Thuja hedge

Who doesn't dream of a beautiful green hedge. Many summer residents and gardeners very often plant such a composition in their area. You will not need a fence, but a thuja hedge will definitely add beauty and a pleasant appearance to your site. However, before doing this difficult task, you need to familiarize yourself with the main varieties of thuja, the rules for creating a thuja hedge, as well as the features of caring for it. Be sure to read this article and you will probably get answers to all your questions.

Thuja hedge: what is it for?

Thuja hedge: photo

In fact, such a green fence is not only very beautiful, but also functional. Plants can hide ugly structures that may be found on your site. In addition, conifers purify the air by releasing phytoncides.

Such a green fence also traps dust, toxic substances that often accumulate near roads. Such a framing of the garden and dividing the site into zones can be a very good solution, since these plants are also evergreen.

If you are an experienced gardener, you can even create exquisite greenery shapes that will be the perfect accent on your site. A thuja hedge will look great both in summer and in winter, as in the cold season the thuja does not discard needles.

This plant is truly versatile, as it usually grows for more than one year. In order to select the appropriate variety, you will need to familiarize yourself with the climatic characteristics of your region and choose a crop that will best withstand certain adverse weather conditions.

It is believed that thuja will not feel good throughout Russia. It should be noted that almost any variety can be grown in the southern latitudes. Green fences will grow quite rapidly everywhere. Therefore, you just have to decide on the decorative qualities and the purpose of the landings.

Unfortunately, in central Russia and in the northern regions, thuja does not grow equally well. Therefore, you will need to consider the frost resistance of certain varieties. Despite its unpretentiousness, such a hedge does not tolerate mistakes, and recovers very poorly after frost.

It is best to plant thuja varieties of Smaragd in favorable conditions. In addition, the purpose of the shrub should be taken into account. Plants are undersized, tall. Therefore, depending on what you want to plant, you should give preference to one or another variety.

So, if you want to decorate the curb near the paths or zone the site, it is best to choose undersized varieties. They can also be planted along the edges of the personal plot. Plants are capable of creating a green fence, and if you plant the thuja close to each other, then you will not need the usual fence.

If you need fast growing grade, then attention should be paid Brabant... This is a real green wall. Each year the shrub grows about 35 cm high and 15 cm wide.

Too intensively prune such bushes for a thuja hedge is not worth it, since the plant does not really like cutting. But despite this, thuja grows well green mass. Therefore, if you consider yourself a beginner and you have no experience at all, then be sure to start your horticultural career with this variety.

But despite all the advantages, the shrub has a significant drawback: the needles need proper care, and before wintering they turn red.Therefore, during a drought, it will need to be processed frequently. In addition, the bushes should be trimmed and shaped twice a year.

If you want to choose a variety of thuja that will not grow so quickly, then plant it on your site Emerald... It also has excellent young branches, but it grows a little slower. Therefore, you will not need to form bushes too often.

But remember, after a failed haircut, such a green fence will take a long time to recover, so it's better not to disturb this plant once again. Thuja designers create beautiful green shapes, since the needles of the bush have the correct shape, they are quite even and beautiful.

But watering such a green fence will not be possible so often, but do not forget to spray the drying needles in time. Another fast growing variety - Globoza... Its bushes are spherical in shape, so this hedge has a very attractive appearance.

In height, the thuja does not grow actively, so the plant will need to be cut once every two years. Also, don't forget about sanitary pruning. Thuja is frost-resistant. However, in order not to break the shoots, you will need to tighten them before wintering. This culture also tolerates drought well, grows well in the shade, so gardeners love it very much.

The best thuja for a hedge: the best varieties

Thuja hedge: photo

Many people wonder which thuja is best used to create a thuja hedge. If you will be dividing your site into zones, then it is best to give preference to varieties with a small annual increase.

For this, for example, the variety is suitable Danica... It has a spherical crown, it grows in height by no more than half a meter. Due to the fact that this variety grows slowly, it is practically not necessary to prune the bushes. Crohn retains its properties remarkably throughout the year.

It also grows slowly. Columna... The fence from it will be wonderful. It reaches a height of one and a half meters, but does not grow very actively. Therefore, this green fence will not give you any problems, and will be attractive for a long time.

Mature plants can grow up to 7 meters, the crown of the shrub is beautiful, pyramidal, dense, if the shoots are cut correctly, they will grow densely. In addition, this plant is frost-resistant, therefore. Your thuja hedge won't freeze out for no reason. The needles of this variety of thuja remain very bright for a long time, so it really pleases the eye.

