The emerald green thuja grows well in sunny areas with neutral soil. Decorative qualities make it extremely popular in landscape design, and endurance allows you to grow almost everywhere. About how to breed thaw on their own, and will be discussed in this review.

Features of growing thuja

Thuja is a genus of conifers from the Cypress family. The genus consists of 5 species. Two of them grow in North America and three others in East Asia. Height - from 0.5 to 1.2 m. Diameter - 0.3-0.5 m. The plant is not demanding on growing conditions. It usually grows on well-drained soil under the sun with moderate soil moisture.

But it can also grow on clay soils. The range of tolerance to acidity is also quite wide - from 5 to 8 pH, although it prefers slightly acidic soils (7 pH). It does not tolerate drought, dense planting, areas with strong winds. But it does not have problems with insects and diseases.

Did you know? The name thuja we owe to Karl Linnaeus, a Swedish botanist. It was he who described the tree in 1753. Linnaeus used the word thuo, which means “to sacrifice, ” reflecting the fact that the Greeks used the thuja in sacrifices to give an exquisite flavor to the fire.

Thuja breeding dates

Although thuja can be planted at any time of the year, but still there are a number of conditions that adversely affect the rooting of plants in the ground. If there is a severe drought, then with a transplant you need to wait until the weather is moderately hot. If drought occurs after transplanting, regularly check the moisture around the tree and prevent the soil from drying out.

To create the best conditions for cultivation, plant a tree in the spring or in the early autumn. The choice of season depends on the winter conditions in your area. The colder the air and the greater the likelihood of freezing the soil, the more likely it will be planted in spring - this will improve the conditions for rooting.

Important! Thuja can suffer from accidental infection by insects such as aphids and bark beetles.

Preparation for landing

So that the root system develops well and the plant has enough nutrients, the size of the pit under the thaw is made at least 0.9–1.2 m. Planting in trenches is also possible, this improves soil aeration and root growth. The ideal depth of the pit is the depth of the bayonet of a full-sized shovel, which is completely buried in the ground. No less important is the enrichment of the soil with organic matter, which improves it for a long time, providing a constant supply of nutrients for thuja.

Using organic matter (compost) improves the very structure of the soil, and not just nourishes the tree. High-quality fertilizers are obtained from manure mixed with straw and "ripened" for several months. The finished substance is brown, very crumbly. You can use mixtures on which mushroom farms grow their crops.

Peat is also acceptable, but it does not accumulate, but, on the contrary, repels water, which is harmful to the plant. Of store-bought fertilizers, superphosphate is used. Thuja propagates in two ways: vegetative and seed. The most popular breeding method is with cuttings. In home gardening, a tree is propagated only by seedlings grown from cuttings. This simplifies the propagation process for the gardener and increases his chances of success.

Important! Thuja branches can turn brown and die. This is a natural process for regulating the flow of nutrients. Just delete such branches with secateurs.

Thuja reproduction at home: step by step instructions

Most thuja are grown as decorating elements. Both single trees near buildings and long rows forming hedges are used. Seedlings or seeds are harvested in advance. In regions with mild winters, planting is planned for autumn, and in cold ones for spring. The distance when planting from a tree to a hedge should be at least 0.5 m, and the distance to another tree should be at least 1.0–1.2 m.

Video: how to breed and grow thuja

Cuttings

Preparation of planting material from cuttings consists of the following:

1. Take a large pot (about 15 cm in diameter).
2. Pour garden sand into it.
3. Pour the sand so that it becomes moderately wet.
4. While preparing the planting material, put the pot in the shade.
5. A healthy branch 15–20 cm long is suitable for cuttings. It should have signs of growth at the apex and a lignified bark at the base.
6. You need to cut the branch at an angle of 45 degrees.
7. Remove the bottom green needles.
8. Treat the cut site with a growth stimulator.
9. Make a hole in the sand and install a branch there.
10. Seal the sand around the cuttings.
11. Position the pot so that the seedling is protected from the effects of wind and direct sunlight.
12. Maintain a constant level of moisture around the branch with a spray gun or automatic spray gun. You need to moisten the sheet part and the upper layer of sand 3 cm deep.
13. After 6 weeks, the thuja should form the root system.
14. Now the seedling is ready to transplant it into a pot with soil for further development. It will be possible to land it in the ground only after a year in the next planting season.

