Contents
Thuja folded Whipcord is a slow-growing dwarf ornamental shrub belonging to the cypress family. The plant is compact (up to 100 cm high and 150 cm wide) in size and has an original spherical crown shape.
Description of the folded thuja Whipcord
This variety of folded thuja has long hanging shoots resembling ropes, which is why it got its name – “whipcord”, which means “string” in English. The shoots are covered with shiny needles in the form of scales, tightly adjacent to each other. In summer, the needles are green, and in frosts it becomes an unusual bronze color. The shrub has a shallow root system that is sensitive to soil compaction. In the description of the thuja Whipcord, her unpretentiousness is noted.
The use of folded thuja Whipcord in landscape design
Variety Whipcord is widely used in landscape design. It can be used to create hedges, complement rock gardens, mixborders, rockeries. Due to its excellent compatibility with other ornamental plants, Whipcord thuja looks good in a variety of compositions. This thuja looks no less successful in single plantings. It acquires special appeal when grown near small reservoirs and on rocky areas. Often used in container plantings. According to gardeners, the thuja folded Whipcord looks unusual in topiaries.
The photo of the thuja folded Whipcord shows how harmoniously it combines in landscape design with architectural elements from various natural materials and with other conifers.
Features of reproduction
Thuja of this variety is propagated mainly vegetatively. The breeding algorithm consists of the following items:
- dig up the ground in the area where the cuttings will take root, add peat, pour a layer of sand on top;
- at the end of June, break off the shoots from the plant, soak them in a root formation stimulator;
- plant cuttings to the depth of the sand layer at a slight angle;
- cover each cutting with a transparent plastic bottle or glass jar like a greenhouse.
The next spring, rooted plants can be transplanted into open ground.
Propagation by thuja seeds of this variety is used very rarely – this complex process can take up to 6 years. In addition, not all young bushes obtained from seeds inherit the varietal characteristics of the original plant. In early spring, the seeds are left in a container with water for 12 hours, after which they are laid out on wet sand. As soon as sprouts appear, they are transplanted into individual containers and grown until they are planted in open ground.
Planting and caring for Whipcord folded thuja
There is nothing complicated in planting a Whipcord thuja: it does not impose special requirements on either illumination or soil composition. Cuttings with a closed root system usually take root well if simple planting practices are followed. In general, the cultivation of thuja Whipcord is subject to the same rules as the cultivation of other varieties of this crop.
Recommended dates
The most suitable season for planting thuja is spring. Planting can begin in April, when the soil warms up enough, and already in May, young seedlings will actively grow. However, the unpretentious Whipcord variety can be planted throughout the season until mid-autumn. In regions with cold winters, it is recommended to avoid autumn planting so that the plant has time to take root and accumulate strength for wintering.
Site selection and soil preparation
Thuja Whipcord is quite unpretentious – it grows equally well both in lighted places and in shady conditions. However, direct sunlight should be avoided. The shrub does not suffer from strong winds and tolerates winter frosts well. It can grow on any soil, but fertile, water- and breathable, moderately moist substrates are best suited. In conditions of insufficient humidity, the crown thins.
The site for planting thuja Whipcord is dug up, sand is added to too heavy clay soils. It would also be useful to enrich the substrate with peat and add leafy or soddy soil.
Landing algorithm
Planting thuja Whipcord is not difficult and is carried out according to the following technology:
- dig a planting hole 2 times the size of the root ball;
- water it daily for two weeks;
- prepare a mixture of peat and sand;
- place a seedling in the pit and fill it with soil mixture;
- water well.
Growing and care rules
The agricultural technique for growing this variety of arborvitae is very simple: the plant needs regular watering, infrequent top dressing, minimal pruning, loosening or mulching and preparation for winter. Thuja Whipcord can grow on its own, but with good care, its crown looks especially picturesque.
Watering Schedule
The superficial root system of the Whipcord thuja is very sensitive to drying out of the soil, so watering is an essential part of plant care. Young bushes are watered 1 time in 7 days under the root. Within 30 days after planting, the seedling needs sprinkling of the crown. It is carried out in the evening, when direct sunlight does not fall on wet shoots. Older bushes are watered less often, once every 1 days is enough, and sprinkling can be done only from time to time.
Additional fertilizing
During the first three years after planting, the Whipcord thuja does not need to be fertilized, then it is enough to feed the plants with potash and phosphorus compounds. They are applied twice a year during active growth – in spring and summer. It is also good to use special complexes for coniferous plants. Fertilizers are dissolved in water for irrigation, scattered on tree trunks or applied during the next loosening.
Trimming
Like all thujas, the Whipcord variety tolerates a haircut well. In the spring, sanitary pruning is done – all damaged, dried and frozen shoots are removed. Due to the slow growth and natural spherical shape of the crown, this shrub usually does not need formative pruning. However, plants of this variety can be given the desired look with the help of decorative pruning. Most often they form a crown of standard forms of the folded Whipcord thuja, for example, such as in the photo:
Preparation for winter
The shrub of this variety tolerates frosts down to -8 ° C, therefore, in mild winters, adult Whipcord thuja plants can not be covered. Regardless of the climate, near-stem circles are mulched before winter so that the superficial root system of the thuja does not suffer. Spruce branches, large wood chips, leaves are well suited as mulch. The best shelter for thuja will be thick snow cover, but in case of too cold or little snowy winters, shrubs are removed under burlap, cardboard boxes or other insulating material.
Covering material is removed at the moment when the spring sun begins to warm. If night temperatures can damage the needles, the plants are covered every evening.
Pests and diseases
One of the most serious diseases of thuja is late blight. The fungus infects the plant and leads to its slow death. This disease is extremely difficult to treat, so most often diseased shrubs are burned and the soil is changed to avoid infecting other crops. Phytophthora is susceptible to plants whose root system does not receive enough air and dies from excess moisture. To prevent this disease, the soil is loosened or mulched.
Like all types of thuja, Whipcord can get sick with rust, in which the shoots and needles turn brown. The plaque is cleaned off or the affected parts are removed, and the plant is treated with fungicides.
If the thuja is attacked by insects, Karbofos or other insecticides will help to cope with them. In the description of the thuja folded Vipkord, it is noted that of all the pests, the May beetle is especially dangerous. As soon as the first insect is noticed, the crown should be treated with special preparations, which include imidacloprid. Such treatments are repeated every 1,5 months during the entire spring-summer season.
A good prevention is the periodic spraying of plantings with Bordeaux liquid.
Conclusion
Thuja folded Whipcord is an excellent choice for gardeners who want to enliven their site with an unusual evergreen shrub, grow a hedge or create an original landscape composition. Of particular value is the unpretentiousness of the plant, its resistance to adverse weather conditions and ease of care.