Thuja western Teddy: photo and description, reviews

Thuya Teddy is an unpretentious low-growing variety with evergreen needles that develops well in the climatic conditions of the middle lane. Having chosen the right place for the location of the plant, if necessary, enrich the substrate and monitor the moderate soil moisture. Adult thuja western bushes are winter-hardy and not susceptible to short-term drought.

Description of western thuja Teddy

The authors of the variety called the dwarf bush with a cushion crown “Bear cub” because of its small size and thick, soft needles-needles. Teddy’s globular thuja retains miniature dimensions for a long time:

• grows only by 25-35 mm per year;
• 3-year-old seedlings, which are sold in nurseries in 3-liter containers, miniature – 10-15 cm in height and width;
• after 10 years, the height of the bush reaches only 30-40 cm, diameter 30-35 cm;
• after 17-20 years of development, it gains the declared size of an adult plant – 0,5 m.

The root system of the dwarf variety Teddy is located near the surface of the soil, densely branched, requires loose and constantly slightly moist soil. Thin, but densely growing shoots themselves form a rounded, dense crown of the western thuja, usually a few centimeters more in width than in height. With age, after 23-25 ​​years, the branches fall apart a little. The soft-needle needles are dense, dark green, not prickly, thanks to which the shrub variety from a distance gives the impression of a plush ball. With cold weather, the needles become brownish, in the spring they turn green again.

Shade-tolerant Teddy variety requires only 4-5 hours of sun exposure, develops well in semi-shady places. In the southern regions, western thuja bushes are grown only in areas with sufficient shading or with constant drip irrigation. Needles do not tolerate dry air. The plant tolerates several days without watering, but the superficial location of the roots of the species dictates its own conditions for caring for a moisture-loving evergreen bush. Thuya Teddy endures up to -31-32 ° C, young plants are covered for the winter. The shoots of the variety initially form a rounded crown, lend themselves to a topiary haircut.

The use of thuja Teddy in landscape design 

A dwarf variety of western thuja with a dense spherical crown looks great as an evergreen soloist in any flower bed or lawn. Even more interesting is the view of the garden or driveway if several copies of the Teddy variety are used for the borders. This is also an ideal container culture, with the condition that containers with thuja for the winter are brought into a frost-free room or well wrapped. Judging by the different photos, Teddy’s thuja in landscape design is in demand and makes an original impression. A popular variety for plantings in Japanese gardens, rock gardens, rockeries. Thuya Teddy is appropriate in miniature green compositions on terraces, loggias, roofs of residential buildings. The dwarf bush of the western thuja is placed in the foreground in large flower beds and mixborders.

Features of reproduction

According to reviews, the Teddy variety is easily propagated using cuttings – through rooting or by grafting. Choose straight shoots without signs of disease from the middle of the bush. Gardeners share the secret of how to pluck a viable cutting – you need to firmly grab the branch and pull strongly towards you. Usually, after such a manipulation, the shoot comes off with a piece of bark from the trunk. This old wood, rich in special substances, will help the cutting to take root in a new place.

For successful root formation, the cutting is treated with a growth stimulator according to the instructions and planted in a loose substrate of sand and garden soil in a container or in the shade on the site. A canopy of film is installed on top, which is opened daily for ventilation, and the cuttings are sprayed with water. The greenhouse is removed after rooting. In late autumn, seedlings are mulched with peat and covered with spruce branches or mats made of natural material.

Planting and caring for the western thuja Teddy

Dwarf variety popular in garden compositions, judging by the photo. Planting thuja western Teddy and caring for a young shrub require the attention of a gardener during the first years. Mature plants are not so capricious.

Recommended dates

Proven varietal material of seedlings is sold in nurseries, grown in containers. Such plants are planted in any period of the warm season. Bushes with an open root system are best purchased near the site and planted within one or two days in early spring or early autumn. Autumn planting requires that the seedling has enough time before frost to take root.

