Thuja Brabant planting and care in the open. Thuja occidentalis "Brabant": planting, care, use in landscape design. Caring for Thuja Brabant

Kirill Sysoev

Calloused hands never get bored!

Making your garden stylish is not an easy task. It must be designed so that it is cozy, comfortable, and beautiful. Today, heavy stone fences have been replaced by living plants that can divide space and give the joy of communicating with nature. Thuja Brabant will help you create a wonderful garden design, and its description, planting and care rules will help make the plants strong and beautiful.

What is Thuja Brabant

One of the varieties of thuja of the western Cypress family with a conical crown is called Brabant (thuja occidentalis brabant). The tree is native to North America and East Asia. Despite its exotic roots, it has excellent frost resistance and high level survival rate. Golden Brabant differs from other representatives of the thuja family - it is considered the largest specimen. Mature plant can grow up to 20 m in height with a dense crown up to 4 m.

Life expectancy is up to 150 years. The tree has a conical, lush shape, the shade of the needles is light green, and the scales tend to rise upward, adding to the attractiveness of the tree. In our regions it reaches a height of about 5-6 m with a crown diameter of 1 m. The bark peels off easily, the cones are brown and small. The plant grows quickly in all regions, with the exception of arid regions with low temperatures. The plant blooms in April-May.

Advantages

Compared to other conifers, thuja has a number of advantages:

• The main thing is its unpretentiousness to the sun, cold and other conditions.
• Gas resistance will make it possible to grow thujas in unfavorable regions.
• The needles are beautiful, tolerate cutting well, and are decorative.
• The coniferous tree produces environment phytoncides, which disinfect the air, kill microbes.

Planting thuja Brabant

The key to proper growth and health of a plant is its proper planting:

1. Thuja occidentalis Brabant should be planted from spring to autumn; it takes root in April-May.
2. Seedlings planted in spring will grow better and suffer less, and the greenery of the area will be maximum.
3. Thuja is undemanding to the soil - it should be moist and loose, for example, loam.
4. Thuja does not prefer sunny weather and constant shade - the area should be balanced, protected from the wind (partial shade).

Seedlings

It is important to adhere correct distance when propagating thuja by planting seedlings:

• They must be distributed at a distance of 0.5-3 m, buried to a depth of 60-75 cm.
• The drainage layer is 20 cm.
• After preparatory work You can start planting: the surface root system of the tree is connected to any soil so that the neck of the plant is at ground level.
• Sprinkle the roots of the thuja seedling with the mixture and tamp it down a little.

Cuttings

The advantage of propagation by cuttings is the ability to preserve the characteristics of the variety and save time. For this process, lignified shoots (up to 50) 2-3 years old or growth cut off in the current year are used:

• The cutting should be cut so that a small piece of old wood is formed at the base.
• Before this, the cuttings are treated with heteroauxin and placed in a greenhouse in prepared soil.
• Then they are disinfected in a potassium solution and planted in open ground at a depth of 1-2 cm.
• Rooted cuttings should be insulated with sawdust in the fall.

Seeds

The method of propagation by seeds is used in cases where the plant does not require special decorative and varietal properties, since in this case they are not preserved. Collected seeds left in autumn period under snow to speed up germination. In spring they are sown to a depth of 0.5 cm, sprinkled with sawdust. The soil will need constant loosening, fertilizing and moistening, and protection from the sun.

Caring for Thuja Brabant

This plant is considered unpretentious variety in care, but, nevertheless, has some preferences for soil, humidity level, amount of light, temperature, etc. If you do not take into account the basic rules for growing thuja, the decorative functions may be lost or the plant will dry out. The basic rule is systematic pruning of shoots to give a beautiful shape.

The soil

After planting, immediately water the seedling with plenty of water - the tree prefers moist soil. Then you need to mulch the trunk area of ​​each tree with a layer of 10-12 cm. Mulch helps retain moisture in the ground, prevents weeds from overheating and growing, and nourishes the roots useful substances. In winter, it protects the root from the cold and prevents the soil from turning to stone. Peat, bark, and compost can be used as mulch.

Watering

In the first weeks after planting, thuja Brabant should be watered abundantly every day, because from a lack of water, young shoots wither, turn yellow and crumble, and the crown thins out, and all decorative and aesthetic functions are lost. The roots should always be moderately moistened - not too dry or wet. The plant needs constant loosening at a depth of 12-15 cm.

