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Thuja hedges are very popular among owners of private houses and summer residents. And this is not surprising, such a fence has many advantages, but during planting questions arise. And the most common problems are the choice of variety and the features of caring for thujas.
The benefits of creating a hedge from thuja
An evergreen hedge is not only beautiful, but also functional. Such a fence made of thujas can hide unsightly buildings that are located outside the territory of the site. In addition, hedges purify the air thanks to phytoncides. The fence holds back dust, dirt, and harmful gases.
If you plant thuja bushes close together, you will get a dense hedge that will serve to frame the garden or divide the area into zones. However, these are not all the advantages of evergreens. With the help of thuja, you can create beautiful shapes on your site that will become the main design element.
The best varieties of thuja for hedges
Perennial thujas are universal plants; all that remains is to choose the best varieties for hedges that will take root well in a particular region.
The climate in Russia is so diverse that thuja will not feel comfortable everywhere. To create an evergreen fence in the south of the country, all varieties are suitable; you need to choose only according to their decorative qualities and purpose. But for the Northern regions and the middle zone, you need to take into account the frost resistance of the plant. The hedge takes a long time to recover and there should be no mistakes when planting it. For these climatic regions, thujas Brabant and Smaragd are most often used.
In addition, shrubs for hedges are chosen based on their purpose. There are low-growing varieties of this plant that are well suited for forming borders and zoning the garden. It is preferable to plant fast-growing tall varieties along the edge of the site. Such plants recover well after winter, and the hedge remains dense and attractive for a long time.
Fast-growing varieties of thuja for hedges
Thuja Brabant is not only frost-resistant, but also fast-growing, which is especially good for a hedge that frames an area. It is not difficult to grow a real green wall in a short period of time. Over the course of a year, the bush increases by 15 cm in width and up to 35 cm in height. The plant recovers well after winter or unsuccessful pruning and quickly grows green mass. This is an ideal option for beginners who are not yet experienced in growing green hedges.
However, the Brabant variety of shrubs has one drawback - in the fall the thuja needles turn red, and in the spring they need careful care, especially during periods of drought. And frequent haircuts can be annoying. Twice a year it is necessary to carry out shaping and pruning.
The Smaragd variety does not grow so quickly. It forms young shoots well, but somewhat slower than the previous one. This can be attributed to both advantages and disadvantages. The plant is suitable for professionals and experienced gardeners. After all, after unsuccessful molding, the fence will not recover so quickly. However, a living fence does not need frequent haircuts.
Thuja Smaragd can be used to create green figures in the garden. Its needles are dense, even, and regular in shape. But to maintain its rich color, the shrub requires more moisture than the previous variety.
Fast-growing varieties include thuja Globoza. Its spherical bushes make an attractive hedge, the height of which will reach 2 m. The shoots grow densely and evenly, but they need to be rejuvenated every 2 years. The variety tolerates frosts well, but the branches can fall apart under the weight of snow, so it is better to pull them off. Thuja Globoza tolerates drought well and grows well in the shade, which can be called an advantage of the variety.
Which thuja is best suited for a hedge?
For a hedge that will be inside a plot or border, thuja varieties with small annual growth are better suited. You can stop at the Danika variety. The peculiarity of the variety is its spherical crown, which reaches 0.5 m in an adult plant. Thuja grows slowly and does not require pruning, as it perfectly retains the shape of the crown.
Thuja Columna grows very slowly. The average plant reaches a height of 1-1.5 m, but this takes a lot of time.A green fence made from these shrubs will not cause any trouble and will remain attractive for a long time. Mature plants grow up to 7 m. The shrubs are beautiful, with a dense pyramidal crown, and with proper pruning they produce dense shoots. The frost resistance of the plant is very high, so there is no reason to be afraid that the fence will freeze.
Thuja Holmstrup can be considered the best for a green fence. The plant grows slowly and needs to be cut once every 2 years. And the undeniable advantage is the needles of the plant - they change color throughout the season. Such a fence will look attractive. The maximum height of a living fence is 3 m. Thuja Holmstrup is unpretentious, winters well and does not suffer from the spring sun.
