roots begin to die only if the cold weather persists for a week.
This variety is very easy to care for. It tolerates different types of substrate, although it grows best in loamy soils. The plant tolerates both short droughts and fairly strong soil moisture without problems.
Almost every plant can be vulnerable to various pests and diseases, and thuja is no exception in this case. Accustomed to the warm southern climate, it can be affected by a large number of plant diseases in the middle zone. It is very important to pay attention to the appearance of the plant - a change in the color of the leaves can promise serious consequences, including death.
The difference between Thuja Brabant and other varieties
Every owner of a country house dreams of a beautiful and well-kept plot. The choice in favor of thuja is explained by its magnificent appearance, which gives the area a well-groomed appearance.But every time when choosing the right variety, novice gardeners are faced with the problem of choosing from almost 120 species of this tree. Moreover, each variety has its own characteristics and differences.
According to reviews, thuja Brabant differs from other varieties in its unusually high growth rate. With proper tree care, annual growth is up to 80 cm in height. If this thuja was chosen to create a hedge, then it requires more frequent pruning of the needles. If Brabant is neglected and not trimmed in time, it can grow to enormous sizes and its crown will lose its beautiful shape.
Which is better: thuja Brabant or Smaragd
These 2 types are considered the most popular among gardeners and landscape designers. Thuja Smaragd, unlike Brabant, grows more slowly, adding only 20 cm per year. At the same time, an adult plant can boast a denser crown. Other features of Smaragd include:
- longer life span - up to 110 years;
- ideal for cold winters up to -40 degrees;
- grows on almost any soil;
- during growth, it releases phytoncides - natural substances that purify the surrounding air;
- the ability to choose a variety with both green and golden needles.
In terms of applicability, appearance and frost resistance, thuja Brabant and Smaragd are very similar. However, here the rate of growth comes to the fore. If the owner of the plot is in no hurry and is willing to wait several years for the tree to grow, you can choose Smaragd. Brabant is chosen when it is necessary to make a hedge or a beautiful composition of coniferous trees as quickly as possible.
Which thuja is better: Columna or Brabant
Columna is the same variety that can most often be found in city parks, on the grounds of schools and government institutions. The tree is characterized by a straight trunk, from which numerous branches extend at right angles. Seedling sellers often claim that the plant is incredibly fast-growing. However, in real life, such a thuja grows no more than 15-20 cm per year.
This tree has taken root so well in the middle zone that it is not afraid of either dry summer periods or long cold winters. It also grows well in any type of soil. One of the most important points when choosing Columna is that it does not require pruning as such; a beautiful crown forms independently. Only the height of the thuja can be adjusted by pruning.
With all its advantages, Columna still loses to Brabant not only in growth rate. An important aspect when working with Columna is that it is quite difficult to grow a beautiful hedge from this variety. The trees will have to be planted as close to each other as possible so that their crowns are woven into one. Columna is better suited for decorating parks, Brabant - for personal plots.
The use of thuja Brabant in landscape design
Thuja Brabant is one of the most popular plants in landscape design. Thanks to its flexibility in pruning and rapid growth, even a novice gardener can easily turn a simple plot into a real work of art. Among the most popular uses of thuja Brabant are: alleys, hedges and planting single trees.
To make a beautiful alley of evergreen trees, the designer draws a straight line along the site, then plants seedlings at a distance of 3-4 m from each other. For a hedge, the distance between plants is much smaller - from 0.5 to 1 m. If a gardener decides to use single plants to decorate his plot, thuja seedlings are planted in the order specified by the project. When planting trees alone, pruning them can be approached with great artistry. Depending on the skill of the gardener, the thuja Brabant can be used to make a figure of any animal or bird. The crown of an adult plant can be:
- cone-shaped;
- pyramidal;
- spherical;
- helical;
The thuja will also help decorate the gazebo located on the site and create a recreation area. If the size of the plot allows, you can make an extravagant green labyrinth. If you want to surprise your neighbors, then when planting an alley or hedge, you can alternate two varieties of thuja - Brabant and Golden Brabant. The result is an unusually beautiful two-color wall.