Top dressing

Fertilizers for this variety of thuja are not much different from feeding for other species. If the thuja is planted in the spring-summer season, then in the fall it is necessary to fertilize it with potassium-phosphorus fertilizer. The following year, the subcortex is carried out in the spring, with dry water-soluble fertilizer “Kemira Lux”. After 2 weeks, watering is repeated. In the fall, mixtures containing potassium and phosphorus will be needed again.

Crown formation

To keep the tree beautiful and with a dense crown, it must be constantly trimmed. Trimming should be done in spring and late summer, when the growth of new shoots stops. Pruning is done in cloudy weather to protect the tree from burns. The haircut should be such that the composition at the top is narrower than at the bottom - a conical crown. It is not recommended to cut shoots down to old wood.

Thuja Brabant hedge

Thuja occidentalis Brabant is a fast-growing variety that grows well and is suitable for hedges and landscape design. It tolerates frost and replanting well; thuja growth averages 25-30 cm per year. In a short period of time you can get tall and dense thickets. When planting a hedge, you must adhere to the following rules:

• the depth of the hole for the seedling must be at least 1 m;
• the roots from the cover are cleared directly in the hole;
• the neck of the root must be flush with the ground, otherwise the tree may begin to rot or dry out;
• the seedling is trampled down and watered.

The distance between trees in an evergreen hedge depends on its purpose, type of tree, number of branches, width and height of the trunk:

• if a single planting is planned, then the distance should be 80-100 cm, at a distance of 50 cm from the walls of the site, if there are any, so that the tree has the opportunity to grow and reproduce;
• with a two-row planting, thujas are planted in a checkerboard pattern at a distance of 2 m;
• if the variety of green needles is large, then the distance can reach 4-5 m.

Fence care is simple:

• watering depends on the composition of the soil, on average, it will be normal to do it once a week, 1 bucket per tree, and during periods of drought about 2 times a week, 2 buckets;
• loosening is required after each watering;
• mulching is carried out a month after planting;
• The hedge should be fertilized every spring;
• young shoots are not photophilous and do not prefer direct sunlight;
• trim branches and shape the plant better in spring and in autumn.

Video

An evergreen plant will decorate any garden plot. Bulky spruce trees are increasingly being replaced by representatives of the Cypress family, including Thuja occidentalis Brabant. Its rich color pleases the eye regardless of the time of year, and its slender crown is an excellent element of any flower bed.

Thuja occidentalis cones

The plant exists in the form of a shrub or tree. IN comfortable conditions The height of the thuja reaches 20 m, but in our region they grow no more than 5 m. The lush crown has a conical shape up to 4 m in diameter. The branches cover the entire trunk right down to the ground.

The needles are directed upward and resemble scales in structure.

The color of Thuja Brabant ranges from rich green to light and even yellowish shades, sometimes with golden tips.

The plant blooms in the spring, after which small egg-shaped cones form Brown. Reproduction goes well, most often by cuttings.

It is unpretentious to growing conditions and tolerates frost well. However, the plant will not survive if the temperature drops below 30ºC or the area is too dry. It loves moisture, but feels uncomfortable during a prolonged thaw with sudden temperature changes.

Brabant is a fast-growing thuja, annually adding 40 cm in length and 15 cm in width. Thanks to this advantage, it is widely used in the landscape as a hedge. The rapid growth of thuja implies frequent pruning of shoots and the formation of a crown. Haircuts should be done 2-3 times a year.

Video “Thuja occidentalis Brabant”

Planting a plant

Thuja occidentalis Brabant cuttings are best planted in open ground in the spring, but can also be planted in early autumn. The main thing is that the plant has a month left to take root before frost sets in.

Thuja is unpretentious to soils, but feels better in fertile soil. You should prepare the mixture in advance by taking peat, sand and leaf soil in a ratio of 1:1:2.

Does not tolerate hot sun all day long or deep shade. It is worth giving preference to a slightly shaded place, but do not forget that the plant is light-loving.

The diameter of the planting hole must correspond to the root system. As a rule, a meter is enough. In heavy soils, drainage should be used:

• expanded clay;
• pebbles;
• broken brick.

