Thuja in Siberia: planting and care, cultivation

The article describes thuja in Siberia: planting and care in difficult climatic conditions, rules for growing, protection.

To plant greenery and decorate this or that territory in conditions where not too simple climate and weather conditions prevail, you have to carefully choose the right crops. Gardeners and designers of Siberia often use thuja for this purpose. How to grow thuja in Siberia? here it is important to choose the right variety of this crop. Thuja was introduced to the east of our country in the 50s of the XX century, while they managed to cultivate it quite successfully in this territory. In order for a plant to feel good in such difficult conditions, it is necessary to take into account a lot of factors affecting the growth and development of thuja. It needs to be planted in the correct way, and in the future, the necessary care measures must be taken.
Today, it is not so rare to find "living fences" of thuja, as well as independent plantings or in compositions. This also applies to regions with a complex climatic picture, for example, the Siberian territory or the Urals.

Thuja in Siberia: planting and care in Siberian conditions

Thuja in Siberia: photos

It is believed that thuja, as a culture, was first discovered in the North of America, in the forests, or rather in their south. However, many varieties of this culture do quite well in a cool area, for example, in Canada. Thuja under natural conditions grow there even on not the most suitable soils: in swamps, too wet and cool lands. Young plants were taken directly from these zones for cultivation in Siberia.

Western varieties of this crop show good results when growing thuja in Siberia, such plant varieties are very resistant to low temperatures, can survive prolonged cold, and can also cope with frozen soil.

As a rule, such plants have a belly of about one hundred and fifty years old, do not show too high requirements for the composition of the soil, such thuja are very responsive to pruning. However, if you are going to grow this crop in Siberian conditions, then you need to take a very responsible approach to choosing a site for future planting of thujas. If the soil is not fertile enough, then you need to add additional nutrients to it, and the soil should be moistened from time to time.

Tui can be an excellent decorative addition to a composition with other cultures; these conifers look good on their own. In addition, thuja is often used to create a "green fence".
Thuja, which are usually grown in Siberia, can have a different shape, both tree and bush. Thuja trees, as a rule, reach a height of about twenty meters. Such plants can be conical, ovoid, and also resemble a pyramid or column. The surface of the trunks is usually colored reddish or brown, with time the shade becomes lighter. In the summer, the needles have a greenish tint, and in the winter they turn a little yellowish. A complete renewal of needles is usually carried out after three seasons; it falls off right with small branches.

Thuja in Siberia: varieties, which thuja to plant in Siberia

The western thuja is considered to be the most undemanding in care. Most often, on the territory of Siberia, you can find some varieties that are especially resistant to low temperatures. Let's list the main ones.

Thuja Smaragd in Siberia

Thuja in Siberia: planting and care, which thuja to plant in Siberia

This variety is an evergreen crop, the crown is in the shape of a pyramid, the needles have a bright green color. As a rule, such a plant reaches a height of about six meters. If such a thuja is not cut off, then its width can be two meters. In a year, this plant adds about twenty centimeters upward, and about five centimeters in width of the crown. This variety of thuja has a very positive attitude to the formation of the crown. Very interesting crown shapes can be formed from Smaragd. In the spring, flowers form on the branches in the form of medium-sized cones, over time they fall off. On the territory of Siberia, two varieties of this sort are most often found. The first has green needles, and the second is golden.

Hoseri

This variety of thuja belongs to the dwarf varieties, the shape of the crown resembles a ball. The needles have scales of a dark greenish hue. This variety tolerates low temperatures well, calmly refers to gusty winds. In addition, Hoseri is not too worried about dry weather. This variety of thuja shows the best results on well-fertilized loamy soils, it lends itself well to formation by pruning. In its diameter, the crown is usually about a meter, it does not gain green mass too quickly. This variety calmly tolerates shade, but it is best to plant such a plant in partial shade.

Brabant: western thuja in Siberia

This variety also belongs to the western thujas, has a columnar shape, the crown is not too spreading, rather neat. The maximum of such a plant grows in the Siberian climate by four meters. This variety is quite picky about the irrigation regime. It should be regular. A short rise in temperature in the spring may not affect such plants too well, this can provoke the plants to awaken too early.
Feels calm both in well-lit areas and in moderate shade. In order for this variety to have an attractive and neat appearance, formative crown pruning should be carried out regularly. Thuja Brabant is most often grown in Siberia for various purposes in terms of landscaping the site.

Danica

This is a dwarf variety of thuja, shows good results even in difficult weather conditions. It has a very nice decorative look, it will be a great addition to the overall composition. In growth, it does not add too quickly, about five centimeters per year. An adult plant is about sixty centimeters tall. The crown grows quite densely, luxuriantly, resembles a ball in shape. The surface of the bark has a red tint, the needles have scales, and are soft to the touch. The roots are usually located in the surface layer of the earth. This variety shows not too great requirements for the composition of the soil, as well as for the level of its moisture.

