Thuja columnar: photo, varieties, description

Creating a beautiful and well-groomed site is the dream of any gardener. Thuja columnar, a beautiful plant that retains its bright appearance throughout the year, will help to carry it out. It has a dense crown, beautiful shapes, emits a wonderful coniferous aroma.

The columnar thuja has its own characteristics of planting and care, which you should know about in order to avoid mistakes when growing.

Description of the columnar thuja

The columnar western thuja belongs to the genus Gymnosperms, the Cypress family. Its natural range is East Asia, America, Europe. On the territory of Our Country, under natural conditions, the conifer is not found, but the tree is often grown in household plots.

Under natural conditions, the height of the columnar arborvitae reaches 25 m, on a personal plot – no higher than 10 m. The tree has a powerful root system that extends deep into the soil. The bark of the plant gradually exfoliates, its color is brown or red. Crown shape – columnar, can reach 150 cm in width. The branches are close to the trunk. The needles are scaly, saturated green, its complete replacement takes place every two years.

Tui does not have decorative flowers. After the monoecious inflorescences fall off, small brown cones with seeds inside remain on the shoots.

Thuja columnar is an unpretentious frost-resistant plant that tolerates dust and air pollution well.

Varieties and varieties

There are several main types of thuja:

• western;

  

• eastern;

  

• folded;

  

• японская;

  

• Korean.

  

On their basis, numerous varieties of thuja have been developed, having a variety of forms:

Pyramidal, spherical, columnar, dwarf, cushion.

Many well-known varieties have a columnar shape.

Brabant

Western columnar thuja Brabant is characterized by rapid growth. In adulthood, the plant reaches 20 m in height, its crown diameter is 4 m, but in the middle lane it does not grow above 5 m.

The annual growth is 40 cm. The crown of the conifer is compact, branched, descends to the very ground. Thuja needles are green with golden tips. Its color is preserved even in winter. The variety is classified as shade-tolerant, but the culture does not tolerate the thaw well. The use of the western columnar thuja, according to the description of amateur gardeners and specialists, is universal: in the form of individual and group plantings. The plant requires periodic pruning to maintain its shape.

Kolumna

Columna is one of the best western columnar varieties, which is bred in Germany. The growth rate of culture is average. At the age of ten, the plant reaches 4 m in height and 1,5 m in diameter.

Later, the thuja is able to grow up to 10 m. Its crown is narrow, the top is blunt. The branches are directed horizontally, and at the ends are expanded fan-shaped. The needles of the tree are small, glossy, dark green.

The thuja variety is frost-resistant, unpretentious in care. It is used for hedges and individual plantings. The plant does not need a haircut.

Gelderland

This is a popular variety of columnar thuja (photo) of a folded appearance. The crown starts from the ground, its shape is cone-shaped, dense. The annual growth is 25 cm. An adult tree reaches 5 m. Its needles are soft, green in summer, golden-bronze in winter. Thuja is unpretentious, loves illuminated areas, is not afraid of a haircut. The culture is frost and drought resistant.

Holmstrup

Judging by the description and photo, the western columnar thuja Holmstrup has a dense dense crown.

The height of the plant at the age of 10 years is 1,5 m with a crown diameter of 0,6 m. The annual growth of this conifer is 15 cm. In adulthood, the columnar thuja reaches 4 m. Its crown is narrow, the color of the needles does not change in winter. The tree is frost-resistant, undemanding to soils, its use in landscape design is universal. It tolerates a haircut easily.

Excelsa

The evergreen columnar folded thuja has a trunk reaching to the top and arched branches. The tree grows very quickly, it grows by 30 cm in a year.

 Its maximum height is 15 m, width is 4 m. The needles of the columnar arborvitae Excelsa are dark green, shiny, rough, scaly in appearance. The fruits are oblong cones 12 mm long. They are green in summer and brown in winter. The plant is shade-tolerant, wind- and frost-resistant, easily tolerates pruning.

Zmatlik

Dwarf columnar thuja forms a narrow crown. At a young age, it is not entirely clear, but rather disheveled and ugly, the trunk may be curved. The growth of an adult tree reaches 1 m. Its needles are small, dark green. The columnar thuja has winding, fan-like branches that create spirals and waves. The plant loves sunny areas, in the shade its crown thins.

Application in landscape design

Columnar thuja is often used for hedges, which can easily replace conventional fences. At the same time, they not only look great, but also absorb dust and other air pollution. When planted at a distance of 0,5 m, a dense wall of plants is formed.

In the arrangement of rock gardens, dwarf compact columnar arborvitae are used. Slow-growing varieties allow timely adjustment of the crown shape. Tui can be planted in groups and one at a time.

When organizing mixed flower beds, the principle of a natural landscape should be applied, where different plants are combined. Such mixborders look stylish at any time of the year. Together with columnar thujas, saxifrage, heather, red roses, dahlias, astilbes, hydrangeas are used. The combination of contrasting shapes and shades gives an amazing effect.

Folded thuja perfectly complements the flower garden with its fluffy crown.

Columnar thuja, standing alone on the lawn, decorate it, make it unique, different from many others.

Features of reproduction

Columnar thuja can be propagated by cuttings or seeds.

The second method takes about 5 years to grow. The decorative properties of the thuja are preserved by this. Ripened cones with seeds are placed in a warm place. After their disclosure, the seeds are removed, soaked for 10 hours and sown. A year later, the height of the plant reaches 60 cm.

The cutting method involves planting the shoots of the columnar thuja in the fall in a warm and humid place. The composition of the soil includes sand, sod land, peat. The shoot must be lignified, treated with a growth stimulator. After rooting, the seedling is grown and planted in a permanent place.