When planting a thuja, the root collar should be located in line with the surface of the earth. Excessive lifting or deepening will result in the death of the tree. Before planting the plant, it is necessary to remove ropes, burlap and other fastenings with which it was tied. Remove from the container carefully so as not to damage the root system. Dry the earthen ball slightly without destroying it.

Thuja occidentalis Brabant

The distance between trees should be 3-4 meters; if planting takes place in several rows, then the row spacing should be 7-8 meters. In order for thujas to form a dense hedge, they should be planted at a distance of half a meter from each other.

If the area where western thuja grows is exposed to strong winds, it should be tied up. To do this, three wooden pegs are driven around the trunk, which are tied together with rope, nylon or other durable but soft material. The trunk should not be fixed tightly; it should remain flexible under the influence of the wind so that the plant grows strong and resilient.

Video “Planting thuja”

Caring for Thuja Brabant

Thuja does not need Brabant special care, the tree adapts perfectly to growing conditions. Special attention must be given in the first months after planting in open ground. Regular watering is required (once a week is enough). One tree needs about 10 liters of water, and in hot, dry weather, irrigation is carried out once every 3-4 days at the rate of 15 liters per tree.

When the soil dries out a little after moistening, it should be loosened. The roots of the thuja occidentalis are located close to the surface, so do not bury the tool more than 10 cm. You can mulch with peat, bark, wood chips or compost. Mulch layer 7 cm.

Young thuja trees or shrubs (the first two years of life) need to be covered, protected from severe frosts and bright sunlight. To do this, use spruce branches or craft paper. An adult plant will not need such a procedure. However, do not forget to tie up the branches so that they do not break under the weight of the snow.

With the onset of spring, mineral fertilizing of the thuja is carried out. You can use complex fertilizers for coniferous plants. It is necessary to inspect and remove damaged, dry or diseased shoots.

For 2-3 years of life of the western thuja, pruning can be done. A powerful garden pruner that does not leave damage to the cuts is suitable for this purpose. At making the right choice tool, the cut site will soon be closed and will not interfere with the development of the tree. It is best to prune in early summer, when all the branches and buds have formed. Repeated haircuts take place in early autumn.

Regular pruning of shoots will allow you to form a dense crown. This procedure will give the plant an aesthetic appearance, so that the thuja will become a real decoration, both in the garden and in the city flowerbed, especially when growing a hedge.

The cuttings 10-15 cm in length remaining after pruning do not need to be thrown away. They can be placed in a glass of water, where they will quickly take root. Such a plant should be transplanted into a pot, and in the second year it should be safely planted in open ground. For prevention and treatment, fungicides for coniferous plants are used, for example Fitosporin, Alirin, Gamair, Bordeaux mixture has proven itself well.

Diseases

Yellow needles on thuja occidentalis Brabant

Poor quality care for Thuja Brabant often leads to the appearance of a fungal disease:

• mold;
• rotting of the root system;
• trunk rot.

Such defeats on early stages are practically invisible, so it is necessary to inspect the plant more often. If an uncharacteristic plaque appears on the trunk and branches or the needles change color, you need to immediately begin treating the tree.

Pests

Aphids on Thuja occidentalis Brabant

Among the pests of western thuja, the most common are:

• moth moth;
• scale insect;
• leaf roller;
• spider mite;
• false scale insect;
• thuja beetle.

It is necessary to regularly treat thuja Brabant with insecticides, for example Fufanon, Aktara, Decis pro. To prevent the appearance spider mite You can spray thuja with water.

The plant's hardiness, frost resistance and unpretentiousness to growing conditions have made Thuja Brabant a favorite. Thanks to their flexibility in pruning, shrubs and trees of this species can be given a wide variety of shapes, as long as the gardener’s imagination is sufficient.

Useful video about thuja occidentalis

Video “Pruning thuja”

Video “How to propagate and grow thujas”

One of the five types of thuja is the western thuja, which has many varieties, among which the thuja occidentalis Brabant stands out. A decorative frost-resistant, fast-growing tree with a compact columnar crown is widely used in landscape gardening.

Main characteristics

In the wild, the thuja occidentalis, which is not without reason called the “tree of life,” grows in the eastern regions of Canada and the northern United States. Introduced to Europe in the mid-16th century evergreen began to be used to decorate parks. In Russia, thuja of this species has a wide distribution area. It is cultivated in many areas, including Far East and in Siberia.