Fastigiata

This variety has a columnar crown, the branches are located quite close to the main trunk of the plant, the needles have an emerald hue in color, and are not stiff to the touch. In Siberia, it can reach a height of about six meters. Each year, this variety grows by about thirty centimeters. In winter, the needles retain their shade, the plants are not bad for pruning. Fastigiata cones are brown in color, they are not too large in size. Not bad like that thuja variety tolerates frost, does not show high requirements to the composition of the soil.

Clot of Gold

This variety is a shrub variety of thuja, in its height it usually reaches two meters, in a width of about one and a half meters. The shape is generally tapered or elliptical. The needles have a needle-like texture, but soft to the touch. Has a beautiful color with a copper or lemon tint.
This variety feels good on the ground with an increased alkaline reaction, while the drainage layer should be good.It is best to plant these plants in well-lit areas. Light partial shade is also acceptable. If the groundwater is too close to the surface or you water the plants too abundantly, then there is a risk that the thuja will simply die.

Thuja in Siberia: growing rules

Thuja in Siberia: photos, planting rules, care

In order for the plants to feel good and to please you with their decorative appearance, you need to approach the moment of planting with all responsibility. This is especially important in conditions such as in Siberia.

So, how to plant thuja in Siberia?

• To begin with, planting material is purchased in the form of seedlings, they must have a healthy appearance, good survival rate. It is imperative that thuja for Siberia are frost-resistant, as well as resistant to strong gusts of wind and snow.
• You need to choose the right time for planting seedlings.
• An important factor for the successful cultivation of thuja in Siberia is the correct site for growing this crop.
• The planting holes must be of the correct size, the root system of the thuja must fit freely in them.
• Thuja is planted according to certain rules.
• Once the plant is planted in its permanent habitat, it now needs to be properly cared for.

When to plant thuja in Siberia?

As a rule, this culture is planted in the spring or autumn. It is best to do this procedure in Siberia in early spring, after the snow cover has melted. Before the winter period comes, about a couple of months before that, this culture is usually able to take root, form additional roots, needles and, thus, prepare for winter.

If you planted thuja in the fall, then for the successful wintering of young and not yet matured plants, you need to use a covering material. The planting material that has a closed root system takes root best of all. As a rule, this crop is planted in Siberia in late August - early September.
Thuja feels best on an area where there is a sufficient amount of sunlight, and, preferably, in the morning and evening hours. If the sun's rays constantly fall on the plants, then the coniferous mass will lose the water necessary for life, and the appearance of the plants will lose its decorative component. The site on which it is planned to plant a thuja should not be blown through by cold through winds.

This culture is not too whimsical in its care, it demonstrates the best results on soils with a good drainage layer, but it can also grow in areas with a close location of underground moisture. Before planting plants, you need to prepare the soil for this. It must contain the required amount of organic fertilizers, as well as mineral elements. In addition, the drainage layer is important, which is laid on the bottom of the pit.

After the planting material, as well as the site for planting, is selected, you can proceed to the direct planting of plants.

It is recommended to do this according to a certain order of actions:

• For a thuja, which is already three years old, you need to dig a landing hole about fifty centimeters long and ninety centimeters wide. The depth should be at least seventy centimeters.
• A drainage layer must be laid at the bottom of the planting pit. For these purposes, they usually use expanded clay, broken brick. The layer should be about twenty centimeters.
• On top of the drainage layer, you need to lay the finished soil mixture cone-shaped. This applies to plants with open roots. If you bought seedlings with a closed root system, then the soil is poured evenly.
• The seedling must be placed in the middle of the hole.
• There should be no voids, so they are actively filled with soil, slightly tamping.
• It should be borne in mind that the level of the root collar should be slightly higher than the ground level.
• After that, your plantings need to be thoroughly shed with warm water.
• After watering, add some soil so that it settles.
• It will not be deprived of a mulching layer in the zone of the near-stem circle of the plant. For this, you can use, for example, peat.

The soil that is used to plant thuja usually consists of turf (three parts), sand (one part), humus (two parts) and peat (two parts). Additionally, you can add complex mineral fertilizing intended for coniferous crops.

What care does thuja require in Siberia

After the plant is planted, you need to take care of it regularly:

• Water the plants from time to time, as well as irrigate them with warm water.
• Periodically, you need to remove weeds from the site, as well as lay the mulch layer in the trunk circles.
• Feed the plants regularly with mineral fertilizers.
• Carry out sanitary and formative plant pruning.
• It is good to prepare plants for the winter period.

This crop is very resistant to dry weather, but it thrives best in moderately moist soil. At first, after planting the thuja, you need to water the plants in the morning and evening hours. When the plants are more or less rooted, and the first growth of coniferous mass appears, you can reduce watering. Usually once every seven days is enough. In this case, the consumption is about ten liters per thous. It is imperative to adjust the irrigation regime, taking into account the difficult Siberian weather conditions.

