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How to plant giant thuja trees


Grow Guide for Thuja Green Giant Arborvitea – Perfect Plants Nursery

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A row of Thujas line a pond to create the perfect look.

Thuja Green Giant tree has become one of the most popular trees for creating a living screen. It’s no wonder: Green Giant is an evergreen plant throughout the year; it is adaptable to most soil types; it is tolerant of light shade and of moderate drought; and it grows extremely fast. Thuja arborvitae has been called the tree of life in latin and was brought to North America to be put in the United States National Arboretum in 1967 from Denmark.

You may be wondering how fast do arborvitae grow? The thuja green giant arborvitae growth rate puts on 3-5 feet per year of height. A row of rich Green Giants will quickly create a privacy screen that blocks the wind and snow, and blocks the view. The dark green foliage of the green giant plant can grow in a wide range of soils. The green needles may darken to reddish brown or bronze slightly in winter.

Thuja ‘Green Giant’ is a large tree hybrid between the American native, western redcedar (Thuja plicata), and the Asian native, Japanese arborvitae (Thuja standishii). Thuja Green Giant evergreen trees grow faster and are said to stay bright green in winter than either parent. It is more cold hardy than the Japanese species and more tolerant of a lethal fungus (Didymascella thujina) than the American species.

Green Giant Arborvitae Size

The big Green Giant is capable of reaching up to 60 feet tall, with a 15-20 feet wide spread across its bottom at full maturity.

In cultivation, Thuja plant ‘Green Giant’ is superior to most all other fast growing evergreen conifers for many reasons.Thujas create excellent privacy between neighboring houses
Because of its fast growth rate, Green Giant is among the best choices for a quick evergreen hedge or screen, privacy fence, or wind and snow break. A row of giant thuja trees along your property line as a screen plant will protect more vulnerable plants and your home from damaging winds.

Line the driveway with a row of emerald green arborvitae plants to create a barrier that keeps drifting ice and snow away. With lower branches that will eventually extend way out beyond the trunk, Green Giant has a tall, imposing narrow pyramidal habit and can sometimes be conical shaped. However, it can be kept compact by regular pruning. In fact, Green Giant responds well to clipping and pruning, even to moderate shearing. The best time to prune thujas is in the early spring.

Planting Arborvitae: Site Selection

Green Giant performs best on moist, fertile, well-drained, loamy soils in full sun to partial shade. It will not survive on varieties of soils that are wet sites, poorly drained, or ones that stay soggy, and it doesn’t like highly compacted soils. Ideal conditions in USDA planting zones 5 and 6, at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight is best; in warmer climates, a little shade, especially in the afternoon, won’t hurt. Check out our Where Should I Plant Thuja Green Giant blog for more info. As always, perform a soil test if you are unsure.

As a majestic sentinel tree, Green Giant has few equals. A pair of Green Giants on opposing sides of the yard will frame your landscape in grandiose form. In a larger yard or park, position a cluster of three Green Giants for a positively regal focal point.

Thuja Green Giant Arborvitae Spacing

For a living privacy screen or hedge, a windbreak, or a snow break, position Green Giants 5-6 feet apart. Or better yet for a unique green giant hedge, plant them in two rows, 4 feet apart, with the trees staggered 8-15 feet apart within each row. The row(s) should be at least 6-8 feet away from any building, driveway or road. Thuja green giant arborvitae spacing is important so the landscape trees can grow to their maximum potential.

How to Plant Green Giant Arborvitae Tree

If your soil is very compacted, you should consider tilling before digging the individual planting hole(s). You can plant any time of the year, but the best time for planting a new tree is in spring, before it gets too hot, while still allowing a whole growing season before winter to establish a strong root system.
Newly planted green Thujas will need plenty of water the first growing season to establish strong roots.
Before starting, thoroughly water the soil in the nursery pot so that the Green Giant’s roots are fully wetted. Place the pot on its side and slide the root ball out.

If the plant is stuck, you can slip a long-bladed knife around the inside edge to loosen it. Gently loosen some of the roots along the sides and bottom of the root mass, and pull them outward so they are not encircling the root mass. It shouldn’t be necessary to prune any of the roots unless they are wound around the circumference of the pot. In that case the offending roots should be shortened so that when they are in the ground they will grow outward and not continue growing in a circle.

Dig a hole twice as wide and a little deeper than the container the Green Giant arrived in. Do not add any evergreen fertilizer or amendments. Mound up some soil in the middle of the hole, 3-6 inches high, and place the center of the root mass on top of the mound, spreading roots out in all directions around the hole.

