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Thuja is a small evergreen tree or shrub. It is valued for its unpretentiousness and decorative appearance. Thuja is grown in various regions of Our Country, including the Urals. The plant develops well in the shade, undemanding to the composition of the soil. Planting and caring for thuja in the Urals have their own characteristics, which are taken into account when carrying out work.
Tui varieties for the Urals
Western thuja is best suited for growing in the Urals. This is a long-lived tree that grows in one place up to 1000 years. Such plants have a pyramidal crown, which eventually takes on an ovoid shape.
Western thuja is able to develop in any conditions, retains its decorative effect in the shade. It tolerates close occurrence of groundwater without problems, while being resistant to drought.
Brabant
Thuja variety Brabant is a tree with a height of 15 to 20 m. Its crown is conical in shape, up to 4 m in diameter. The bark is grayish or reddish in color. The needles are green, scaly, do not change color in winter. Cones – brown, elongated. The annual growth in width is 10 cm, in height 30 cm. The tree prefers fresh fertile soils, is resistant to drought and frost in the Urals.
Emerald
Western thuja Smaragd perfectly tolerates the conditions of the Urals. Its crown is cone-shaped, up to 2 m high. The branching of the conifer is weak, the annual growth is at least 10 cm. The shoots are glossy, light green at any time of the year. The tree tolerates pruning well. Thuja varieties Smaragd is not demanding on the composition of the soil, grows even in the shade, and is resistant to winter frosts.
Europe Gold
Thuja variety Europe Gold is slowly growing. During the year, its size increases by 10 cm. The tree reaches a height of 4 m, growing in girth up to 1,2 m. A young arborvitae has a crown in the form of a narrow pyramid, with time it becomes conical. The crown is usually brown or reddish. The needles are dense, scaly, in winter it has a golden yellow color. Variety Europe Gold is winter-hardy, prefers fertile loams. It is suitable for single plantings and creating hedges.
Little Jam
Thuja Little Jam is a dwarf coniferous shrub. It grows in breadth and reaches 1,5 m in girth with a height of up to 1 m. In summer, the needles of the plant are light green, scaly. In winter, it takes on a bronze hue. Ephedra grows best on freshly drained soils. Its frost resistance is high, up to -40 ° С. Thuja Little Jam is suitable for a small garden, rock garden, border decoration.
Golden Globe
Thuya variety Golden Globe is a dwarf shrub that has a decorative appearance. Its shoots are usually golden in color and turn copper in autumn. The growth of culture is slow, no more than 10 cm per year. For 20 years, the shrub reaches a girth of 1,2 m. In the Urals, the variety requires minimal care: watering and top dressing, the plant does not need pruning. Thuya Golden Globe is moisture-loving, does not tolerate drought.
T-shirts
Thuya Mikey is a dwarf shrub with a wide conical shape. It gives an annual increase of no more than 8 cm. At the age of 10 years it reaches a height of 1 m, at 20 years old – 2 m. The needles of the plant are glossy, dark green, soft. Mikey grows well in sunny, moderately humid places.
Tiny Tim
Thuja Tiny Tim is a dwarf shrub. Its crown is branched, spherical in shape. The needles are green, scaly. For 10 years, the bush reaches a height of 30 cm. In girth, it does not exceed 40 cm and grows to a height of 1,5 m. The Tiny Tim variety is not picky about the soil, it is frost-resistant. It is used for single landings and design of rock gardens.
How to plant a thuja in the Urals
Planting thuja in the Urals has a number of features. Choose a suitable place for the work. If necessary, improve the composition of the soil.
Deadlines
In the Urals, thuja is planted in early spring before the leaves bloom. Work is carried out at the end of April or in May. Based on weather conditions. If frosts are predicted, then it is better to postpone the work.
Spring planting for the Urals is considered more reliable. The bush adapts to a new place and begins to actively develop. Autumn planting is allowed, which is carried out after leaf fall. Work is performed 3-4 weeks before the cold weather. In the Urals, October is considered the best time for autumn planting.
Site selection, soil preparation
Thuja is unpretentious to the place of cultivation. The decorative properties of the shrub appear in sunny areas. It is allowed to land in partial shade. In the shady areas, the thuja grows more slowly, and its needles lose their color. The best option is to land a thuja from the east side. Then the plant will receive good lighting in the morning, and in the afternoon it will remain in partial shade.
For thuja in the Urals, they choose a site protected from the wind. Temperature fluctuations are the most dangerous for the plant. Ephedra is suitable for landscaping cities, decorating hedges, alleys. Its low-growing varieties are planted in rock gardens, heather gardens, borders.
In the Urals, thuja is able to grow on any soil: marshy, clay, sandy, peaty, etc. The bush develops best in fresh fertile loam. Soil moisture should be at the same time moderate, without stagnant water.
