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Thuja Miriam is a spherical coniferous shrub with an unusual color. The golden crown of the western thuja has gained popularity in Europe. The Miriam species was bred as a result of genetic changes in the Danica variety.
Description of the western thuja Miriam
According to the description, thuja Miriam (pictured) is a coniferous, dwarf shrub with a decorative color and a spherical crown shape. The dwarf variety grows quite slowly (5-8 cm per year), the height of an adult conifer does not exceed 80 cm, the diameter is 0,7 ÷ 0,8 cm.
The crown of the thuja western Miriam is dense, regular in shape. Scale-like needles change color depending on the season. In winter, the needles are bronze, and in spring it becomes golden.
From the variety Danica, thuja western Miriam inherited the vertical placement of the needles. They are tightly adjacent to each other, which creates volume and density.
The use of thuja Miriam in landscape design
The spherical thuja Miriam has found wide application in landscape design. It is used in group plantings with other plants, and is also planted as a tapeworm in small flower beds.
Due to the slow growth of the western arborvitae, the composition retains its original appearance, conceived by the designer, for a long time, so the Miriam variety is often planted in mixborders, Japanese gardens and rock gardens.
Shrubs grow well in pots, with their help you can create an unusual lawn of any configuration. Containers with spherical thuja Miriam decorate balconies, terraces and roofs of houses.
Photos of the use of Tui Miriam in landscape design are presented below.
Features of reproduction
In nature, thujas are propagated by seeds, but decorative forms, for example, Miriam, are best bred by other available methods:
- grafting;
- layering.
Breeding thuja with seeds is a very long method, as a result of which a conifer with maternal characteristics does not always grow.
Harvesting cuttings of thuja western Miriam is carried out early in the morning or on a cloudy day. It is better to use torn, rather than cut branches from the mother bush. A “heel” should remain on the handle – a piece of bark from an adult plant, such blanks take root faster.
Cuttings should be semi-lignified, healthy, without lower leaves. In order for rooting to occur faster and more efficiently, it is necessary to prepare a nutrient mixture consisting of peat and sand, taken in a 1: 1 ratio. Before planting the cuttings, they are immersed for several hours in a solution of Kornevin or any drug that stimulates root growth. The cuttings are planted in the ground at an angle of about 60 degrees, deepening into the ground by 3-4 cm. The temperature for rooting should be in the range of 21 ÷ 23 ° C.
With the help of layering, thuja Miriam is propagated in the open field. To do this, the lower branch is tilted to the ground, fixed with a hairpin and sprinkled with earth. The next season, the layering should take root, after which it is separated from the mother plant and transplanted.
It is installed nearby, a nutrient substrate is poured, the branch is bent down and strengthened with a metal pin, covered with earth from above. When the layer takes root, it is separated from the adult plant.
Rules of landing
To grow a conifer with high decorative qualities, certain planting requirements must be met. Rooting is affected by the quality of the soil and the planting time, and the decorative effect depends on the chosen landing site.
Recommended dates
If thuja western Miriam is purchased in a container, it is planted at any time from April to October. Seedlings with an open root system do not tolerate transplanting well, so they are recommended to be planted in the spring so that they have time to take root over the summer.
Site selection and soil preparation
The growth and development of thuja western Miriam seedlings depends on the composition of the soil and sunlight.
Slightly acidic soil and a well-lit area are suitable for planting thuja seedlings of the western variety Miriam. The lack of lighting leads to the fact that the bush loses its spherical shape, the crown stretches and looks unaesthetic. In addition, the golden color of the crown loses its coloring pigment and looks pale.
If the land in the area allocated for planting the western Miriam thuja is heavy and excessively moist, drainage is necessary, the layer of which should be at least 20 cm. Gravel, expanded clay along with sand can be used as a draining material.
Landing algorithm
The size of the planting hole depends on the size of the root system of the seedling. Roots should fit freely in the hole. Landing is carried out according to the following technology:
- landing hole preparation;
- drainage device (if necessary);
- planting a seedling;
- falling asleep of the root system with prepared soil, consisting of leafy soil, sand and peat in a ratio of 2: 1: 1. Complex mineral fertilizer can be added to the soil at the rate of 5 g per 1 liter of nutrient mixture;
- watering and mulching the near-stem circle.
Growing and care rules
In order for a coniferous seedling to decorate the site for many years, you need to take care of its watering, fertilizing and pruning, as well as proper preparation for wintering.
Watering Schedule
Thuja western Miriam needs regular watering, especially for young seedlings that react painfully to drying out of the soil and dry air.
1 bush will require about 10 liters of water. Watering is carried out 1-2 times a week, taking into account precipitation and weather in the region. During a drought, the number of irrigations is increased, in addition to moistening the soil, sprinkler irrigation is included. The procedure is recommended to be carried out after sunset in order to prevent burns on the needles.
Additional fertilizing
Top dressing of thuja western Miriam is carried out in the spring (April-May). For this, complex nutritional formulations are used, for example, Kemira-universal. 1 g of the preparation will be required per 50 m² of the area of the near-stem circle.
In the autumn period (end of September – October), seedlings are fed with potash.
Trimming
Sanitary pruning is carried out annually. It is best to postpone this procedure until the spring. In early April, damaged, frozen branches are cut.
Formative pruning can be carried out simultaneously with sanitary pruning. The crown is shaped like a sphere.
Preparation for winter
Adult thuja western bushes tolerate winter frosts well. Preparation of the seedling for the cold should be carried out in October-November. The start of preparatory work depends on the region. Preparation consists in carrying out the following activities:
- For the winter, the crown is pulled together with a soft ribbon or rope.
- They are covered with a special insulating material (agrospan, spunbond, lutrasil, kraft paper).
- From above, you can build a sheltering canopy that will help save the crown during snowfalls. It is made from a film stretched over wooden pegs.
- The shelter is securely fixed so that it does not fly off during strong winds.
- Be sure to insulate the trunk circle, for this, sawdust or needles are poured in a thick layer, then spruce branches are laid.
Pests and diseases
The decorative appearance of the thuja can be spoiled by the thuja aphid. It damages the lower part of the shoots. To combat aphids, spraying with Karbofos is used.
Moth moth – a butterfly that affects the planting of thuja. She begins to fly at the beginning of summer. You can notice the appearance of moths by turning brown tops and dying shoots. Preparations containing pyrethroids will help eliminate the pest on Miriam’s thuja. The treatment is carried out 2-3 times with an interval between treatments of 7-10 days.
To eliminate false shields on Miriam’s thuja, spraying with Karbofos and Actellik is used.
The danger to the root system is the click beetle. A favorable environment for wireworm larvae is acidic soil and stagnant moisture. Autumn digging and drainage help to get rid of pests. If there are a lot of pests, the soil is treated with preparations based on Diazonin.
Of the thuja diseases, the following are distinguished:
- brown shoots on Miriam’s thuja appear due to a fungal infection. The disease can be detected in early spring by yellowing scales. If measures are not taken in a timely manner, the shoots turn brown and die. Damaged branches are cut off and burned. The thuja seedling is fed, and the earth is limed. The crown is sprayed several times with an interval of 2 weeks with a 0,2% solution of Fundazol;
- soil fungi can provoke fusarium roots of thuja Miriam. The seedling is treated with Zircon, which helps to increase resistance to infections, and fungicides Hom, Kartotsid;
- when the shoots dry out, copper-containing agents are used to process the thuja western Miriam.
Conclusion
Thuja Miriam is a dwarf coniferous culture, characterized by a spherical shape and a golden crown. An ornamental plant is used in landscape design, it can become a decoration of an alpine hill, it is used to create living borders along garden paths.
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