Having become acquainted with the description of thuja Brabant, we see that this variety is winter-hardy and can withstand frosts down to 30-35 °C. The plant is perfect for the harsh Russian climate. Brabant is one of the most fast growing varieties thuja occidentalis, per year the growth can be 30-35 cm.

In the Russian climate, the height of thuja Brabant does not exceed 3.5-4 meters. The crown shape is columnar, compact. The branches can bend all the way to the ground. The bark on the trunk is reddish-brown and peels off in places. Green needles turn brown in winter. In April-May, the thuja blooms; after flowering, small oblong brown cones are formed.

The thuja varieties Brabant and Smaragd are very often used to form hedges. Their characteristics are largely the same. Among the differences between thujas Brabant and Smaragd can be highlighted.

Brabant variety:

• the needles turn brown in winter;
• crown shape is columnar;
• annual growth is 35-40 cm;
• the hedge quickly grows into a dense green wall.

Variety Smaragd:

• the needles do not lose color in winter;
• pyramidal crown shape;
• annual growth – 10-20 cm;
• has less branching and does not require frequent haircuts.

Both varieties of thuja have varieties with golden needles - Golden Brabant and Golden Smaragd. Thuja Golden Brabant is characterized by a golden-yellow color, which persists even in winter.

Young trees have a dense cone-shaped crown, while older trees become looser.

How to care for Thuja Brabant

Although thuja occidentalis Brabant is unpretentious in care, it still has its own preferences for soil type, moisture, sunlight, and temperature. If you neglect the basic rules when growing it, your decorative functions may be lost. In particular, the main care consists of periodically trimming the shoots to form a beautiful crown shape.

When cutting thuja, you can take cuttings to use for propagation. Placed in a container of water, they will produce roots. Rooted seedlings can be planted in the ground.

Location and soil type

Thuja is a light-loving plant. It does not tolerate round-the-clock shade, losing the brightness of the color of the needles. At the same time, constant heat is also harmful to her. The best option When choosing a planting site there will be partial shade. On suburban areas It is advisable to plant trees on the western or eastern side of buildings.

The most favorable soil for cultivating thuja occidentalis Brabant is loam, although it can grow on any soil. On light soil, the plant develops better and looks more decorative. It is preferable to plant thuja in spring or autumn, but it is also possible in summer.

Landing

A planting hole is dug 60-80 cm deep and the width of the root system. The hole is filled with water and the moisture is allowed to be absorbed. If the soil is heavy, you need to lay at least 15 cm of drainage layer. The root collar is placed at ground level and the seedling is covered with a previously prepared soil mixture. It is desirable that its composition include peat, sand and leaf soil in a ratio of 1:1:2. To improve growth, nitroammophoska is added to the mixture. After this, water the plant.

Care

After planting, regular watering is required, approximately once a week. When planting in hot weather, the frequency of watering increases. The plant responds well to sprinkling. To do this, you can use a hose with a sprayer. In dry soil, thuja develops poorly, the needles turn yellow and fall off.

The soil should be loosened to a shallow depth, since the plant has a superficial root system. To protect the roots from drying out and overheating, it is advisable to cover the soil with mulch - peat, compost, sawdust, bark.

Thuja does not suffer from winter frosts, but in the spring it can get sunburn. Young trees should be especially protected by covering them from the sun with material that transmits well. sunlight. In an evergreen plant, the process of photosynthesis occurs even in winter. In places where there is heavy snowfall, tree crowns are tied tightly with rope for the winter.

In the first year, while the roots are not strong enough, fertilizing is carried out up to three times per season. A year after planting, fertilize with complex fertilizer every spring. It is better to prune 2-3 years after planting. It is preferable to do this procedure twice – at the beginning of summer and at the end of August. Minor adjustments crowns are made throughout the season. As you can see, planting and caring for Thuja Brabant (photo) is not particularly difficult.

Using Thuja Brabant in garden design

The advantage of the variety is that it grows very quickly. This is the property of Thuja Brabant's landscape design successfully used. Thuja is a universal element for creating a single ball, a neat cone, or a pyramid. Non-standard single wooden figures can be planted on any surface topography. But if you are planning a beautiful geometry of thuja Brabant or Smaragd, then the planting area should have a perfectly flat plane.

