Content
The wild western thuja is a tree with high frost resistance, so it is widely used by landscape designers to design areas in regions with cold climatic conditions. The large size formed the basis for a large number of varieties, differing in color and crown shape. Thuja Woodwardi is one of the first artificially created dwarf cultivars. The variety has been grown since the beginning of the 20th century for the design of gardens, summer cottages, urban recreation areas, sanatoriums and children's institutions.
Description of Thuja Woodwardy
Thuja Woodwardi is a bright decorative representative of selected varieties. It is an evergreen, perennial shrub with a dense, rounded crown. The plant responds well to pruning and does not change color by autumn. An unpretentious, slow-growing crop that resists winter frosts and spring temperature drops well. The growth over 12 months is 4-6 cm. Up to 10 years, the height of the thuja is 0.5-0.7 m, the crown volume is 1 m. An adult plant at the age of 25 years can reach a height of up to 1.5 m.
Description and characteristics of the thuja western Woodwardy, shown in the photo:
- The spherical crown of the thuja is formed by a large number of thin, flexible shoots of light brown color. The lower and middle stems are longer than the branches of the upper part of the bush, grow horizontally, and are branched at the crown. There are no resin passages.
- Dense needles of a rich green color, scaly, tightly pressed to the shoots, length - 4 cm. The color of the needles of the current year and perennial ones is the same, by autumn the tone remains unchanged. The needles are hard, but not prickly. Once every three years, the upper part of the branches falls off; within a season the crown is completely restored.
- There are few cones, they are light brown in color, consist of numerous thin scales, grow every year, produce yellow seeds equipped with thin, transparent lionfish.
- The root system is mixed, the central part is deep, the lateral roots are thin, tightly intertwined, they provide the thuja with nutrition, the central ones are responsible for the supply of moisture.
- The dwarf form of the western thuja Woodwardie is a wind-resistant plant that does not respond to adverse environmental factors. The cultivar remains decorative in partial shade; in open areas the needles do not burn.
The use of Thuja Woodwardi in landscape design
The Western thuja variety Woodwardi has been used for many years by professional designers and amateur gardeners in ornamental gardening. The perennial crop grows slowly, responds well to pruning, retains its desired shape throughout the season, and does not require correction. It combines harmoniously with almost all representatives of the flora, both large-sized trees and flowering herbaceous shrubs.Thuja Woodwardi is included in compositions, planted in groups or as a single plant. Below are several photos of Western Thuja Woodwardy in landscape design combinations.
In the form of a decorative hedge separating the zones of a personal plot.
Border option on the sides of the garden path.
Design of the central part of the lawn.
In a group composition with flowering plants and dwarf forms.
In mixborders.
Features of reproduction
According to the description of the variety, thuja western Woodwardy reproduces by seeds and vegetatively. The generative method is the most productive, but it will take longer; 3 years should pass from the moment the seeds are planted and the thuja seedling is placed on the site. The vegetative method will give results faster, but not all harvested material will be able to take root.
Recommendations for propagating Western Thuja Woodwardie:
- Seeds. Planting material ripens in mid-autumn - this is the time to collect cones. Seeds are sown immediately in containers or a greenhouse. The containers are left on the site for the winter. Until spring, the seeds will undergo natural stratification, at the end of May young shoots will appear, the covering structure is removed, and the plant is watered. For the winter, seedlings are protected from frost. The next year, in mid-July, strong seedlings are selected and planted in separate small containers and covered for the winter. The following year, thuja seedlings are planted.
- Cuttings. To propagate thuja western Woodwardi, material is harvested from two-year-old shoots. They take strong branches, the middle will go into cuttings 25-30 cm long. The cuts are treated with a 5% manganese solution and planted in fertile soil. During the summer they are constantly watered and covered for the winter.Next year, the rooted material will form the first shoots; successfully overwintered thuja seedlings are planted on the site in the spring.
- By layering. The work is carried out at the end of May, a furrow 6 cm deep is dug near the bush, the lower stem is placed in it, fixed, and covered with soil. The next year in the spring (after the emergence of seedlings), plots are cut and planted.
Reproduction of thuja Woodwardi by layering is the fastest way, but less productive, because the survival rate of seedlings is low.
Planting and caring for Thuja Woodwardi
Before planting, a self-grown Western Thuja Woodwardi seedling is carefully dug up, so as not to damage the root, and placed in a manganese solution for 5 hours, then in the Kornevin preparation for 3 hours. Thuja seedlings grown generatively are removed from the container together with the lump, inspected, cut off if there are damaged or dry areas, disinfected and stimulated for better rooting. The purchased thuja seedling does not require any preparatory measures; in the nursery it is treated with an antifungal drug. In the photo, Thuja Woodwardi, grown independently from seeds, a seedling with a 3-year growing season is ready for transplanting.