Peculiarities of reproduction of thuja Brabant
The methods of propagation of this variety of thuja are similar to all gymnosperms. There are two most popular methods - using cuttings and seeds. Propagating thuja by seeds is the key to obtaining a healthier plant. However, this method is not favored by its rather long time span.
To obtain Brabant seeds, cones are collected from an adult tree in the spring. The cones are left in a warm place until they crack, after which the seeds are extracted from them. They are placed in wet sand for a couple of days. Slightly swollen seeds are planted in a prepared soil mixture, mixed from turf soil, sand and peat in a ratio of 3:1:1.After germination, the container with soil is placed in a cool place so that the Thuja Brabant gets used to the cold and gets stronger.
Another way to propagate Thuja Brabant is by cuttings. To obtain ready-made seedlings, small shoots 10-15 cm long are cut from an adult tree. They are placed in a container of water or heavily moistened soil. When the first roots appear, the cuttings are transplanted into a container with prepared soil and greenhouse conditions are created for it in the house. Only after the first winter are the seedlings ready for planting in open ground.
Planting and caring for Thuja Brabant
Seedlings ready for planting must have a developed root system - this will allow them to take root in a new place as quickly as possible. Proper planting and care of Thuja Brabant is the key to its health. Another important point is the size of the seedling prepared for transplantation. The best choice would be 2-year-old thujas, about 40 cm high, with a developed pyramidal crown.
Before planting in the ground for thuja Brabant, it is necessary to prepare planting holes. It is best to do this in advance, for example, in late autumn. The dimensions of the pit should be 80x80x80cm. The deeper the hole, the better for the further development of the thuja root system.
Recommended timing
Thuja is a southern plant, so it is best to avoid planting it before winter. When planted in September-October, the plant's fragile roots may not survive severe winter cold.At the same time, in the middle zone and more northern regions, cold weather can set in as early as mid-autumn, which will inevitably destroy the seedlings.
It is best to plant Brabant in mid-spring. In the second and third ten days of April, warm weather usually sets in without sub-zero night temperatures. According to the observations of gardeners, in the spring the chances of thuja to take root in a new place are approximately 10-15% higher compared to autumn planting.
Site selection and soil preparation
It is believed that Thuja Brabant is absolutely unpretentious to the soil. However, properly selected soil is a guarantee of rapid growth and health of the plant. On poor soils, Brabant will also grow, but will lose its maximum crown density.
The Brabant variety is one of the most light-loving among thujas. At the same time, constant exposure to direct sunlight leads the plant shoots to dehydration and, as a result, to problems with wintering. The best place would be a place protected from direct rays, but not too shaded.
Landing algorithm
To get a healthy plant with a beautiful crown, it is recommended to plant Thuja Brabant according to a certain algorithm. The sequence of actions when planting in open ground is as follows:
- A drainage layer is laid at the bottom of the planting hole. Broken bricks or coarse expanded clay are ideal for this.
- The thuja is placed in the hole in such a way that its root collar is located approximately at the same level with the ground.
- The hole is filled with soil prepared in advance - a mixture of leaf soil, peat and sand.
It is very important that the root collar is exactly at ground level. It is believed that if it is buried in the ground, the thuja Brabant will die.Raising the root collar above ground level will make it practically defenseless during periods of severe cold.
Caring for Western Thuja Brabant
Thuja is unpretentious and, in comparison with other plantings, requires significantly less care. However, to get a healthy plant, you should carry out a standard set of measures to care for Brabant. It includes loosening the soil, periodic watering and feeding, timely pruning and proper preparation for wintering.
It is important to periodically loosen the soil around the thuja. In loosened soil, Brabant grows much faster. It is also important to periodically weed the ground around the tree. Excess plants and weeds will absorb water, depriving the thuja of the necessary nutrition.
Watering and fertilizing schedule
After planting, young seedlings require periodic watering. The first 2-3 months after planting in open ground, Thuja Brabant is watered once a week. If the time of planting coincides with a dry period, the frequency of watering is increased to once every 4-5 days. Adult plants do not need constant watering - the soil around thujas is moistened only during periods of severe drought.
In early spring, complex fertilizer for coniferous plants is applied. This helps the thuja to quickly recover from hibernation and begin the growing season faster. This is done at the end of March or beginning of April after the snow has completely melted.