Begin filling in the hole. Backfill until the top of the root mass is at the same level it was in the original nursery pot, never lower. You may have to pull the plant up as you backfill. When the hole is half filled, give it a good soaking of water. When the water has drained, readjust the depth of the stem if necessary and finish filling in the hole. Gently tamp the surface of the soil around the root ball down with your hands to ensure there are no air pockets near the plants roots.

Mulching is essential to maintain moisture for newly planted arborvitae trees
Build a 3-6 inch high dike of soil on the surface around the outside of the root zone. This will impound water over the roots as it sinks into the soil. Water your trees thoroughly. Spread an organic mulch 3-6 inches deep over the root zone and beyond to help hold in soil moisture and prevent weed growth. You can use hay, straw, leaves, pine needles, bark or wood chips, grass clippings, or compost. Keep the mulch 3-4 inches out from the trunk. Do not fertilize at this time.

Wondering how often to water thuja green giant?

Water every day or two for the first 2-3 months, until the plants are established. After that, they should get one inch of water every week or ten days. If you’re having a dry spell, or your soil is very sandy, you should water more often with the expandable hose that will come really handy. Once the large trees are established, they are very drought tolerant.

The most common reason for any newly planted tree to die is lack of water.

Your Green Giant shrub will need about an inch of water, either from rainfall or irrigation, per week. Renew the mulch layer as needed to protect the roots from drying out, freezing, or overheating, and to smother weeds. Use an organic mulch that will decompose and add nutrients to the soil. Try to maintain a mulch layer 3-6 inches deep around the tree at all times, but keep it a couple of inches away from the trunk itself.

Without any pruning, Thuja ‘Green Giant’ will grow into a stately pyramidal shape with foliage that stays dense all the way to the ground. After its first year of growth, it can be pruned to fit your needs. To maintain a low hedge shape, you will need to shear several times during the growing season.

Thujas are relatively disease free, but check out our Pests and Diseases of Thuja Green Giant blog for more information if you are dealing with issues. They are also deer resistant so you don’t have to worry about those critters eating your trees. One way to know if something is wrong with your thuja is by watching the evergreen needles. If they change color, turn brown, fall off you know that something is wrong.

You simply cannot go wrong with Thuja Green Giant – they are the fastest growing evergreen trees, can provide privacy in as little as a year, and Perfect Plants has many size options to get you the exact tree you need! Want a similar tree that does not get as large? Check out Leyland Cypress for another easy to grow evergreen.

Please let us know any questions you may have in the comments section below.

Happy planting!

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How to Plant The Ultimate Privacy Tree - Thuja

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If you’re looking to add a layer of privacy to your property naturally, consider planting thuja plicata x standishii ‘Green Giant’ AKA Thuja trees.

 

The Thuja Green Giant is the fastest growing privacy tree which makes it the most popular evergreen tree for green screens and privacy hedges. This tree is large and makes an excellent windbreaker or sound barrier. The Green Giant is low maintenance, pest, deer, and disease resistant, and drought tolerant once established. This fast growing privacy tree can grow 3 to 5 feet in a single year!

Thuja Green Giant Trees

Description

While this arborvitae is known mainly as a privacy tree, it has a lovely form and deep green color that lend it to being an attractive specimen tree as well. The evergreen foliage is soft and feathery and the habit is a tradition pyramid shape. The mature height is 40 to 60 feet and the mature width is 10 to 15 feet. In a hedge, a Thuja Green Giant will be closer to the lower end of this size and when planted alone as a focal tree it will achieve the higher end of the size spectrum.

The Right Planting Location

Green Giant Arborvitae are recommended for growing zones 5 to 9. They will grow the best in full sun, but can tolerate some shade. Thuja Green Giant trees adapt to just about any soil including clay and sand, but avoid spots that have chronic standing water for best results.

Planting Your Thuja

Dig a hole about twice the width and as deep as the root ball for each tree. Avoid planting too deep. The top of the root ball should meet up with or be slightly above the existing soil line of the ground. Water each tree in well. Back-fill the soil, tamping down the earth gently to remove any air pockets. Do not stomp the soil around the trees with your feet. This can compact the soil and make it harder for the roots to grow. Water each tree again at the base with a hose until the ground is thoroughly saturated.

