Thuja Brabant - an ornamental plant with an evergreen crown is valued in landscape design for its versatility, unpretentiousness to growing conditions and harmonious neighborhood with other crops. Canada is considered the homeland, appeared in Europe in the 16th century and immediately fell in love with park designers. It is used in single plantings and as a hedge.
Thuja western Brabant - the favorite of many gardeners
The botanical name Thuja occidentalis Brabant has several interpretations, the wording "white cedar" is often used, which is not entirely true, since thuja is more likely to be ranked among the cypress family.
Brief information about the variety
- Colour: deep green, golden in one of the varieties.
- Height: up to 4 m.
- Crown width: within 1 m.
- In which regions is it growing: Central, Far East, Ural.
- Landing features: open sunny places, single or mass plantings at a distance of at least 2 m.
- Immunity: middle.
- Life span: 150-200 years.
Growing regions
The wild species has always been frost-resistant. The varieties obtained from it in the course of breeding, including the western thuja Brabant, are resistant to temperature changes, easily tolerate winter colds down to -30-35 ° without additional protection.
The species has spread throughout Russia to Siberia and the Far East, grows well in the Urals, takes root well in the Central region (often found in Moscow and the Moscow region).
Description of the plant
On the territory of Russia, the maximum tree height reaches 3.5—4 meters.
The growth rate is high, up to 30 cm per year. The shape of the crown is conical, the twigs descend to the very ground, from a distance it looks like a pyramid. In winter, it turns yellow, reviving again in spring.
Bright golden needles in a variety of varieties - Brabant Golden.
Western thujas need regular care, pruning and crown formation, the diameter of which reaches 1 m.
The color of the bark is reddish brown, sometimes flaking from the trunk, which is the norm.
Yellow needles are typical for still immature plants or those that have recently been transplanted.
The root system in the first year and during transplantation is very vulnerable, requires careful handling. It is recommended to plant seedlings in the open field for 2 years, carefully shading them from the sun.
As they grow up, thuja become resistant to the external environment and do not need special protection in winter.
The needles of an adult plant are soft, green-golden. It blooms in spring, then forming small neat bumps. One of the western varieties, Golden Brabant, has golden needles that retain color regardless of the season.
Planting, choosing a seedling
The plant is best purchased in the nursery
It is best to plant thuja in autumn or spring. It is more profitable to take a seedling from a nursery specializing in the cultivation of cypress trees.
The price of 1 plant is approximately 1,700 rubles, then the cost rises, depending on the height.
Sizes play a leading role in shaping pricing. So, an adult tree costs up to 14,000 rubles.
Thuja Brabant is more confident and easier to take root at the age of 2-3 years. They begin to form the crown from the next year after planting. It can only be planted in warm, warmed soil.
Site preparation
The tree loves:
- wet soil;
- unshaded places;
- lack of strong winds.
It is used as a hedge or as a decorative fence, so planting is carried out in a row, at a distance of 1.5-2 meters between thuja.
Landing technology
The root system requires space, so you can plant a tree only in a wide hole, with pre-applied fertilizers and a drainage pad of sand.
Saplings are necessarily tied up or a support is built for them - a hut, supported by gusts of wind.
The width between the holes is at least 2 meters, as a hedge, this distance will be enough when the plants completely form crowns.
Care
The growing rules are quite simple and caring for western thujas will not complicate even for beginner gardeners.
For good growth, abundant watering, a sunny area and regular feeding are enough for them.
Watering
It is carried out once every 7 days, preferably using a hose with a sprinkler. In dry soil, the plant loses its decorative appearance, the needles become brittle, yellowness appears, the twigs become bare.
Mulching is used to retain moisture.
Top dressing
Proper plant care requires adherence to the fertilization schedule. The blooming view of the hedge is guaranteed by a complex feeding, which is carried out 2 times a year, at the beginning and at the end of the season.
Mulching and loosening the soil
Thuja roots are placed shallowly, in order to maintain the health of the tree, it is required to observe a fine line between sufficient watering and the processes of soil silting.
The care includes shallow loosening to ensure root breathing and an obligatory layer of mulch to maintain moisture levels. Sawdust, compost, peat can be used as it.
Haircut and trim
The crown of the bush must be formed
The most time consuming part is to cut off the extra branches in time and give the plant the desired shape.
The main pruning takes place in spring and autumn, sometimes it is necessary to trim the growing crown during the season.
As it grows, it becomes thicker, turning into a dense fence. Excessive width is removed and leveled. The height is also adjusted.
Preparing for winter
The crown is pulled together with a ribbon, especially in young immature specimens, so that the branches do not break off under the weight of the snow. A compactly packed plant will calmly survive not only frosts, but squally winds as well.
Reproduction
The formation of an adult plant lasts about 5 years, the older it is, the more expensive it is, which becomes a rather expensive undertaking when creating a hedge.
It can be propagated by seeds, but it takes a long time and there is no guarantee that the shape of the crown and the characteristics of the tree will meet expectations. The easiest way is to reproduce by cuttings.
A plant that is at least 2 years old is suitable for this. Long branches are selected, they are torn off at the base of the trunk on a trunk with a capture of a fragment of the bark.
Working with cuttings begins with disinfection in a solution of potassium permanganate. Then they are planted for rooting in a greenhouse. You need to take care of them as for ordinary seedlings.
Thus, any type of thuja can be propagated.
Diseases and pests
They are characteristic of the entire cypress family. The greatest damage is done by:
- late blight;
- false shield;
- rust;
- shute;
- brown shoots.
Of the pests, the most common are spider mites, aphids, gray leafworm, bark beetle. The fight against them is carried out through the processing of complex chemicals.
Use in landscape design
It is popular in coniferous compositions, group plantings, as a semantic accent near alpine hills and mixed flower beds.
Looks great in a single version, with a curly haircut of the crown. Possible geometric landings, imitating labyrinths, hedges.
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Thuja western Brabant in a hedge.
Growing errors
Most often, the timing of pruning is not observed, which leads to a thickening of the crown. Planting too shallow will not give the tree sufficient support and will collapse in strong winds.
Another drawback lies in abundant watering without loosening, which leads to decay of the roots and death of the plant.
Gardeners reviews about the variety
Gardeners appreciate the culture as a whole, including this plant. Many people say that this is a very beautiful element of the landscape. A hedge with the inclusion of thuja Brabant will look advantageous on any site.
Also, in addition to decorative properties, they note the unpretentiousness of the tree and the ease of caring for it.