When the plant is old enough, the water consumption is about thirty liters. Watering should be done a couple of times a week. When thuja is more than five years old, then watering is carried out in stable dry and hot weather.
Spray thuja from time to time, this procedure should be carried out in the morning or evening. The weather should not be cool, as is often the case in Siberia. So you will cleanse your plants of accumulated dirt and dust, the needles' scales will open, and the space around you will be fragrant with a pleasant coniferous aroma, thanks to the large amount of essential oils.

If the autumn season was not too rich in precipitation, then before sending your plantings for wintering, you need to thoroughly water the plants.

Periodically, nutrients need to be added to the soil. How much fertilizer to apply, as well as what composition should be, strongly depends on the growing conditions of the plant.
In the spring, thuyas need to be given mineral dressings, which contain potassium and nitrogen. In the fall, before leaving for the winter, you need to add organic matter. For these purposes, you can use wood ash, peat or compost.

From time to time it is necessary to loosen and mulch the soil in the near-stem circles of plants. Loosening is carried out a little later after watering has been carried out. This must be done carefully, no deeper than seven centimeters. This is due to the fact that this culture has a superficial root system. Additionally, you need to lay a layer of mulch so that the weed does not grow too intensively on the site, and moisture does not evaporate from the soil. Peat, pine bark, sawdust, compost are usually used for mulching. In addition to the above advantages, mulch feeds the soil with the necessary substances useful for thuja.

Plants should be pruned at the beginning of the spring, as well as during the summer and late autumn. When exactly to carry out these works, it strongly depends on the weather that prevails at one time or another in your region. It is not worth pruning during wet weather, as there is a risk that the plants will "catch" diseases of fungal origin. This is due to the fact that the wounds that form after pruning can absorb unnecessary bacteria.

From time to time, you need to prune plants for sanitary purposes, while you need to remove branches that look painful, withered or broken. In addition, it is necessary to thin out the crown of the plant, so the plant will more evenly receive the sun's rays, which are so necessary for normal growth and development. The best time to do this is in May.

In the last days of August, in order to prepare the plants for wintering, it is necessary to remove overly elongated shoots, as snow accumulates on them. Such a haircut must be done before the first frosts come.

Pruning ephedra is not too difficult, for this you need to know a few simple rules:

• Do not cut the shoots too much, it is best to do this within the limit of an increase in growth of two years.
• You need to prune at regular intervals, and not in too large a volume. So, you will not be too much injured by the thuja.
• The natural form of the plant must be taken into account without fail.
• The pruning tool used must be sanitized and sharp.
• Crown voids are not allowed.

Young plants, which have not yet turned a couple of years from the moment of planting, must necessarily take good cover and protect themselves from cold Siberian temperatures.
For this culture, it is not only a strong drop in temperature that is dangerous, but also the sun's rays falling on the coniferous mass. In winter, thuja in Siberia is dormant, thuja lacks moisture. For this reason, there is a risk that the intense winter sun will burn the needles.

To protect your plants, you need to tie them with rope around the diameter and then cover them with a light-colored non-woven fabric. It must reflect the light of the sun, as well as allow oxygen to pass through well.

Before the onset of the first frost, you need to take care of the root system of the thuja. It is necessary to remove all the weeds from the trunk circle, and the mulching layer needs to be increased to about twenty-five centimeters. For this, you can use leaves, compost. Spruce branches can also be laid to keep plant roots warm enough during the harsh Siberian winter.

To make it more convenient for you to cover the thuja, it is recommended to use wooden frames. Gauze or burlap is fixed on them. Do not use polyethylene for these purposes, as this material does not "breathe" at all, and the coniferous mass may start to rot because of this.

About pests and diseases of tui in Siberia

If the conditions for planting or care are not met, or the weather is not very suitable, then there is a risk that the plants will be affected by various diseases.

Planting can interfere with late blight, this disease first affects the root system, then proceeds to the crown. At the same time, the needles become lethargic, and the base of the plant becomes too soft in texture.
Sometimes the shoots of the plant acquire a brown color. At first, the needles partially turn brown, and over time, all the branches acquire a yellowish tint.

Shute and rust also sometimes harm conifers, in particular thujas. With these diseases, the needles acquire a dark color, and then begin to fall off. As a rule, this problem concerns young, not yet matured plants.

In order to overcome this or that attack, experienced gardeners use the drug Fundazol. Plants are sprayed with it. It is imperative to also cut and burn branches that have been affected.
As for harmful insects, most often thuja is affected by aphids, a false shield. To defeat these pests, it is best to use Decis, Karbofos or other insecticidal products.
Admittedly, planting and caring for this crop in Siberian conditions is not much more difficult than, for example, in the middle zone of our country.

The climate has some special characteristics, because of this, certain works may be slightly shifted in terms of completion.In addition, in a harsh climate, you need to be more careful about preparing plants for the winter period. If you follow the basic recommendations for planting and agricultural technology, then the question "does thuja grow in Siberia?" you can unambiguously answer “Yes!”. This culture will feel comfortable even in such a difficult climate.

Thuja in Siberia: video how to grow thuja in Siberia