 

Pro Tips

  • Apply an inch or 2 of mulch around each plant. This step adds more work now, but saves you work later! Mulch helps hold moisture in the ground, protects the roots and keeps weeds that compete for water and nutrients at bay.
  • While Arborvitae Green Giant trees will grow in clay soil they may not grow as fast as they would in a soil with better drainage. Amend your soil as deeply as you can with potting soil and compost to improve the quality and drainage of your soil.

Caring for Thuja

The Thuja Green Giant is incredibly easy to grow and maintain. Once established this tree requires little, if any, care. Thuja Green Giants are drought tolerant once established. But keep them watered well for at least the first 2 to 3 months, preferably the first year. This helps the roots grow deeper and establish faster which will give you a stronger, healthier, sturdier tree.

Pro Tip

Thuja Green Giant trees do like fertilizer. So feeding them with a balanced slow release fertilizer each spring will help boost their growth. If isn’t necessary though if you’d prefer to skip that chore.

 

 

Spacing

For a traditional straight privacy screen, Thuja Green Giant trees can be planted 5 to 10 feet apart on center, depending on how quickly you need them to fill in.

 

Pro Tip

For quick privacy choose larger trees and plant using a staggered privacy landscape plan. Plant each tree within the line 6 to 10 feet apart, and plant the trees on the diagonal 6 to 8 feet apart. This instant privacy hedge makes an excellent windbreak and noise barrier.

 

Before you buy Thuja, plan out your property and garden with Hortisketch.

 

About Author: Find Jill Raver over at www. plantingtree.com to learn more about Thuja. As a supplier she can also be found over here on Garden Savvy.

Recent Posts

How to grow thuja in pots and in the garden

Recently, thuja has become one of the most popular conifers used in landscape design. And this is easily explained: there are no special requirements, so they are relatively easy to grow at home. Most often, thuja is grown as a hedge. Despite the fact that almost all varieties are unpretentious plants, there are a few rules that must be followed. In order for your hedge to become exemplary, you should collect at least a minimum of information on how to grow thuja.

Garden species and varieties of arborvitae

The genus arborvitae, native to North America and East Asia, includes about ten evergreen conifers belonging to the family Cupressaceae, which also includes cedar, cypress and juniper. On the basis of the main varieties, about 20 species and varieties of arborvitae with different characteristics have been bred by selection. For example, if thuja Smagard is most suitable for creating dense and impenetrable hedges in the garden thanks to a trunk that can reach 15 meters in height, then occidentalis - a little smaller - can be used for decorative purposes even in the interior of an enclosed space. In addition, various dwarf hybrids grown in containers will decorate not only your garden, but also your balcony or terrace.

Number one in the list of popularity - Thuja western Brabant, distinguished by the majesty of an upright trunk, a well-defined pyramidal shape and a dense dense and elongated crown. Its slow growth makes it especially suitable for hedges. By planting three thuja seedlings per linear meter, you can create beautiful dense and well-formed green fences.

Giant arborvitae (Thuja plicata) native to western North America. A characteristic feature is a pointed cone-shaped crown, which branches out to the ground in the open air. Moreover, the lowest branches often take root when in contact with the ground so that a real nest is formed with the mother tree in the middle - this phenomenon is called "drag". The giant tree of life in its homeland reaches 60 meters in height, with a diameter of up to six meters. But in an artificial landscape, the giant does not grow above 25 meters with a maximum width of three meters. And the hybrids bred on the basis of the species are less in total. At a young age, Thuja plicata grows relatively quickly, with an annual growth of 30 centimeters.

How to grow thuja in a pot

As a rule, several breeding varieties are used to grow thuja in a pot. The small-sized Whipcord grade is particularly suitable for indoor applications. Its height is only 40 centimeters, and its width is twice that. In the pyramidal variety Aurescens, the tips of the shoots shine with a golden yellow light. Aurescens is often used for tall hedges. The columnar variety 'Gelderland' has new shoots of a more intense green-yellow color, the rest of the growth characteristics are largely the same as 'Aurescens'. Variety "Albospica" offers a variant with white tips.

Important! All brightly colored varieties need full sun or the colors will fade. They also like to be much more sheltered from wind and drafts.

How to plant thuja in open ground

Now about how to plant thuja without a threat to the growth of seedlings.

