Content
Thuja Teddy is an unpretentious, low-growing variety with evergreen needles that develops well in the climatic conditions of the middle zone. Having chosen the right place to locate the plant, enrich the substrate if necessary and monitor moderate soil moisture. Mature western thuja bushes are winter-hardy and not susceptible to short-term drought.
Description of Western Thuja Teddy
The authors of the variety named the dwarf bush with a cushion-shaped crown “Bear Cub” because of its small size and thick, soft needles. The spherical thuja Teddy retains its miniature size for a long time:
- grows by only 25-35 mm per year;
- 3-year-old seedlings, which are sold in nurseries in 3-liter containers, miniature - 10-15 cm in height and width;
- after 10 years, the height of the bush reaches only 30-40 cm, diameter 30-35 cm;
- after 17-20 years of development, it gains the declared size of an adult plant - 0.5 m.
The root system of the dwarf Teddy variety is located near the soil surface, densely branched, and requires loose and constantly slightly moist soil.Thin but densely growing shoots themselves form a rounded, dense crown of the western thuja, usually several centimeters more in width than in height. With age, after 23-25 years, the branches fall apart a little. The soft-needle needles are thick, dark green, and not prickly; thanks to them, the shrub variety gives the impression of a plush ball from a distance. With cold weather, the needles become brownish, but in the spring they turn green again.
The shade-tolerant Teddy variety requires only 4-5 hours of sun exposure and develops well in semi-shaded areas. In the southern regions, western thuja bushes are grown only in areas with sufficient shading or with constant drip irrigation. Needles do not tolerate dry air well. The plant tolerates several days without watering, but the superficial location of the roots of the species dictates its own conditions for caring for the moisture-loving evergreen bush. Thuja Teddy tolerates temperatures down to -31-32 °C; young plants are covered for the winter. The shoots of the variety initially form a rounded crown and are amenable to topiary cutting.
The use of Thuja Teddy in landscape design
The dwarf variety of western thuja with a dense spherical crown looks great as an evergreen soloist in any flower bed or lawn. The view near the garden or driveway is even more interesting if several specimens of the Teddy variety are used for borders. This is also an ideal option for container culture, provided that the containers with thuja are brought into a frost-free room for the winter or are well wrapped. Judging by various photos, thuja Teddy is in demand in landscape design and makes an original impression. The variety is popular for plantings in Japanese gardens, rock gardens, and rockeries. Thuja Teddy is appropriate in miniature green compositions on terraces, loggias, and roofs of residential buildings.The dwarf thuja western bush is placed in the foreground in large flower beds and mixborders.
Features of reproduction
According to reviews, the Teddy variety is easily propagated using cuttings - through rooting or by grafting. Select straight shoots without signs of disease from the middle of the bush. Gardeners share the secret of how to pick a viable cutting - you need to firmly grasp the branch and pull it strongly towards you. Usually, after such manipulation, the shoot is torn off with a piece of bark from the trunk. This old wood, rich in special substances, will help the cutting take root in a new place.
For successful root formation, the cuttings are treated with a growth stimulator according to the instructions and planted in a loose substrate of sand and garden soil in a container or in the shade on an area. A film canopy is installed on top, which is opened daily for ventilation, and the cuttings are sprayed with water. The greenhouse is removed after rooting. In late autumn, the seedlings are mulched with peat and covered with spruce branches or mats made of natural material.
Planting and caring for Western Thuja Teddy
Judging by the photo, this dwarf variety is popular in garden arrangements. Planting thuja western Teddy and caring for young shrubs require the gardener's attention during the first years. Adult plants are not so capricious.
Recommended timing
Proven varietal seedling material is sold in nurseries, grown in containers. Such plants are planted during any period of the warm season. It is better to purchase bushes with an open root system close to the site and plant them within one or two days in early spring or early autumn. Autumn planting requires that the seedlings have enough time before frost to take root.