Recommended timing
Adult thuja occidentalis Woodwardy is one of the most frost-resistant representatives of the species. Without freezing of shoots and root system, tolerates temperatures down to -40 0C, spring frosts do not affect further vegetation. Young plants (up to 5 years old) are less resistant to frost. There is a risk that thuja planted in the fall will die. Autumn planting of thuja Woodwardi is suitable only for the South. In temperate climates, spring work is carried out after the soil has warmed up to +7 0C.Therefore, the timing of planting thuja will be different for each area. In a cold climate zone this is mid-May. In the South - early April or late September.
Site selection and soil preparation
Western thuja of the Woodwardie variety is a heat-loving plant with good drought resistance, but does not tolerate waterlogging of the root ball, so choose an open place for planting, without underlying groundwater. Lowlands where excess moisture accumulates are not suitable for planting. The shrub remains decorative in partial shade, but it is better to place the thuja in a place open to sunlight.
The soil for thuja is light, fertile, and aerated. The composition is neutral or slightly alkaline, thuja grows poorly on acidic or saline soil, the crown is loose, and the decorative effect is low. Before planting, the area is dug up, the acidic composition is neutralized with alkaline agents. Mix a nutrient substrate of sand, compost, peat, turf layer (in equal quantities), add superphosphate (100 g).
Landing algorithm
2 days before planting the thuja, dig a hole 50 cm deep, 10 cm in diameter larger than the root of the seedling, and fill it with water. Algorithm for planting thuja western Woodwardy:
- At the bottom of the recess, a drainage cushion is made of coarse gravel or pebbles and expanded clay (layer 20 cm).
- A layer of substrate is poured on top.
- A thuja Woodwardi seedling is placed in the center of the hole.
- Cover with the remains of the fertile mixture; the root collar should remain 2 cm above the soil.
- Compact and water abundantly.
- When the moisture is absorbed, mulch with straw, peat or wood chips. If the purpose of planting is to create a hedge, the interval between thujas should be at least 1 m.
Rules for growing and care
Western Thuja Woodwardie is popular due to its ability to maintain its decorative habit even under unfavorable conditions. The agricultural technology is standard and does not differ from the method of growing all representatives of the Cypress family.
Watering schedule
Thuja Woodwardi under the age of 5 years is watered 2 times a week with 8-12 liters of water. An adult plant needs 2 waterings per month. It is necessary to periodically loosen the soil and remove weeds. During the dry season, it is recommended to sprinkle in the morning or evening.
Top dressing
For normal growth of a thuja Woodwardi seedling, the nutrients added during planting are sufficient for 3 years. In the future, the plant needs feeding. In the spring, products containing potassium and phosphorus are applied, in mid-summer they are fertilized with organic matter, and the root circle is periodically covered with wood ash.
Trimming
Until 5 years of the growing season, Thuja Woodwardi is not given a shaping haircut. If necessary, health-improving pruning is carried out, and shoots that have frozen in winter are removed. Remove twisted or weak stems and dry areas. In the sixth year of growth, you can cut the crown, giving it the intended shape. The work is carried out at the beginning of summer, the molding will last for two years, then the event is repeated.
Preparing for winter
Thuja occidentalis Woodwardi is a frost-resistant plant; an adult shrub does not require crown cover for the winter; snow cover is sufficient. In the fall, water-recharging irrigation is carried out and the mulch layer is increased. Young seedlings are more vulnerable; preparatory measures include:
- hilling;
- increasing mulch;
- covering the crown with any moisture-resistant material;
- The bushes are covered with snow from above.
Pests and diseases
When the soil is waterlogged, Western Thuja Woodwardie is affected by late blight; the infection can lead to the death of the plant.It is recommended to reduce watering or replant the thuja on soil with good drainage. Less commonly observed is the fungal disease Schutte, which spreads to the stems and needles; the affected areas turn yellow and die. The drug “Cartotsid” is effective in the fight against fungus.
Of the pests that parasitize on Thuja Woodwardi:
- aphid – eliminate the pest with a concentrated soap solution;
- moth – get rid of caterpillars with “Fumitox”;
- spider mite – treat thuja with colloidal sulfur.
In the spring, for preventive purposes, thuja Woodwardi is sprayed with copper-based preparations.
Conclusion
Thuja Woodwardi is a dwarf form of the western thuja, a frost-resistant plant that is unpretentious to its growing location. The crop produces insignificant annual growth and does not require frequent cutting. Ornamental shrubs are used in landscape design of personal and summer cottage plots, gardens, urban recreation areas, sanatoriums and children's institutions.