  • You can plant thuja almost the entire season - from early April to mid-October.
  • Hedge grows best in full sun or partial shade. But a completely shaded area is categorically not suitable.
  • In addition, you should know that arborvitae do not tolerate transplantation well. Therefore, it is worth immediately choosing a permanent place of residence for planting thuja.
  • As for the distance between thuja seedlings in the open field, as a rule, they keep a distance of about 1 meter from each other. It is unconditional and obvious that the smaller the distance, the denser and more compact the hedge will be.
  • Hedge needles should be trimmed 3 times per season. At the first pruning in spring (March/April), shorten the shoots by about 3/4 of their length. Do the same in the middle of summer (in June). The last pruning of thuja shoots should be carried out in August. Shoots should be shortened by 1-2 cm.
  • Free-standing trees may not be pruned at all.

How to grow globular arborvitae on the site

Recommendations for planting and growing globular varieties, for example, Danica arborvitae, practically do not differ from the description of the conditions created for other species. Cloning methods, including seed propagation, are also similar to the methods and methods of breeding all varieties. The only caveat is the pruning rules.

  1. In order for the globular arborvitae to keep a healthy, fresh appearance and regular shape on the site, their branches should be cut regularly. However, the frequency of clipping depends on the type and intended purpose of the operation.
  2. In order to remove dead or damaged wood, pruning is sufficient once a year - in March. But during the first few years, in order to stimulate the growth of new branches, it is recommended to increase the number of prunings up to 4 times - from spring to mid-summer.
  3. To give the perfect spherical shape, experienced gardeners use special stencils of different diameters, made of metal or plastic. A sphere or hemisphere on pegs is set directly above the bush, and excess foliage is cut off.
  4. After pruning, there will be many small shoots of arborvitae. Do not throw them away, but rather use them as seedlings. (Fresh, not stiff branches are suitable for this). Thanks to this, you will get many small seedlings that you can later plant in the garden.

Pests and diseases

Thuja is rarely exposed to pests and diseases. Most of the problems can be attributed to improper care. The most common mistakes of improper cultivation at home:

  • improper feeding or lack thereof, which often leads to magnesium or iron deficiency;
  • incorrect watering;
  • Inappropriate space (e. g. too much shadow).

Living arborvitae often respond to such situations with yellow or brown needles. At the first manifestations of such symptoms, the cause should be quickly eliminated, otherwise the plant will die.

Wintering thuja

Resistance to low temperatures largely depends on the type and variety of thuja. For example, Thuja plicata is completely hardy. But Thuja occidentalis (Occidentalis Arborvitae) can freeze easily, especially if the tree is planted in open spaces in the garden. But the most sensitive to frost are Platycladus orientalis (Oriental arborvitae). Young specimens of this species must be covered in winter with agro-fabric and polyethylene should be put on top.

Absolutely all young seedlings also need frost protection. To prevent thuja branches from breaking under the weight of snow in winter, wrap the entire tree with a hemp rope.

Another possible feature of wintering: thuja needles turn brown. But don't worry, this is a natural process that happens in winter. In spring, the needles turn bright green again.

Watering rules

Conifers do not need to be watered frequently. But this does not mean that they are not watered at all. Young trees especially require regular watering in the first year after planting.

  • Regular watering is recommended not only for the first six months, but throughout the growing season. At the same time, watering should be so plentiful that the topsoil is moistened to a depth of 30 cm.
  • When the plant reaches the adult stage, it will only need to be moistened if the soil is too dry.
  • It is absolutely essential to avoid over-watering, as this can cause root rot to develop.
  • During the hot summer season, trees should be watered once a week in the morning and evening. With a longer break, various negative reactions are possible. For example, the growth of a plant will stop, or, much worse, the roots will begin to die in the root system. At the same time, the trunk turns brown, and the needles turn yellow and fall off.
  • When watering, make sure that water does not fall on seedlings and shoots - water the soil in the near-stem circle, and not the plant itself. Be careful not to wet green shoots and leaves with water, especially on sunny days. The water droplets act like lenses that focus the sun's rays onto the needles. So you can burn the leaves very quickly.
  • Best watered early in the morning or after sunset. Then evaporation will be minimal, and the root system will be able to absorb moisture as much as possible.
  • Thuja, like all evergreens, needs a lot of water before winter. Therefore, it is important to water the thuja abundantly in the fall, before the first frost. Due to this, they store a lot of water both in the root system and in the shoots.

Fertilization

All arborvitae need regular fertilization. It is important to note that fertilizers vary in their characteristics depending on the season. The first fertilizer should be applied no later than April, at the beginning of May. But fertilizing in the summer is best done in early July. Plan the last stage for the end of September - the beginning of October. Thus, thuja is fully guaranteed to receive a balanced diet and active healthy development and growth.