Site selection and soil preparation
To plant the western Teddy thuja variety, choose a sunny or semi-shaded place in the middle zone, protected from drafts and sharp gusts of wind. The bush is not suitable for low-lying areas where water collects after rain or melting snow. The thuja Teddy variety will also feel uncomfortable in the sun, especially in areas with high summer temperatures - due to dry air and compacted soil without watering. The crown will react to unsuitable conditions:
- the shoots will develop unevenly and form an untidy and sparse silhouette;
- the needles burn out from the sunny side.
The Teddy variety prefers loose, moist, fertile soil with neutral or weak acidity. Light loams and clayey sandy loams are suitable for thuja occidentalis. You should take care of the substrate in the planting hole in advance:
- 1 part sand;
- 1 part peat;
- 1 part leaf compost;
- 2 parts of garden soil;
- complex fertilizer or top dressing for conifers at the rate of 5-7 g of the drug per 1 kg of soil mixture.
Landing algorithm
For a dwarf western thuja bush, a spacious planting hole is prepared so that the surface roots can spread freely: 60x60x60 cm. On heavy soils, drainage is laid down to 15-20 cm and the thuja is planted:
- the substrate is placed on the drainage layer;
- place the Teddy seedling, making sure that the root collar is at the level of the garden soil;
- sprinkle with an earthen lump and compact the substrate;
- water with 9-11 liters of water;
- mulch around the perimeter of the hole.
Rules for growing and care
They admire in their garden such harmonious Teddy thujas as in the photo, planting and caring for which are carried out according to the recommendations of specialists.
Watering schedule
A lot of moisture evaporates through thuja needles, so the bushes need regular and abundant watering. Ideally, the soil near Teddy's thuja should always be loose and moderately moist. A bucket of water will be used per bush once a week. In hot weather, water more often and sprinkle in the evening. In the morning, lightly loosen the tree trunk circle or mulch it.
Top dressing
A beautiful bush is created by regular fertilizers, which for the Teddy variety is carried out 2 times a year:
- in early spring, thuja is fed with a complex preparation - up to 60 g per root;
- in September, before moisture recharging, potassium-phosphorus fertilizers are given.
Trimming
The Teddy variety is not trimmed to form a crown, although the thuja occidentalis easily tolerates the procedure. Only specialists do topiary haircuts. Every year in autumn and spring, inspect the bush and cut off dry and damaged branches. If any shoot gets out of the spherical shape, it is corrected. When cutting thuja, only 3rd part of the growth is removed.
Preparing for winter
Western thuja seedlings are covered for the winter during the first three seasons. Then adult plants tolerate the winters of the middle zone painlessly. The shelter is prepared from natural materials, dense agrofibre, burlap. In late autumn, after feeding and watering, the tree trunk circle is mulched with a layer of bark or peat up to 12 cm. All branches of young plants of the Teddy variety are tied up so that they do not break off under the weight of snow. When the bush begins to create a round crown, the branches are not tied.
If there is heavy snowfall in the area, it is worth purchasing a round or pyramidal frame for the western Teddy thuja, according to the photo and description, which will protect the crown from falling apart in winter.Spruce branches or branches are placed on top of the structure after cutting the bushes. In February and March, Teddy's thujas are covered with mesh or agrofibre so that the needles do not fade in the sun.
Pests and diseases
Western thujas get sick from fungal infections. For prevention, Teddy bushes are sprayed with Bordeaux mixture or copper sulfate in early spring, treating the entire garden. In case of disease, fungicides are used:
- Maksim;
- Horus;
- Quadris and others.
Teddy's soft needles can suffer from insects that suck the juice from greens: aphids, false scale insects, as well as from spider mites. Insecticides are used against pests:
- Confidor;
- Aktara;
- Angio.
And against ticks - acaricides.
Conclusion
Thuja Teddy, planted in a flower bed or forming an elegant border from several bushes, will bring a special elegant appeal to the garden with its soft and discreet silhouette. Standard care is carried out taking into account the characteristics of the low-growing variety. Preventive treatments will protect the plant from disease and pests.