Video: how to propagate thuja with cuttings

Seeds

Preparation for planting begins with the collection of seeds in the fall. They look like yellow-brown boxes. You will need a minimum of 8 seed boxes.

Preparation of planting material from seeds includes the following steps:

1. Place the collected material in a paper bag in a sunny place for two to three days.
2. Shake the seeds out of the seed box.
3. In a plastic container at the bottom, place a layer of wet peat moss.
4. Put the seeds on the moss, push them into the layer.
5. Close the container with a tight lid.
6. Leave the container in a cool place for 2-3 months. Cooling allows seeds to remain inactive, but remain suitable for planting in spring.
7. In the spring, plant the seeds in peat pots with alkaline soil (5–5.5 pH).
8. Place them on a sunny windowsill or in a greenhouse.
9. After 2-3 weeks, the seeds will germinate to a height of 5-8 cm.
10. Plant seedlings along with peat pots in permanent containers in which they will grow throughout the year. Pot composition: drainage and loose, nutritious soil.
11. The next year, the seedlings are transplanted into a larger pot, like the one that is propagated by cuttings.

Check soil moisture at least once every 3 days, especially if the summer is very hot. If the thuja becomes brown - this is a sign of wilting, make watering more intense.

Planted Material Care

Thuja does not require much attention, except for watering and periodic pruning. Watering is carried out every 3-5 days during the growing season, evenly distributing water in the root zone. After the end of the growing season, watering is carried out once a month, especially in areas with a warm climate. To retain moisture in the soil, cover the trunk area with a layer of mulch. It can be both organic and synthetic materials. The thickness of the mulching layer of sawdust is 7–10 cm.

In the immediate vicinity of the trunk, mulch is not stacked. Pruning is carried out in the spring before the growth of new shoots begins. Wipe secateurs with alcohol before use to prevent the spread of diseases and pests. In ornamental plants, pruning is also carried out at the end of summer to form a given shape.

Did you know? If you trim the top, the thuja will be more dense and a given size. Uncut trees stretch in height and become long but skinny.

Thuja landing in a permanent place

A pit or trenches are prepared for planting. The depth of the pit should be the same as the root ball, but the width is 2 times wider. This width is necessary for a good development of the roots of the surrounding space.

We plant a tree in a prepared hole:

1. Remove topsoil from the root ball.
2. Add compost mixed to the soil in equal parts to the bottom of the pit.
3. Water the soil, but not too much.
4. Place the seedling in the pit.
5. Firmly set the root ball in the center of the pit on the ground and fill the remaining space with dug soil.
6. Gently fix the soil.
7. Lay the mulch to improve root development and retain moisture. It will also give the root zone a more aesthetic appearance.

Useful Tips

Thuja is a beautiful tree with dark green foliage that will remain so all year round and serve as an excellent decorative element of the house territory.

Did you know? Thuja leaves and branches are extremely rich in vitamin C. Their effectiveness in preventing or treating scurvy has given the new popular name thuja - the "tree of life."

It is unpretentious, but still there are a number of rules that need to be considered when growing:

1. Keep the distance between the individual trees. Thuja does not tolerate too tight landing and should be well lit.
2. Consider weather conditions both during planting and during irrigation.
3. Do not forget about watering, despite the fact that the tree is always green - it needs water.
4. Avoid pruning at the “wrong” time of the year. This can slow down plant growth.
5. Heavy snow in winter is harmful to branches. After the snowfall, try to knock down the snow from the branches so that they remain upright.
6. If hares or wild artiodactyls live near the forests, protect the tree with a net.

Decorative thuja is perfect for decorating the local area. Caring for a plant is not difficult. And if you want to start breeding a thuja for yourself or for sale, then it is also very simple to do, following the recommendations received.