Video: How to grow a thuja from a branch

Eating and care, photo in landscape design

Content

  • 1 General description of the folded thuja
  • 2 varieties of folded thuja
    • 2.1 Kaers Beauty 9003 2.2 Can-Can
    • 2.3 Gelderland
    • 2.4 Zebrina
    • 2.5 Zebrina Extra Gold
    • 2.6 Atrovirens
      • 9003 Goldie0034
    • 2.8 Martin (Martin)
    • 2.9 Excelsa
  • 3 Application in landscape design
  • 4 Features of multiplication
  • 5 Planting and care
  • 7 Painters and diseases
  • 7 Painters

Thuja folded is one of the most common evergreen conifers in landscape design. It represents the Cypress family, a species of gymnosperms, the genus Tui. The tree, which originates from East Asia and North America, is actively used by landscape designers in the creation of hedges and other compositions. Folded thuja has many features, so before buying a plant, it is important to read its description and photo, learn all the rules of planting and maintenance.

General description of folded thuja

Thuja folded is an evergreen tree or shrub with a dense crown formed by shoots branched in one cavity. Under natural conditions, a mature culture can reach up to 60 m in height with a diameter of 2.5 - 3 m. A fibrous crown of a reddish-brown hue covers the conifer trunk from above. Thanks to this feature, the folded thuja was given another, unofficial name - "red cedar". The plant has a fairly dense pyramidal crown and rather narrow leaves (each such needle reaches no more than 1 mm in width). With age, they begin to layer on each other and acquire a brilliant gloss on the front side. On the reverse side of the needles you can see pronounced white stripes.

The fruits of the folded arborvitae are cones that reach about 12 cm in length and have an oval-oblong shape. One thuja cone usually contains two flat seeds with two wings.

Varieties of folded thuja

Thuja folded has many varieties, each of which is distinguished by its appearance and decorative qualities. Below are the most common types of wood with photos and descriptions.

Kager's Beauty

Thuja folded Kagers Beauty is an evergreen conifer of the Cypress family with loose spreading needles. In adulthood, the conifer reaches no more than 0.5 m in height with a diameter of 0.6 m. This is a tree with a superficial root system, especially sensitive to soil compaction and scaly needles of a gray-green color. It prefers to grow in a well-lit area or in a slightly shaded place, demanding on the quality of the soil: it must be fertile and well-moistened soil. The folded thuja Kagers Beauty acquires its best color in sunny areas, while the shade gives the tree a darker shade. Thuja Kagers Beauty tolerates drafts and strong winds well, but is very sensitive to dry weather, and especially needs frequent watering during drought.

Can-Can

According to the description, thuja folded Cancan is an evergreen coniferous tree, reaching no more than 1.5 m in height at maturity, with a cone-shaped crown. The needles of the Kankan variety have a dark green color with young growths of a light shade. The conifer grows quite slowly, the annual rate is only 10 cm. Thuja folded Kankan variety does not change the color of its needles in winter, for which it is especially appreciated by landscape designers. This is a tree with dense, upward-pointing shoots that thicken with age. It thrives best in sunny to semi-shady areas in fertile, well-drained, and well-drained soil. The culture is easy to shear and shape, which allows you to use the thuja folded cancan to create a hedge. In addition, it is often used in single plantings in prominent places, in coloristic landscape compositions, for decorating an alley, garden path or rocky area.

Gelderland

Description of the plant: thuja folded Gelderland is an evergreen tree with miniature needles that can change their color: in the summer, a rich green color, which in the winter changes to bright yellow. Often this type of thuja is used in group plantings, to decorate a patio or balcony (when grown in a pot). In adulthood, the tree reaches up to 4.5 m in height.

The Gelderland variety is distinguished by its hardiness and unpretentiousness in cultivation: this folded thuja takes root well on almost any soil, as well as in a lighted or semi-shaded area. Its needles do not fade in the sun at high temperatures in summer, and in winter the branches are able to withstand even the heaviest piles of snow, while maintaining all their decorative qualities.

Gelderland grows quite slowly at first, but with age the growth rate increases significantly. Although the plant can grow well in full sun, it is very drought tolerant and needs regular watering. Gardeners consider the seed method to be the best way to propagate this variety of folded thuja.

