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Thuja Miriam is a spherical coniferous shrub with an unusual color. The golden crown of the western thuja has gained popularity in Europe. The Miriam species was developed as a result of genetic changes to the Danika variety.
Description of the western thuja Miriam
According to the description, Thuja Miriam (pictured) is a coniferous, dwarf shrub with a decorative color and a spherical crown shape. The dwarf variety grows quite slowly (5-8 cm per year), the height of an adult conifer does not exceed 80 cm, diameter - 0.7÷0.8 cm.
The crown of the thuja occidentalis Miriam is dense and regular in shape. Scale-like needles change color depending on the season. In winter, the needles are bronze, and in spring they turn golden.
Miriam inherited the vertical arrangement of needles from the Danica variety. They are tightly adjacent to each other, which creates volume and density.
The use of thuja Miriam in landscape design
The spherical thuja Miriam has found wide application in landscape design. It is used in group plantings with other plants, and is also planted as a tapeworm in small flower beds.
Due to the slow growth of thuja occidentalis, the composition retains the original appearance intended by the designer for a long time, which is why the Miriam variety is often planted in mixborders, Japanese gardens and rock gardens.
Shrubs grow well in pots; with their help you can create an unusual lawn of any configuration. Containers with spherical thuja Miriam decorate balconies, terraces and roofs of houses.
Photos of the use of thuja Miriam in landscape design are presented below.
Features of reproduction
In nature, thujas reproduce by seeds, but decorative forms, for example, Miriam, are best propagated by other available methods:
- cuttings;
- layering.
Breeding thuja with seeds is a very time-consuming method, as a result of which conifers with maternal characteristics do not always grow.
Harvesting cuttings of thuja western Miriam is carried out early in the morning or on a cloudy day. It is better to use twigs that have been torn off rather than cut from the mother bush. There should be a “heel” left on the cutting – a piece of bark from an adult plant; such preparations take root faster.
The cuttings should be semi-lignified, healthy, without lower leaves. In order for rooting to occur faster and more efficiently, it is necessary to prepare a nutrient mixture consisting of peat and sand, taken in a 1:1 ratio. Before planting the cuttings, they are immersed for several hours in a solution of Kornevin or any drug that stimulates root growth. The cuttings are planted in the ground at an angle of approximately 60 degrees, buried 3-4 cm into the ground. The temperature for rooting should be within 21÷23 °C.
Thuja Miriam is propagated in open ground using layering.To do this, the lower branch is tilted to the ground, secured with a pin and sprinkled with earth. The next season, the cuttings must take root, after which they are separated from the mother plant and replanted.
It is installed nearby, a nutrient substrate is poured, the branch is bent and strengthened with a metal pin, and covered with earth on top. When the cuttings take root, they are separated from the adult plant.
Landing rules
In order to grow conifers with high decorative qualities, it is necessary to comply with certain planting requirements. Rooting is affected by the quality of the soil and the timing of planting, and the decorative effect depends on the chosen planting site.
Recommended timing
If thuja occidentalis Miriam is purchased in a container, it can be planted any time from April to October. Saplings with an open root system do not tolerate transplantation well, so it is recommended to plant them in the spring so that they have time to take root over the summer.
Site selection and soil preparation
The growth and development of western Miriam thuja seedlings depends on the composition of the soil and sunlight.
Slightly acidic soil and a well-lit area are suitable for planting seedlings of the western thuja variety Miriam. Lack of lighting leads to the fact that the bush loses its spherical shape, the crown stretches out and looks unaesthetic. In addition, the golden color of the crown loses its coloring pigment and looks pale.
If the soil in the area allocated for planting thuja western Miriam is heavy and excessively moist, drainage is necessary, the layer of which should be at least 20 cm.Gravel, expanded clay along with sand can be used as drainage material.
Landing algorithm
The size of the planting hole depends on the dimensions of the root system of the seedling. The roots should be freely placed in the hole. Planting is carried out using the following technology:
- preparing the planting hole;
- drainage device (if necessary);
- planting a seedling;
- backfilling the root system with prepared soil consisting of leaf soil, sand and peat in a ratio of 2:1:1. You can add complex mineral fertilizer to the soil at the rate of 5 g per 1 liter of nutrient mixture;
- watering and mulching the tree trunk circle.
Rules for growing and care
In order for a coniferous seedling to decorate the site for many years, it is necessary to take care of its watering, fertilizing and pruning, as well as proper preparation for wintering.
Watering schedule
Thuja western Miriam needs regular watering, especially for young seedlings that react painfully to dry soil and dry air.
1 bush will require about 10 liters of water. Watering is carried out 1-2 times a week, taking into account precipitation and weather in the region. During drought, the amount of watering is increased, and in addition to moistening the soil, sprinkling is included. It is recommended to carry out the procedure after sunset to prevent burns on the needles.
Top dressing
Feeding of thuja western Miriam is carried out in the spring (April-May). To do this, use complex nutritional formulations, for example, Kemira-universal. For 1 m² of tree trunk area, 50 g of the drug will be required.
In the autumn (late September - October), the seedlings are fed with potassium supplements.
Trimming
Sanitary pruning is carried out annually. It is best to postpone this procedure until spring. In early April, damaged, frozen branches are pruned.
Formative pruning can be carried out simultaneously with sanitary pruning. The crown is given the shape of a sphere.
Preparing for winter
Mature western thuja bushes tolerate winter frosts well. Preparing the seedling for cold weather should be carried out in October-November. The start of preparatory work depends on the region. Preparation consists of the following activities:
- For the winter, the crown is tied together with soft tape or rope.
- Cover with special insulating material (agrospan, spunbond, lutrasil, kraft paper).
- You can build a covering canopy on top, which will help save the crown during snowfalls. It is made from film stretched over wooden pegs.
- The shelter is securely fixed so that it does not fly off during strong winds.
- Be sure to insulate the tree trunk circle; to do this, sprinkle sawdust or pine needles in a thick layer, then lay spruce branches.
Pests and diseases
The decorative appearance of thuja can be spoiled by thuja aphids. It damages the lower part of the shoots. To combat aphids, spraying with Karbofos is used.
The moth moth is a butterfly that attacks thuja plantings. She begins to fly at the beginning of summer. You can notice the appearance of moths by the browning tops and dying shoots. Preparations containing pyrethroids will help eliminate the pest on Thuja Miriam. Treatment is carried out 2-3 times with an interval between treatments of 7-10 days.
To eliminate false scale insects on Thuja Miriam, spraying with Karbofos and Actellik is used.
The click beetle poses a danger to the root system. Acidic soil and stagnant moisture become a favorable environment for wireworm larvae.Autumn digging of the soil and drainage help get rid of pests. If there are a lot of pests, the soil is treated with Diazonin-based preparations.
The following diseases are distinguished from thuja:
- Brown shoots on Thuja Miriam appear due to a fungal infection. The disease can be identified in early spring by yellowed scales. If measures are not taken in a timely manner, the shoots turn brown and die. Damaged branches are cut off and burned. The thuja seedling is fed and the soil is limed. The crown is sprayed several times at intervals of 2 weeks with a 0.2% solution of Fundazol;
- soil fungi can provoke fusarium rot on the roots of Thuja Miriam. The seedling is treated with Zircon, which helps increase resistance to infections, and fungicides Hom, Kartotsid;
- When the shoots dry out, copper-containing products are used to treat thuja occidentalis Miriam.
Conclusion
Thuja Miriam is a dwarf coniferous crop, distinguished by its spherical shape and golden color of the crown. An ornamental plant is used in landscape design; it can become a decoration for an alpine hill; it can be used to create living borders along garden paths.
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