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Thuja Golden Globe is a highly decorative coniferous shrub with a spherical crown that is easy to trim. Western thuja is planted in sunny areas with fertile soil. Caring for the thuja variety is not labor-intensive, but requires knowledge of the specifics of growing coniferous plants.
Description of Thuja Golden Globe
The dwarf coniferous shrub Thuja Golden Globe, as in the photo, grows to 75-80 cm in 10 years. It reaches its maximum height of 1-1.5 m by the age of 20. The shoots stretch only 8-10 cm over the course of a year. The diameter of the dense crown of the low western thuja is equal to the height, but adult specimens of the Golden Globe variety take on an oval shape without pruning. The bark on the branches and trunk is red-brown, exfoliating in narrow stripes. The root system of the western thuja is located close to the surface. Although there are 1-3 tap roots that go deep into the ground, thanks to which the shrub can withstand short-term droughts.
The needles in the middle of the crown of the Golden Globe thuja are bright green. The top on all outer shoots turns golden in summer and orange-copper in winter.In spring it turns yellow again. The thuja variety Golden Globe has a particularly expressive color if the bush grows in open space. In the shade, the golden hue is lost, the crown becomes sparse and loose, and the silhouette of the sphere disappears. But in the south, the western thuja bush will suffer from direct sunlight and hot air. It is better to place bushes in such regions in partial shade.
The Golden Globe shrub variety shows all the signs if:
- planted on fertile soil;
- roots do not suffer from stagnant water;
- the crown is well illuminated by the sun;
- in winter, in areas with heavy snowfalls, branches are tied so that they do not break off;
- in February-March, young trees are covered with a net for shading;
- The climate is mild, humid, not arid.
The decorative coniferous bush Golden Globe is frost-resistant, tolerates sub-zero temperatures down to 38 °C. A beautiful variety of western thuja is planted in the middle climate zone, but not on soils with high acidity.
The use of thuja Golden Globe in landscape design
The dwarf variety of western thuja with golden needles is purchased by gardeners who prefer bright accents throughout the year. A small tree with a beautiful silhouette and warm color is a real find for a small garden. Judging by the photo, thuja Golden Globe is used in landscape design for various purposes:
- compact tree for the entrance area;
- border plantings;
- element of a composition of conifers in an evergreen flower bed;
- soloist on the lawn;
- a tree for a rock garden or rock garden;
- evergreen picturesque bush in a container.
Features of reproduction
Thuja occidentalis takes root easily, so the beautiful Golden Globe bush is often propagated by cuttings or branches from the mother plant. Varietal thujas are not propagated by seeds if they want to preserve all the selective features. The characteristics of the variety are transmitted through the vegetative fragment. Experts propagate the Golden Globe variety by grafting.
From seeds, the sprout will turn into a bush in the 5-6th year of development. Before sowing, thuja occidentalis grains collected in the fall are stratified in the refrigerator or directly sown into the soil in the garden in the fall. Shoots appear in spring.
Cuttings are an easier method. Reproduction is carried out in the summer, at the end of June, beginning of July, when the shoots have already grown during the spring period. It is important to take the cutting from a straight, healthy shoot within the crown. The twig is cut or broken off so as to capture part of last year's bark. Usually the shoot is abruptly torn off, and then part of the old wood is separated. Thanks to this material, the thuja occidentalis cuttings will be able to take root more easily.
The branches are treated with a root formation stimulator and planted in a loose substrate directly in the garden or in a container. A greenhouse is built over them and sprayed daily. After rooting, the sprouts open. For the winter, seedlings of thuja occidentalis Golden Globe, as seen in the photo, are insulated with spruce branches.
Planting and caring for Thuja Golden Globe
By choosing the right place for the western thuja and enriching the substrate according to the advice, gardeners know that it will develop successfully.
Recommended timing
The Golden Globe ornamental bush is planted in the spring, even in early June. Typically, thuja seedlings are purchased from nurseries in pots, and they tolerate summer movement well. In regions with a long autumn period, conifers are planted in September so that they have time to take root before the onset of frost.
Site selection and soil preparation
For the colorful Golden Globe variety, choose a cozy area protected from the wind. Thuja grows best in neutral soil with an acidic reaction of 4.5-6 pH. Survives on alkaline soils, but too acidic soil is unacceptable. In areas with heavy soil, dig a larger hole to lay drainage up to 15 cm high and a substrate with sand and peat. Thuja roots love loose soil: loam and sandy loam. For the substrate, prepare 1 part of peat and sand, 2 parts of soil from the site. The planting mixture is enriched with nitroammophos or any special fertilizer for conifers.
Landing algorithm
Having dug a planting hole measuring 60x80 cm, place drainage at the bottom, and then a nutrient substrate:
- before planting, place the container with the Golden Globe bush in a large container with water, after which it is easy to separate the earthen lump with overgrown roots;
- the shoots are slightly straightened on the soil;
- the thuja seedling is placed, making sure that the root collar does not go deep, but is at ground level in the garden;
- cover the hole, compact the soil around the trunk and water with 10-15 liters of water;
- It’s a good idea to mulch the tree trunk area now so that moisture is maintained and weeds do not grow.
Rules for growing and care
The seedlings are carefully looked after. Thuja occidentalis Golden Globe, according to the photo and description, forms a spherical crown. It becomes more lush and dense in appearance after pruning, which is best done once a year.
Watering schedule
Considering that the nutrients that the seedlings were fed in the nursery remain in the earthen coma, the young tree is watered abundantly - up to 10-15 liters of water once every 5-7 days, guided by precipitation. If the soil is open, the tree trunk circle is loosened after watering and weeds are removed.During periods of drought, thuja is watered with 20 liters of water every 3-4 days. Sprinkling is carried out in the evening. When an adult thuja bush is left without moisture during dry seasons, it will begin to form fruits, which will reduce the decorative value of the Golden Globe variety.
Top dressing
If there was enough starting fertilizer, usually the thuja is not fertilized in the first year and subsequent years. Organic fertilizers are also not used for the species, especially fresh ones, which can damage the roots. Compost is allowed for mulch before winter. They mainly use only mineral preparations - universal or special for conifers.
Trimming
The Golden Globe thuja bush is cleared of dry branches in the spring. At the same time, formative pruning is also carried out. The variety is also trimmed in the summer. When pruning, the golden background of the bush changes slightly, as the branches turn yellow at the tops. But soon the shoots will grow several new branches, making the silhouette of the Golden Globe thuja more magnificent, as follows from the description and photo. Trim the crown carefully, removing 1/2 or 1/3 of the spring shoot growth. If you remove the entire new branch, the crown will not recover. There are no dormant buds on the woody parts.
Preparing for winter
The seedling is especially carefully prepared for winter, because the mature tree is frost-resistant:
- thujas are watered abundantly at the end of September or in October - 25-30 liters for a young bush and up to 40 liters for an old one;
- apply mulch to the trunk and along the perimeter of the roots in a layer of up to 10-15 cm;
- in areas where there is a lot of snow, branches are tied to the trunk;
- seedlings are covered with spruce branches, burlap or plant debris.
Pests and diseases
The branches of the species are damaged by aphids, false scale insects and spider mites. Drugs used against them:
- Aktellik;
- Angio;
- Aktara;
- Konfidor and others.
In the spring, prevention is carried out with fungicides, preventing the development of fungal diseases:
- Quadris;
- Horus;
- Maksim;
- Speed
Conclusion
Thuja Golden Globe is an unpretentious and spectacular variety that will add zest to the garden, enlivening any corner with the color of golden pine needles. Due to the compactness of the crown, the crop is popular as a container plant.