It is best to trim thuja occidentalis Brabant on cloudy days. This will prevent young shoots from burning in the sun, which were hidden under long branches before cutting.

Arborvitae planted in a row will replace a hedge. If you trim such a fence into a rectangular shape, it looks completely different. When planning to grow a hedge of thuja Brabant, seedlings should be dug in at a distance of about 1 m from each other, because the crown will be quite wide at the base. Over time, the crowns of the trees will close, and such a hedge with a dense green curtain will cover the area from prying eyes and serve as a wonderful decoration.

They begin to form the plant when it has reached the desired height. Pruning Thuja Brabant is the most labor-intensive part of caring for the plant. The haircut is carried out with sharp pruning shears, which will not cause dents at the cut site. To prevent the tree from weakening, a third of the shoot should be cut off.

Thuja Brabant, like all conifers, will delight you all year with lush greenery, purify the air, enriching it with oxygen. Another advantage is decorativeness. Combining with each other different kinds thuja with other shrubs and flowers, you can give the site a unique, inimitable shape.

Video about growing thuja Bradant

Thuja trees and shrubs are very popular among gardeners due to their lush greenery and lush crown shape. By planting thuja Brabant and providing necessary care With these fast-growing crops, you can soon create amazing garden compositions on your site. This is popular unpretentious plant used to form fairly dense green hedges that are pleasing to the eye throughout the year.

Growing conditions

Spring work on planting a representative of the cypress family is carried out when the soil has completely warmed up. In the fall, the conifer needs at least a month for the seedling to take root before the first frost. A plant planted in open ground in August will require less watering. This is facilitated by the mild sun and frequent autumn rains.

Thuja Brabant prefers fairly bright light, but can be in partial shade for some time. Prolonged exposure to direct sunlight leads to increased evaporation of moisture from the needles, which affects the decorative appearance of the plant. A dehydrated tree has a harder time surviving the winter. Conifers placed in the shade will not be able to grow a thick and lush crown. It is also necessary to take care to protect plants from strong winds.

It is advisable to hide young plants that have not reached a height of one and a half meters under an awning from the hot sun, and in the winter it is useful to cover them from frost with a breathable covering material.

Soil preparation and planting

Thuja Brabant is undemanding in terms of soil composition, but a carefully prepared substrate for planting will have a beneficial effect on its rooting. By receiving sufficient nutrients, the tree will grow a gorgeous green crown.

To obtain a fertile soil mixture, each seedling will need:

• turf or leaf soil (2 parts);
• peat (1 part);
• humus (1 part);
• sand (1 part);
• nitroammophoska (up to 500 g).

Most often, thuja occidentalis Brabant is used by gardeners and designers to create hedges. Therefore, to obtain a fairly dense decorative wall You should maintain a distance between plants of 0.5 to 1 meter. To create an alley, the interval between trees is maintained from 5 to 8 m.

The size of the planting hole depends on the size of the seedling's earthen ball, which should fit freely into it. The depth can reach 70–75 cm, the width is about a meter. Placing conifers on heavy soil with high humidity, take care of drainage. Expanded clay or pebbles can be poured into a layer of up to 20 cm at the bottom of the pit; broken bricks can be used. Before planting, it is recommended to dry the earthen lump of western thuja without violating its integrity.

The process of planting decorative conifers is not difficult.

1. Part of the prepared substrate is laid on the drainage layer.
2. The seedling goes deep into the hole so that the root collar remains at ground level.
3. The sides and top of the rhizome are sprinkled with the prepared fertile mixture.
4. The soil around the plant is compacted and watered.

Reproduction at home

When the conifer propagates by seeds, the plant loses its decorative properties. Thuja Brabant is quite easily propagated by cuttings. Cut woody branches at least 40 cm long will quickly take root if you place them in a container of water for a while. Cuttings with roots are planted in a pot. It is not recommended to transfer young seedlings to open ground in the fall. It is better to wait until the plant gets stronger, and in the spring transplant it to the main place of growth.

Plant care

During the first month, the conifer requires weekly watering. Each plant consumes at least 10 liters of water. In case of prolonged drought, the volume of watering increases to 20 liters per week.

Thuja needles evaporate a large number of moisture, so regular sprinkling will have a beneficial effect on the richness of the green mass.