Site selection and soil preparation

For planting a variety of thuja western Teddy, a sunny or semi-shady place is chosen in the middle lane, protected from drafts and sudden gusts of wind. The bush is not suitable for lowland areas where water collects after rain or snow melt. Also, the thuja Teddy variety will feel uncomfortable in the sun, especially in areas with high summer temperatures – due to dry air and compacted soil without watering. The crown will react to inappropriate conditions:

• shoots will develop unevenly and form an untidy and sparse silhouette;
• the needles burn out from the sunny side.

Variety Teddy prefers loose, moist, fertile soil, with neutral or weak acidity. Light loams, clayey sandy loams are suitable for western arborvitae. The substrate in the planting pit should be taken care of in advance:

• 1 part of the sand;
• 1 part peat;
• 1 part leaf compost;
• 2 parts of garden land;
• complex fertilizer or top dressing for conifers at the rate of 5-7 g of the drug per 1 kg of soil mixture.

Landing algorithm

For a dwarf bush of the western thuja, a spacious landing pit is prepared so that the surface roots can spread freely: 60x60x60 cm. Drainage up to 15-20 cm is placed on heavy soils and thuja is planted:

• a substrate is laid on the drainage layer;
• place the Teddy seedling, making sure that the root neck is at the level of the garden soil;
• sprinkle with an earthen lump and compact the substrate;
• water 9-11 liters of water;
• mulch around the perimeter of the hole.

Growing and care rules

They admire in their garden such harmonious Teddy thujas, as in the photo, planting and caring for which are carried out according to the recommendations of specialists.

Watering Schedule

A lot of moisture evaporates through the thuja needles, so regular and plentiful watering is necessary for the bushes. Ideally, the soil near the thuja Teddy should always be loose and moderately moist. A bucket of water will be spent on a bush once a week. In the heat, water more often and spend evening sprinkling. In the morning, slightly loosen the near-stem circle or mulch.

Additional fertilizing

A beautiful bush is created by regular fertilizers, which is carried out for the Teddy variety 2 times a year:

• in early spring, thuja is fed with a complex preparation – up to 60 g per root;
• in September, before water recharging, potassium-phosphorus fertilizers are given.

Trimming

Teddy’s haircut for crown formation is not carried out, although the western thuja procedure is easily tolerated. Only specialists are engaged in topiary haircuts. Every year in autumn and spring, they inspect the bush and cut off dry and damaged branches. If any shoot breaks out of the spherical shape, it is corrected. When cutting thuja, only 3 of the growth is removed.

Preparation for winter

Western thuja seedlings cover the first three seasons for the winter. Then adult plants painlessly endure the winters of the middle zone. The shelter is prepared from natural materials, dense agrofibre, burlap. In late autumn, after feeding and watering, the trunk circle is mulched with a layer of bark or peat up to 12 cm. In young plants of the Teddy variety, all branches are tied up so that they do not break off under the weight of snow. When the bush begins to create a round crown, the branches do not bind.

If there are heavy snowfalls in the area, it is worth purchasing a round or pyramidal frame for the western Teddy thuja, according to the photo and description, which will protect the crown from falling apart in winter. From above, spruce branches or branches are applied to the structure after cutting shrubs. In February and March, Teddy’s thujas are covered with a net or agrofibre so that the needles do not burn out in the sun.

Pests and diseases

Tui western get sick, becoming infected with fungal infections. For prevention, Teddy bushes are sprayed in early spring with Bordeaux liquid or blue vitriol, treating the entire garden. When the disease is used fungicides:

• Maksim;
• Horus;
• Kvadris and others.

The soft needles of Teddy can suffer from insects that suck the juice from the greens: aphids, false scales, and also from the spider mite. Insecticides are used against pests:

• Confidor;
• Aktara;
• Engio.

And against the tick – acaricides.

Conclusion

Thuja Teddy, planted in a flower bed or forming a graceful border from several bushes, with its soft and restrained silhouette will bring a special elegant appeal to the garden. Standard care is carried out taking into account the characteristics of the undersized variety. Preventive treatments will protect the plant from disease and pests.

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