The tree has a high level of frost resistance, it is not demanding on the level of air humidity, which greatly simplifies its maintenance. Despite such unpretentiousness of the variety, it is not recommended to plant it in places where direct sunlight hits: the best option would be an area with diffused light. The variety needs moderate watering on ordinary days and a little more frequent - during the drought period.

Zebrina

Zebrina folded thuja is an evergreen conifer with decorative zebra-like needles and a conical crown. At the initial stages of growth, the needles are loose in structure, but with age it becomes more dense. The Zebrina variety is considered one of the best representatives of variegated conifers. At the age of 10 years, such a thuja can reach more than 2.5 m in height and 1.5 m in width. Its annual growth at a young age is 10 - 20 cm, in mature age - 15 - 30 cm. Zebrina folded thuja is characterized by shiny, scaly flat needles with yellow-white stripes, which fit snugly against bright green shoots. The tree does not change its color and texture in winter. A feature of the Zebrina variety are the shoots hanging down: because of this, gardeners recommend cutting the tree twice a year. Tui fruits are represented by small cones (1 - 1.5 cm in length), which, when ripe, acquire a brown color. Folded thuja Zebrina feels best in semi-shaded or sunny areas on fertile, moist, well-drained soil with an acidic reaction. The culture tolerates shearing and shaping well, is able to quickly recover and compact the crown, which gives the plant a special value in creating hedges. With proper care, the conifer easily adapts to the conditions of the city.

Zebrina Extra Gold

Thuja Zebrina Extra Gold is one of the most common varieties of golden arborvitae with large needles and a columnar crown. This conifer is especially appreciated for its rich decorative qualities. In adulthood, it reaches up to 2 m in height and 1.2 m in width. In the summer and autumn, the thuja needles have a zebra-like color, which is why the tree got its name. The growth rate of the folded thuja Zebrina Extra Gold is assessed as fast: the annual growth rate is up to 15 - 20 cm. At the end of the summer period or at the beginning of autumn, small blotches of green begin to appear on the needles of the plants. The tree grows well in fertile soils and lighted areas. The Zebrina Extra Gold variety is highly valued by designers who use thuja for decorating and landscaping squares, gardens and parks, as well as for solitary plantings - as a trellis plant.

Atrovirens

Thuja folded variety Atrovirens is an evergreen conifer native to the Pacific coast and from Northern California to Southern Alaska. The variety often grows in damp, wet, swampy areas near the river bank, in lowlands and shady forests, in areas with heavy rainfall and a cool climate in summer, and relatively mild in winter. Under natural conditions, thuja folded Atrovirens is often found together with other varieties of conifers.

Ephedra is presented in the form of a columnar tree, on which there are very densely arranged shoots and branches directed strictly vertically. The conical shape of the thuja crown is able to persist throughout the life of the tree, and with age it becomes a little wider. A mature folded thuja of the Atrovirens variety can reach up to 15 m in height and 3.5 m in width. The growth rate of the tree is quite high: its annual growth is up to 30 cm in height and more than 10 cm in width.

This is a plant with green, shiny, scaly needles, which are oppositely arranged on shoots. The fruits of the conifer - common for this species - are cones of an oblong-ovoid shape up to 12 mm in length. In summer, they are green in color, which changes to brown in winter.

Thuja folded Atrovirens has a high level of shade tolerance and frost resistance, develops well on any acidic or alkaline soil, undemanding to the level of pH and soil moisture. The variety normally tolerates the conditions of even a large city, is wind-resistant, quickly recovers after cutting or shaping.

It is best to buy seedlings of this type of arborvitae in plastic containers with fertilizers, because in this way they are not exposed to rot, which often damages the root system. Such a tree will take root much faster in a new landing site.

Goldy

According to the description of thuja folded Goldy is a new variety, it is considered one of the most prominent representatives of this variety, with beautiful yellow-green needles that retain their richness even in winter. The plant practically does not need pruning and retains the correct conical shape of its crown throughout its life. In adulthood, the height of the Goldie variety is up to 2.5 m with a diameter of 1.5 m. Landscape designers use it to form single plantings in prominent areas, to create contrast in low coniferous hedges, as well as for individual landscape compositions. The tree has an average growth rate, its annual growth is 10 - 20 cm, at the age of 10 years it reaches more than 1.5 m in height. This is a variety with densely spaced, rather short and dense shoots and thickened golden yellow needles pointing upwards. The tree practically does not change its color in autumn. Thuja folded Goldie has a superficial root system, is frost-resistant, grows well in sunny or slightly shaded areas. Growth in the sun gives more saturation to the color of the needles. For this type of folded thuja, a moderately humid environment is preferable. The plant is undemanding to the soil, but develops much better in fertile, well-drained, slightly acidic and slightly alkaline soil with a lime content. When planting a tree, it is important to pay attention to its root neck: it must be strictly at ground level. Adult representatives of the Goldie variety do not need shelter for the winter, however, young seedlings need protection from snow piles at first.