• Thuja Brabant has a shallow root system, so loosening after watering should be done carefully.
• Mulching the soil with peat or compost will not only protect the roots and add required amount nutrients, but will also prevent excessive evaporation of water.
• In the spring, during the first two years after planting, the plants are fed with combined fertilizers, which must contain magnesium. During the summer, fertilizing can be repeated in June and July.
• With the onset of spring, dried and diseased shoots are removed from the thuja.

Under the weight of snow, the branches of the plant may break, so it is recommended to tie them with rope for the winter. It is advisable to cover the roots of the conifer with spruce branches.

Caring for the plant at home is not difficult either. For thuja occidentalis grown in a pot, it is recommended to maintain temperature regime in the range from 10°C to 15°C. Brabant prefers diffused light or partial shade. Timely watering, spraying of needles and fertilizing of the plant are required. In summer, it is advisable to take the thuja pot outside to a cool, shaded place.

A change in the color of the needles and the falling of damaged shoots indicate diseases that can be caused by fungi or pests. To prevent fungal diseases, you must adhere to the basic rules of planting and caring for the plant. At the first signs of diseases characteristic of coniferous trees, it is necessary to treat thuja Brabant with special preparations. Spraying with Fufanon or Actellik is carried out in May.

A haircut

To form hedges and garden compositions, the plant must be regularly trimmed. To create a dense green wall, it is enough to adjust the shape of the conifer twice a year: at the beginning of June and at the end of August. Regularly shortening the top and trimming side shoots, you can maintain the required height and shape of the ornamental plant.

Thuja Brabant tolerates pruning well, which is carried out starting from the third year of life. Using a powerful pruning shears, you should evenly cut off the tops of the branches without unnecessarily injuring them. Only a third of the shoot is cut so that the plant does not weaken.

Among landscape designers, thuja occidentalis Brabant is deservedly very popular. A fast-growing, frost-resistant and easy-to-care coniferous plant is increasingly becoming a decoration for private gardens. The lush, dense crown, which has a pyramidal shape, is very decorative. It looks impressive both in combined compositions and in alleys and hedges.

Using this representative of the cypress family when creating a stylish, cozy garden will limit the space, giving it a decent frame.

Rare landscape design of a personal plot or park does without a popular, rich and simple beautiful plant– tui. It was loved by many for its wonderful aroma of pine needles, its pliability to cutting and, of course, for its bright greenery, pleasing with its purity and freshness. all year round. This plant of the cypress family has 5 species in its genus:

• Korean thuja;
• thuja occidentalis;
• thuja gigantea;
• thuja japonica.

Thuja occidentalis Brabant is perhaps one of the most preferred conifers by gardeners.

Description of the variety

Thuja Brabant is one of the varieties of thuja occidentalis, with a conical crown shape. Her distinctive feature is quite fast growing and evergreen needles. The annual growth of the tree is on average 30 cm in height and 10 cm in width.

Western thuja came to us from the Atlantic shores North America, where under natural conditions the plant grows up to 20 m in height. In our latitudes, Thuja Brabant reaches a maximum of 4 meters.

The plant blooms in April - May, the cones are small, only 1 cm, oval or ovoid in shape.

Advantages and disadvantages

Many domestic amateur gardeners and landscape designers prefer this particular variety of thuja due to the following advantages:

• fast growth;
• ease of care;
• frost resistance;
• ease of reproduction;
• pliability to haircut.

However, due to such rapid growth, the plant will have to be trimmed 2-3 times a year. Although thuja is generally unpretentious in its maintenance, however, in the first time after planting it requires care and regular, abundant watering, up to three times a week.

Also, the young plant will need to be covered in winter, and to prevent lumps of sticky, wet snow from spoiling the shape of the tree, tie the branches to the trunk with twine or rope.

How to properly land in open ground

Pledge successful landing In open ground thuja occidentalis Brabant lies in compliance with several conditions:

• it is necessary to choose the landing time correctly;
• choose a planting site favorable for the plant;
• prepare an auxiliary substrate for the soil;
• correctly plant the plant in open ground, taking into account all the features of its growth and development.

1. Choosing the landing time

It is better to plant thuja Brabant in open ground in the spring, but it is also possible in early autumn. It should be noted that the plant must be planted at least a month before the first frost, so that the tree has time to take root safely.