Many people choose to create a hedge Holmstrup... It is also a type of thuja. It grows very quickly, so shrubs should be trimmed more than 2 times a year. During the season, it changes its color several times. Therefore, the crown will always look attractive. A living fence can grow up to 3 meters. However, this will take a long time. The variety is unpretentious. Usually, it practically does not need to be looked after. It is also not necessary to cover the plants for the winter.

How to grow a thuja hedge?

Thuja hedge: photo

As you remember, thuja is considered an unpretentious culture. However, certain nuances should still be taken into account. Otherwise, the plants will not forgive you for mistakes, and instead of a beautiful green hedge, you will get disappointment.

It is best to plant the crop in the fall, when the soil is moist. However, depending on the climatic characteristics of a particular region, the dates may shift. Remember that it is best to do this before frost, so that the seedlings are well rooted.

Plants can also be planted in spring. However, this should be done no later than April. The landing site should be well lit by the sun, protected from the wind. Thuja loves acidic soil, drainage should also be good. The site should be prepared in advance. The plant also does not like abundant moisture, so the groundwater should be located deep enough.

It is recommended to apply complex mineral fertilizers to the soil.This has a beneficial effect on the further development of seedlings. Plants should be planted at a distance of about 50 cm. However, you can tighten this distance a little if you want to grow a denser green fence. Also, the distance between seedlings depends on the growth rate and the characteristics of a particular variety.

For example, for fast-growing plants, the distance between the seedlings should be widened so that they do not interfere with each other. Remember that plants need to gain green mass. Therefore, they should not embarrass their neighbors too much. And it is much easier to care for such plantings.

Sometimes seedlings are planted in a checkerboard pattern, at a distance of about 1 meter from each other, such a fence looks denser. The maximum number of rows is two. It is best to plant not adult bushes, but young ones. Their age should be no more than 4 years old. They will take root better in a new place; low-growing crops should be chosen in height.

Usually, seedlings are planted in a trench manner. To do this, at the proposed landing site, you should dig a trench, the depth should be at least 50 cm, the width - depending on the structure of the root system. Make sure that the moat is slightly larger than the root ball of the seedlings.

Then lay a drainage layer at the bottom of the canal, fill the top with nutrient soil, compost. After that, you can plant thuja. However, keep a distance between the plants. Make sure that the root collar does not go deep. As you remember, you can even plant thuja in two rows.

Thuja hedge: how to care?

Thuja hedge: photo

In fact, caring for thuja is easy. However, this does not mean that a beautiful green fence will grow on its own. The plant needs to be watered, fed and cut in a timely manner. And also to carry out preventive examinations and treatments.

Plants should be especially carefully monitored at first. The most important thing is to decide on the watering of the plants. Never moisten the soil over a period of time. It is not right. Keep an eye on the moisture level of the soil, and only water the plant if necessary.

Young seedlings need more water than adult bushes. If the summer is hot and dry, you will need to water more often. This type of plant does not need to be fed for a long time. After a certain period of time, it will be possible to add a little specialized fertilizers for conifers to the soil.

Moreover, in the spring it is advisable to use fertilizing with a nitrogen content, but in the fall you should switch to mineral fertilizers. In order for a thuja hedge to grow well, it is necessary to loosen the soil in a timely manner. Otherwise, it will not allow water and air to pass through.

Remember that a crust often forms on the surface of the ground, so after each watering it is also necessary to loosen the soil. But do this with extreme caution, as you can damage the plant by touching the roots of the bush.

Gardeners often recommend mulching the soil, for this they use humus, straw, sawdust. This will allow you to retain moisture, get rid of weeds. Do not forget that it is important to trim shrubs and form plants in time. Shoots should be cut off no more than one third of the length. Otherwise, the bushes will simply dry up, and the green fence will die.

Therefore, do not get carried away with a haircut. Too bare shoots also take a long time to recover, and the green mass does not grow. If you want to restrain the growth of the shoot, then the formation should be carried out before bud break. If you cut off the shoots after, then they will grow back very quickly, during this period the plants develop better.

In order to cut the fence, you should use a pruner or special garden shears. Make sure that the instrument is clean, otherwise you could infect the wound. Some gardeners believe that one side of the fence should be cut in the first year after planting, and the other the next spring.

Thus, the shoots will recover well and grow evenly. If you are afraid to spoil the shape of the crown, then you can purchase a special design, a frame that is put on the plant and then all unnecessary is removed. Rest assured, your thuja hedge will be very even after pruning like this.

Conclusion

Thuja is considered a wonderful plant, and it is very easy to grow it on your site. You just need to choose the right variety, plant a seedling and take good care of the shrub. This noble plant perfectly tolerates both haircuts and frosts.

Therefore, if you have plans to plant a hedge on the site, then try to start with a thuja. This crop is great for forming a green fence.