It is best to buy this variety of thuja folded in a pot: then the plant can be planted without adding additional fertilizers from March to December, even in the hottest summer period.

Variety Goldie is often used to create single and group plantings, as well as to form borders.

Important! This type of folded thuja was bred by gardeners specifically to create yellow hedges.

Martin

Thuja folded variety Martin is a decorative type of conifer that reaches more than 1.5 m in height in adulthood. This is a tree with branched into several trunks + parallel to the main one - flat shoots raised upwards, which also form plates and have a brownish tint in adulthood, young ones are saturated green. The needles of the thuja of the Martin variety are scaly, up to 1.5 mm long, tightly adjacent to each other and to the shoots, arranged crosswise. Rubbing a few leaves, you can feel the characteristic coniferous aroma of the plant. Every year, fruits appear on the conifer - cones of a spherical shape of a brown-brown color up to 1.5 cm in length, with slightly curved scales. They contain oblong brown seeds.

The area of ​​use of thuja of the folded variety Martin is not limited: it is grown both as a houseplant and as a tub plant in the winter garden. Designers use wood to form single and mass plantings in the backyard. Representatives of the Martin variety make a good coniferous hedge that protects against dust and noise. This type of folded thuja is quite unpretentious to the conditions of detention, it develops well in areas with a temperate climate, is practically undemanding to the quality of the soil, and easily adapts to urban conditions. Other advantages of the Martin variety are its easy adaptability to shearing and shaping, the ability to purify the air and maintain its bright green color throughout the year.

Excelsa

Thuja folded variety Excelsa is an evergreen conifer with a columnar crown, a trunk reaching to the top and vertically raised arched branches on its lower part. The Excelsa variety is one of the fastest growing representatives of the thuja: its annual growth is more than 30 cm in height and 10 - 15 cm in width. The height of the conifer in adulthood can be from 12 to 15 m, and the width - 3-5 m.

Thuja folded Excelsa grows best in moist, nutrient-drained, cultivated, acidic or alkaline soil. A serious advantage of the variety is its high level of frost and wind resistance, which allows landscape designers to use it to create hedges. The tree is also able to easily tolerate the conditions of a large city, adapts well to pruning and shaping, retains its rich green color even in winter. The fruits of the Excelsa variety are rounded brown cones. The plant also has scaly, rough, shiny dark green needles. This type of folded thuja is not picky in care, the only important fact in tree maintenance is the level of soil and air moisture.

You can find out more information about some varieties of thuja folded, the features of their growth and cultivation, in the video: decoration of the garden and summer cottage area. Almost all varieties of the plant adapt well to shearing and shaping, which allows you to quickly give the tree the desired shape. Most varieties of trees are undemanding in maintenance and are able to maintain their rich green color throughout the year. Thanks to such rich decorative properties, thuja folded has a fairly wide range of applications: it is used to decorate single and group plantings, create hedges, as well as to create such landscape compositions as rock gardens, rockeries, mixborders, as well as in container options.

Single plantings of thuja folded look good near the water or on lawns, especially in combination with various types of other ornamental plants. Some varieties of coniferous plants have an unusual crown shape and the aroma of pine needles, which makes the folded thuja an indispensable element in landscape gardening of a garden and summer cottage.

Peculiarities of reproduction

In order to grow as many healthy seedlings of thuja giant folded as possible, it is best to obtain planting material yourself. A tree can propagate in two ways: seed and cuttings.

If the preservation of the plant variety is not a priority, then the seed propagation method can be chosen. To do this, at the end of summer, you need to collect the seeds of the folded thuja and immediately plant them on light and moist soil. In winter, crops must be covered with foil. If sowing is carried out in the spring, then the seeds must first go through the process of monthly stratification.

In order for a new plant of folded arborvitae to retain all the decorative properties of the mother tree, propagation is best done using green or semi-lignified cuttings. The most qualitative process of root formation takes place with the help of planting material, which was harvested at the end of July.