2. Site selection and soil preparation

To grow healthy beautiful tree, with lush, dense needles, it is better to choose a place for planting that is not very shaded, but even in the bright sun all day long the thuja will not be comfortable. Light partial shade of water is the key to success in choosing the location of this plant.

Thuja Brabant can, in principle, grow in any soil, but in a nutritious, pre-prepared substrate the plant will feel much better, take root faster, and will delight you with its rich greenery all year round.

To prepare nutritious soil for planting thuja, you should take two parts of soil, and one part each of sand, peat, and humus. Gardeners also recommend pouring 500 grams of nitroammophosphate into the hole under each tree.

3. The process of planting in open ground

Before planting the plant in the ground, the roots should be slightly dried without destroying the earthen clod on them. The width and depth of the planting hole depends on the size of the plant’s root system; on average, you need to dig a hole meter by meter.

Place drainage at the bottom broken bricks or expanded clay. Deepen the seedling by sprinkling and compacting it with soil, while the root collar should be flush with the ground, and the roots and tree trunk should not change their location. Within a month after planting, the plant must be watered quite often at the rate of 10–15 liters per week.

Reproduction

There are two ways to propagate thuja occidentalis Brabant at home:

• seeds;
• cuttings.

Woody 2-3 year old shoots are suitable as cuttings. They are cut in the spring, about 40 cm long. The cuttings are placed one at a time in a jar of water until roots form. Once the roots appear, the cuttings are planted in a pot, and in the fall they can be transferred to open ground for the winter.

When planting a cutting, you need to place it in a hole so that the leaves at the base are located at least 5 cm above the soil level. After the thuja cutting is planted, it should be watered thoroughly, adding soil if necessary if it shrinks.

3 pegs are installed around the planted plant and tied with tape, so that in windy weather the young tree sways, thereby strengthening the trunk, but does not break.

While the root system is forming and developing, the thuja occidentalis Brabant requires regular watering. In the future, the tree will need to be watered only in dry, hot weather. Care

When purchasing a Western Brabant thuja seedling in a store, experts recommend paying attention to the following points:

1. The condition of the plant's needles. If the branches have become fragile and break off at the slightest touch, and the needles fall off, then most likely the plant has died. The thing is that after death, a tree can retain its original appearance for up to 3 weeks.
2. You should not buy thuja if the soil in its pot is completely dry. If the earthen clod dries out excessively, the plant may begin to irreversible consequences, and it will no longer be possible to “cast”, as is the case with deciduous trees.
3. If possible, you need to carefully examine plant roots, the tips of the root should be light and always juicy.

1. Soil and fertilizers

Thuja occidentalis Brabant is absolutely not fussy about soil. Both peat and loamy soil and dry sandy loam are suitable for its development and growth. The main condition is that the substrate is permeable. Heavy and dense soil will contribute to the development of root rot in thuja.

Thuja needles constantly evaporate a large amount of moisture, so it is necessary to ensure that the soil does not dry out. The plant not only needs to be watered, it is advisable to also irrigate the crown with water.

Thanks to this, dust is washed away and the wood can breathe easier, which improves general condition and the intensity of plant physiological processes.

To prevent overheating and drying out of the soil, tree trunk circles mulch with peat, compost or wood chips.

2. Feeding

The plant should be fed in March and, if necessary, repeated in early and mid-summer.

Use better complex fertilizer, bought in a store. If during planting you introduced mineral fertilizer, then in order not to burn the roots, it is better to carry out the next feeding no earlier than two years later.

3. Diseases and pests

Thuja Brabant usually has diseases such as:

• root rotting;
• trunk rot;
• mold.

All these diseases are usually caused by fungi and indicate poor quality care of the plant. Since the disease is not very noticeable at the initial stage, it is recommended to inspect the plant more often. A signal to start treating thuja can be various plaques on tree branches, as well as changes in the color of the needles.

In addition, the disease can be caused by various pests:

• sucking – aphids, thuja false scale, spider mites;
• pine-eating– leaf roller, moth;
• other root and stem pests– thuja pine beetle, scale insects, false scale insects.