Rules of landing

Planting a columnar thuja involves a series of actions:

1. Decide on a site for the location of tui.
2. Prepare the soil carefully.
3. Mark the distance between the pits in accordance with the goal (hedge or individual plantings).
4. Dig planting holes corresponding to the parameters of the root system of seedlings.
5. Make drainage from expanded clay or broken bricks.
6. Plant columnar thuja.
7. Water the plants.
8. Mulch the soil.
9. Protect crown from direct sunlight.

Recommended dates

Experts recommend planting a columnar thuja in early spring. The best time for this is the end of March, as soon as the soil and air warm up. Before winter, the seedling has time to get stronger, grow roots and crown, its shoots coarsen. In this state, the plant winters safely. At later dates, there is a possibility that it will not take root due to the summer heat.

In autumn, planting of columnar thujas in the middle lane is carried out no later than September. It is better to purchase a plant with a closed root system so that injury is minimal.

Site selection and soil preparation

When choosing a place and soil for planting a columnar thuja, a number of criteria should be followed:

• the site should be well lit;
• in a region with very hot summers, the location of the columnar arborvitae in a small shade is acceptable;
• you should take care of the absence of winds and drafts on the site;
• the soil should be light, fertile, breathable, drained;
• columnar thuja loves acidic soil, on excessively dry or waterlogged – it grows poorly;
• high occurrence of groundwater, swampy places and lowlands should be avoided;
• it is not recommended to plant thuja too close to tall trees, the minimum distance to them is 4 m.

Landing algorithm

After carrying out the preparatory work, you can start planting the columnar thuja:

1. Water the seedling abundantly 2 hours before planting, using a growth stimulator solution.
2. Remove the seedling from the pot along with a clod of earth.
3. Put it in the center of the hole.
4. Fill the voids with soil mixture so that the root collar is 3 cm above the ground.
5. Liberally pour.
6. Top up the soil if the soil has settled.
7. Make a roller of earth around the thuja.
8. Mulch the trunk circle with peat, bark, coniferous litter.
9. Shade the crown of a young plant.

Growing and care rules

For the successful growth and development of the arborvitae, it is necessary to conduct regular watering, especially in the first time after planting. Removing weeds, loosening and mulching the soil around the plant contribute to the retention of moisture, its breathability. Tui top dressing is optional, but if the soil is poor, then it is worth fertilizing. Pruning is carried out as needed or in order to give a certain shape to the crown.

Watering Schedule

If the columnar arborvitae are planted in spring or summer, their watering should be regular, at least once a week. In hot weather, the frequency should be increased to twice every seven days. The rate of watering one plant is 10 liters. In extremely hot conditions, it is doubled.

Experts recommend sprinkling or surface watering in the first month after planting the columnar thuja. It helps to open the pores of the needles, after which it begins to actively release aroma. The best time to moisturize is in the evening, after sunset.

A plant that has undergone an autumn planting needs to be saturated with moisture for a successful wintering. At the end of September, it should be watered abundantly.

Additional fertilizing

To feed the columnar thuja, both organic and mineral fertilizers are used. The main principle is “it’s better not to feed.” Large doses lead to rapid growth, but the shoots become less dense and decorative.

On poor soils, additional nutrients are added under the root of the thuja and with the help of sprinkling. Plants need nitrogen in spring and phosphorus in autumn.

It is possible to carry out additional organic dressings in the summer – with the help of infusion of ash, an aqueous solution of slurry in a ratio of 1 to 20.

Trimming

A haircut of a columnar thuja is carried out for sanitary purposes or to give a certain shape to the crown. Time – spring-autumn.

During sanitary pruning, diseased, damaged shoots are removed.

The shape of the crown is given by trimming, performed according to the rules:

• the optimal age of the plant is 4 years;
• in one procedure, no more than 1/3 of the shoots are removed;
• places of cuts should be treated with garden pitch;
• haircut is carried out in cloudy weather;
• immediately after it, the plant must be watered;
• with a shaping haircut, they create a shape, focusing on the original appearance of the thuja, improving it and adjusting it somewhat.

Preparation for winter

The adult columnar thuja overwinters well and does not need shelter.

A young plant in the first years after planting may suffer from frost, cold wind, abundance of snow, bright sun in early spring. His defense is carried out in late autumn as follows:

1. Over the entire area of ​​u20buXNUMXbthe near-trunk circle, mulch is laid with a layer up to XNUMX cm thick.
2. The crowns of small columnar thujas are covered with non-woven material or bags and secured with ropes.
3. For medium-sized thuja seedlings, frames are made, on which covering material is later pulled.
4. In winter, it is worth regularly clearing shelters from snow so that the shoots are not damaged under its weight.
5. In the spring, protection is removed gradually so that the needles do not burn.

The level of decorativeness of the columnar arborvitae next spring depends on the quality of preparation for winter.

Pests and diseases

As you can see in the photo, the western columnar thuja has a beautiful color of needles, attractive shapes.

The plant rarely suffers from diseases and pests. But under adverse weather conditions, high humidity or flooding of the root system, fungal diseases can occur: brown schütte; rust; gray mold; fusarium.

Damaged shoots are removed and disposed of, and the plants are treated with chemicals.

Among the pests of the columnar thuja, which pose a serious threat to it: bark beetles, sawflies, hermes, scale insects.

To combat them, insecticides and folk remedies are used.

Conclusion

The columnar thuja will not require complex and constant care if you plant it according to all the rules and choose the appropriate place. The brightness of the color of the needles, the aroma, the stylish look of the plant are the reasons why you should decorate your site with this tree and watch its growth and development for many years.

Reviews