The selected area is dug up, cleaned of plant debris, stones and other debris. For planting, a substrate is prepared, consisting of soddy soil, sand and peat in a ratio of 2: 1: 1. Such soil ensures the active development of the bush. On heavy soils, drainage is provided. If the land is poor and not fertile enough, then add humus or compost.
Landing algorithm
When planting, the thuja is separated from other plants by 0,5 m or more, depending on the variety. To create a hedge between the bushes, up to 0,7 m is left. The size of the pit depends on the size of the seedling. It is made 40 cm wider and 20 cm deeper.
The order of planting thuja in the Urals:
- Dig a hole, taking into account the size of the earthen coma.
- Place a drain on the bottom to remove excess moisture.
- Dip the roots of the seedling into the water.
- Pour the prepared substrate, taking into account the composition of the soil.
- Form a small hill from the soil, place the plant on top.
- Leave the root neck above the ground.
- Fill voids with soil, compact it.
- Pour 2 cups of warm water under the seedling.
- Mulch the soil with peat or pine bark.
Features of growing thuja in the Urals
For the successful cultivation of thuja in the Urals, it is important to provide plantings with good care. Plants are watered and fed, the soil is loosened and cleared of weeds. Perform trimming if necessary. In autumn, thuja is prepared for wintering.
Watering and fertilizing schedule
Caring for a thuja in the Urals is not complete without watering and fertilizing. Ephedra prefers moderately moist soil. With a lack of moisture, the crown of the thuja thins. For irrigation take warm, settled water. It is poured strictly into the trunk circle.
The first sign of a lack of moisture is the drying of the upper shoots. In the spring in the Urals, thuja is watered every 7 days. In summer, the intensity of watering is increased to 2 times a week. In rainy weather, plants do not need additional moisture.
Ephedra responds well to sprinkling. It is carried out in the morning or in the evening when there is no direct sunlight. As a result, the soil will be filled with moisture, which will also wash away dirt and dust. After sprinkling, the stomata of the conifer scales open, its development and the metabolic processes of the tree improve.
If, when planting a thuja in the Urals, fertilizers were laid in the pit, then top dressing begins after 2 years. To do this, choose the mineral complexes of Kemir or Fertik, which contain all the necessary components. Fertilizers are applied in the spring after the snow melts. The norm is 120 g per 1 sq. m. Top dressing is repeated in the middle of summer. For thuja in the Urals, fertilizer in the form of compost is suitable. It is buried in the soil in spring.
Loosening and mulching the soil
After watering, the soil under the thuja is loosened. The root system of the tree is located in the upper layers of the soil. Therefore, the loosening depth is no more than 8 – 10 cm. As a result, thuja better absorbs moisture and nutrients from the soil.
Mulch is poured into the trunk circle of thuja in the Urals. Use peat, pine bark or sawdust. The thickness of the mulch layer should be up to 7 cm. The mulch prevents the evaporation of moisture and the growth of weeds.
Trimming
Thuja responds positively to pruning, which stimulates the growth of new strong shoots. Sanitization is carried out annually in the Urals. The tree is inspected and dry, broken, diseased branches are identified. They are cut off at the base. The best time for the procedure is early spring or late autumn after leaf fall. During these periods, the tree is at rest and tolerates a haircut painlessly.
Tui formation is recommended for group plantings. After pruning, the trees take on a neat appearance. In addition, it is recommended to form a thuja that grows in the form of a hedge. Shoots are cut no more than 1/3 of the total length. Less commonly processed are dwarf varieties, which initially have a compact and well-groomed appearance.
Preparing thuja for winter in the Urals
Most varieties of thuja are winter-hardy, so they tolerate winters well in the Urals. In autumn, the trees are prepared for wintering: for this purpose, the near-trunk circle is spudded and covered with peat 15 cm thick. Such a layer will provide the conifer with additional insulation from the cold.
In the Urals, dwarf varieties and young plantings are covered with non-woven fabric. First, a frame is built over the conifers, to which agrofibre is attached. Be sure to provide an air gap between the plant and the covering material. In the spring, the insulation is removed.
Pests and diseases
At high humidity, thuja is susceptible to fungal diseases. In the Urals, a tree can suffer from fusarium, brown shute, and cytosporosis. Diseases are diagnosed by dark spots on the needles and trunk, drying out of the shoots. When the first symptoms are detected, thuja is sprayed with Bordeaux liquid. Medicines containing copper help to cope with diseases. Processing is carried out every two weeks.
Conifers are often attacked by pests. First of all, it is a false shield and aphids. As a result, the shoots of the culture turn yellow, the tree slowly develops and withers. To fight insects, Karbofos or Aktellik preparations are chosen. To prevent parasites, thuja is sprayed in early spring before the start of the growing season.
Conclusion
Planting and caring for thuja in the Urals will ensure the active development of this plant. Winter-hardy varieties are chosen for cultivation in this region. Before planting, prepare a place and improve the composition of the soil. The plant is provided with care: watered, fertilized the soil, pruned shoots. In the fall, a number of activities are performed that will prepare the thuja for wintering.