How to make a hedge from thuja
Thujas are unpretentious plants, but there are still some aspects to their cultivation. They need to be taken into account when planting shrubs, because some varieties take a long time to recover and do not forgive the gardener’s mistakes.
Recommended timing
The best time for planting is autumn, when the ground is moist. The timing differs in different regions, but there should be time before frost for the thuja to become stronger and take root well. You can plant a hedge in early spring, but no later than April.
Soil preparation
The place for the thuja should be well protected from gusts of cold wind. The soil is preferably acidic, well-drained. It is prepared in advance. Groundwater along the perimeter should be deep. The root system of the thuja is vulnerable and does not tolerate such a neighborhood.
Distance between thujas in a hedge
It is necessary to place thuja for a hedge in one row at a distance of approximately 50-60 cm. It all depends on the variety and growth rate of the plant, as well as on the desired density of plantings. For some varieties, the distance between plantings may be different. For example, fast-growing thujas, such as Brabant, are placed 70 cm apart for a hedge. Plants gain green mass well and are easier to care for if they are not planted too densely.
To make the fence look denser, plants are planted in a checkerboard pattern, leaving about 1 m between them.
How to plant thuja for a hedge
To create a thuja fence, it is not adult plants that are chosen, but young seedlings, about 4 years old. Such shrubs are cheaper and take root better. The optimal plant height is 1 m.
Thuja planting is carried out using the trench method according to the following plan:
- Dig a trench around the perimeter of the site, about 50 cm deep. The width of the ditch is slightly larger than the root system of the seedling.
- The bottom of the ditch is well drained, a layer of nutritious soil is placed on top, then compost and humus.
- The seedlings are installed at the required distance, so that the root collar is level with the soil or slightly lower.
If thujas are planted in 2 rows, then follow the same recommendations.
How to care for a thuja hedge
Growing thuja is not a hassle, but this does not mean that the hedge will grow on its own. Shrubs need good and regular care. You need to take special care of the plants at first, until the thujas take root.
Watering and fertilizing schedule
The most important thing in growing thuja is watering.It’s not so simple here; many gardeners make typical mistakes, trying to moisten the soil after certain periods of time. It is not right. It is impossible to select an interval between waterings. Young seedlings are watered abundantly at first, then as needed. The soil under thujas needs to be checked regularly; during hot periods, it should be moistened more and mulched.
During the first years, thuja is not fed if the planting trench is filled according to the rules. Next, they apply specialized fertilizers for thujas, the choice of which is large. In spring and summer, nitrogen fertilizers are used, and in the fall they switch to phosphorus.
Loosening and mulching the soil
A hedge grows well if the soil is loose and allows air and moisture to pass through well. Therefore, after each watering, it is recommended to loosen the soil under the plantings so that a crust does not form. However, this must be done carefully so as not to damage the root system. Loosening depth – no more than 10 cm.
To prevent the roots of the thuja from overheating and suffering from lack of moisture, the tree trunk circle is mulched. They use different materials, most often humus. It will not only retain moisture, but also serve as fertilizing.
Trimming a thuja hedge
An important role in the life of a green thuja hedge is played by cutting and shaping. There is one rule here - cut off a minimum number of shoots at a time, no more than 30%. If you cut more, the thuja will simply dry out and the fence will die.
The timing of cutting varies, it all depends on the climate zone and the purpose of pruning. If it is necessary to restrain the growth of the fence, then the formation begins before the buds open.For restoration and rapid growth, the hedge is trimmed after flowering.
To trim the fence, use high-quality garden shears or pruning shears. Tools must be clean and well sharpened so as not to introduce dirt into the wounds.
A correctly trimmed thuja from the side resembles a pyramid. Experienced gardeners recommend cutting one side of the hedge in the first year, and the other the next season. This way, the needles will grow evenly and mistakes will not be so noticeable.
Not everyone can trim thuja correctly the first time, so many people use special frames. They are put on the bush and all excess is cut off. After such a haircut, the entire hedge is smooth and uniform.
Conclusion
A hedge of thuja on a site is not a myth, but a reality. It is quite possible to grow it yourself. You just need to decide on the variety and devote enough time to the shrubs from the very beginning to avoid mistakes. Thuja is a grateful plant; it tolerates pruning and frost well.