Attention! It is necessary to break off the cuttings from the branch of the folded thuja in such a way that a "heel" remains on them.

Rooting cut branches is best done in the garden, under the crown of a tree.

  1. First you need to dig up the planting area and add peat.
  2. Spread a layer of sand on top to prevent damping.
  3. Plant branches of folded arborvitae pre-soaked in Epin or Kornevin at an angle to the depth of the sand layer.
  4. Top with jar or bottle.

Transferring folded thuja to a permanent planting site is allowed no earlier than next spring.

Important! Tui can be propagated all year round. Only those cuttings that were obtained in winter should be germinated indoors.

Planting and care

For planting folded arborvitae, it is best to choose well-drained soil with a high level of moisture: dry soil can significantly slow down the growth of a tree, and its crown will gradually thin out.

In order for the thuja folded to have time to get stronger by winter, it is best to plant the plant in the spring. The planting hole should be about one meter deep with a drainage layer at the bottom. Do not deepen the root neck of the plant when planting.

When planting thuja folded for hedges, remember the distance between the conifers: it should be within three meters. Forming an alley, the space between plants is increased to five to six meters.

In the first month after planting, the plant needs regular watering: once every seven days, and in areas with a dry climate - twice a week. For one sapling of folded thuja there are more than 10 liters of water. In the evening, you can spray the crown of the plant.

The culture adapts well to transplanting. It is best to hold an event for young seedlings in the spring, and for adult plants at any time of the year.

Cultivation features

Mature specimens of folded arborvitae do not need special conditions. Particular attention should be paid to young seedlings, providing them with proper care. In the spring, the folded thuja especially needs to be fed. Nitroammophosphate and any set of complex fertilizers are best suited.

Important! Top dressing should be applied to the soil only when the snow has completely melted.

In the spring, pruning is carried out, removing all dried and unnecessary branches, and, if desired, the necessary shape of the crown is formed. It is equally important to mulch around the conifer with peat, bark and needles. This contributes to the preservation of soil moisture, as well as protection from weeds.

Mature plants tolerate winter well (folded thuja can withstand temperatures below 30 degrees below zero), but it is better for young seedlings to provide reliable shelter from frost and snow piles.

Pests and diseases

Like most coniferous plants, the folded thuja has a strong natural immunity, however, under adverse conditions, the risk of tree infection can increase several times. The most common diseases of the folded arborvitae are:

  1. Brown shyutte - often the disease manifests itself in the spring, after the snow thaws. On the bright green needles of the plant, yellow, red-brown or black needles begin to appear. The affected areas of the tree begin to cover the oblong fruiting bodies of pathogenic fungi. Having discovered the first symptoms of the disease, it is necessary to begin immediate treatment: cut and burn all damaged branches, and the conifer itself must be sprinkled with a 2% solution of copper sulfate or a special preparation - Fundazol.
  2. Gray rot - often affects young conifer seedlings. This disease develops due to too dense planting, lack of ventilation and low light. Thuja shoots acquire a brownish-brown hue. At the initial stage of the disease, spraying the folded thuja with copper sulfate will help save the plant.
  3. Fusarium is a fungal disease of arborvitae caused by pathogenic bacteria of the genus Fusarium. This is one of the most insidious coniferous infections that begins at the roots of a tree, which makes it impossible to see the first signs of the disease. After yellowing and complete drying, there is no point in treating the tree. That is why it is very important to carry out the prevention of thuja: before planting, spray with fungicides and prevent waterlogging of the soil in the territory. If in a group planting one thuja seedling died from fusarium, the remaining trees should be watered under the root with a solution of Fundazol, however, it should be understood that such protection cannot give a 100% guarantee.
  4. Stem rot - often this infection affects arborvitae with mechanical damage to the bark and wood. Getting into the formed cracks, moisture begins to turn the injured places into rotting hotbeds of parasitic microflora. To avoid the disease of the folded thuja, it is important to treat the damaged areas of the bark with garden pitch or special preparations in time.
  5. Phytophthora - the roots of a plant affected by this infection begin to rot gradually, the bark at the bottom of the trunk gradually softens, its surface is covered with pinkish and off-white blooms. The wood under the affected areas of the bark begins to turn brown, a characteristic smell of rot appears, the needles grow dull and soon completely crumble. If signs of phytophthora are found, thuja should be immediately treated with a preparation containing copper, but the best option would be to dispose of the diseased specimen: this is guaranteed to prevent the spread of the disease to other seedlings.

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