How to prune thuja Brabant
Thuja pruning begins, as a rule, from the third year of the plant’s life. By this time, the tree will have accumulated a sufficient amount of green mass, which must be given a noble appearance.As soon as the Brabant reaches the height required by the gardener, its top is periodically trimmed, stopping its growth.
Every spring, thuja Brabant is sanitary pruned. After the snow has melted, it is necessary to inspect the plant and remove frost-damaged shoots.
Preparing thuja Brabant for winter
In the first years of life after planting, thuja Brabant must be protected from severe frosts. Young bushes are covered with spruce branches or a special protective film. After 3-4 years of development, the thuja will become stronger and will no longer need shelter from the cold.
An important aspect in preparing thuja Brabant for winter is gartering its crown. Under the weight of snow, weak shoots can deteriorate and break, which will lead to the loss of the integrity of the crown. The tying is done using twine - the distance between each circle of rope should be 30-40 cm.
Creating a hedge from Thuja Brabant
A thuja hedge is a great way to enclose your plot or divide it into zones. Brabant allows you to achieve a thick and impenetrable wall that can cover an area better than any fence. Among the advantages of a thuja hedge are:
- Creating a great atmosphere for relaxation.
- Hiding unsightly places on the site - a vegetable garden or a compost pit.
- Purification of the surrounding air due to the release of phytoncides.
- Shelter from dust, exhaust gases and excess noise.
- Green wall at any time of the year.
In addition to hedges, you can also create small living fences. Such borders up to 40-50 cm high will decorate the site and help highlight its most significant parts. With such a compact hedge made from thuja Brabant, you can, for example, isolate a recreation area from fruit plantings.
How to plant thuja Brabant for a hedge
The timing of planting thuja seedlings to create a hedge does not differ from planting free-standing plants. It is produced in mid-spring. Loosening in the first 2 years of life is carried out along the entire length of the fence on both sides. Watering in the first months should be regular in order to get the finished result as quickly as possible.
Since the planting hole for a tree must be quite impressive in size, it is much easier to make one trench. The depth of the trench for thuja Brabant should be at least 80 cm, width 60-70 cm. The bottom of the trench is also covered with a layer of drainage. Seedlings are planted at a distance of 0.5-1 m from each other. Brabant has a dense and branched crown, so you should not plant thujas too close to each other.
Caring for a Thuja Brabant hedge
Lovers of natural beauty may not cut Thuja Brabant at all. Its spreading branches will look great even without additional pruning. You can create an area of wild nature on your property, fenced off from the rest of the world.
Otherwise, caring for a thuja Brabant hedge almost repeats the steps to maintain the health of a separately growing tree. Thuja requires periodic watering, loosening the soil around the trunk, weeding, and removing shoots damaged during the winter.
Features of thuja Brabant haircut
A thuja hedge is trimmed in several stages. The very first pruning should be done in early spring - at this time the plant has already accumulated enough strength for further growing season. During this period, sanitary pruning is carried out, as well as the removal of strongly protruding branches.The second haircut is done in August, when the thuja begins to prepare for wintering.
To simplify the process of trimming and leveling a Thuja Brabant hedge, you can use a metal mesh with large cells. It is stretched along the green wall, after which the shoots protruding from the cells are cut off. After cutting, a large number of shoots often remain, which can be conveniently used as cuttings for further propagation.
Pests and diseases
Thuja Brabant needs to be periodically examined for diseases. Most often they appear in the form of yellowed and darkened leaves. Brown spots on the branches and trunk of a tree most often indicate the onset of a fungal disease. All damaged shoots are pruned and burned to stop the spread of the disease to healthy parts of the thuja.
Preventive treatment of thuja against fungus is carried out with a solution of 0.2% Fundazol. This treatment is carried out every 2 weeks for 3 months from the moment the first signs of a fungal infection are detected. To prevent harmful insects, liming of the lower part of the tree trunk is used.
Conclusion
Thuja Brabant is an ideal evergreen for the garden. With its help you can make a beautiful well-groomed alley or a tall hedge. If you follow the rules of planting and care, you can get a healthy plant that will delight the eye every day with a lush crown.