In order for Thuja Brabant to delight with its lush, dense, green crown, the plant needs to be trimmed regularly, otherwise the tree will look loose and ugly. The required shape should be given immediately after planting, and then only adjusted. To achieve a dense and dense hedge, thuja

Brabant is pruned in March and August. When cutting a plant, you must follow the following rules:

1. Trim the thuja with a confident hand, cutting off more branches to obtain a denser crown.
2. When cutting branches, leave part of the young shoot.
3. A cloudy day is better for cutting; this will help avoid yellowing of the needles due to sunburn received by the thuja during increased evaporation of moisture.
4. Be sure to water the thuja after pruning.

The price of thuja occidentalis Brabant in stores and nurseries largely depends on the height and condition of the plant and varies between 300–400 rubles for a small seedling, and 1500–4000 for an adult tree.

Thuja occidentalis includes several varieties, the most popular of which are: Brabant, Smaragd, Danica, Golden Globe, Columna and others. One of the most beloved by gardeners is the thuja occidentalis Brabant. This plant is a real decoration of city parks, squares, and, of course, personal plots.

Description of thuja Brabant

The tree grows quickly, surpassing the similar thuja Smaragd in speed, and second only to larch in this indicator. But, unlike it, Thuja Brabant remains evergreen, since it does not shed its foliage for the winter. This type of thuja grows up to 20 m in height, and the crown diameter is up to 4 m. The tree trunk has a reddish-brown color, often exfoliates, the cone-shaped branched crown descends to the ground. This form of Brabant allows you to form beautiful plants from geometric figures. A lonely growing thuja can give it a spherical shape, a strict cone or a pyramid, and from plants planted in a row, get a fence in the form of a large rectangle.

Thuja needles have green color, sometimes with yellowish tips. Unlike similar plants, it does not change color with the onset of cold weather, which is a rare and valuable property.

This type of thuja belongs to the cypress family and is a real giant among its fellow tribesmen. Scaly needles up to 0.5 cm in size occupy a vertical position, firmly pressed against the shoot. Every 2–3 years the needles are renewed along with the branches. Oval-shaped cones up to 12 mm in size are a set of plates with two flattened seeds attached to them. Each seed has two wings, allowing it to travel considerable distances under the influence of the wind.

Over the course of a year, the thuja grows in size: 25–30 cm in height, 8–10 cm in width. Brabant has a compact root system. The tree trunk is durable, resistant to rot, with a delicate, pleasant odor.

Light-loving plant, he likes to be in sunny places, although the shade is not an obstacle to his growth. Close groundwater and highly moist soil have a beneficial effect on thuja.

Mature, mature plants are quite tolerant of dry weather and frosty winters.

Easily accepted the required form, the crown allows you to use Brabant in landscape design both as single planted plants and group compositions.

Thuja Brabant - planting and care

When purchasing thuja Brabant seedlings, you should pay attention to the fact that they have already undergone acclimatization and occupy a separate container with the presence of fertilizers. This allows you to avoid damaging the roots, as in the case of digging up plants, and then the thuja will definitely take root. Fresh seedlings are distinguished by bright, juicy and green needles, as well as strong, light roots, 1–3 mm thick. Shoots of brown and yellow color- a sign of a diseased plant. For successful survival, size of purchased plant should be in the range of 20–100 cm.

When planting thuja Brabant, certain rules must be followed:

These are general recommendations when planting both thuja western Brabant and Smaragd and other varieties of the family. If a decision has been made to plant plants in the autumn, then this must be done before October. . You can extend the planting period until November, if the base was in a container. In the fall, you should only use fertilizer that stimulates root growth, and mulch can be used to insulate them. The crown of a young plant needs to be protected from the upcoming cold weather.

Growing Thuja Brabant

So that the thuja grows healthy and a beautiful one needs to provide her with appropriate care, which is not an easy task for owners, because it is necessary to organize all necessary work: fertilizing, mulching, timely watering, correct pruning and a haircut.

Loosening, mulching and watering

After planting the seedlings, you should Water them abundantly, and then mulch the soil with a diameter of 10–15 cm from the trunk, so the soil will not dry out and overheat, and the mulch, gradually overheating, will supply the plant with nutrients. In winter, the roots of the thuja will be protected from frost, and the soil will not become compacted. For mulching, you can use peat, bark, shavings, compost, and rotted leaves. The most important and stressful months to care for are the first months after planting. At this time, it is recommended to water the plant every day, which will allow the roots and young shoots to be protected from lack of moisture. It would be a good idea to periodically loosen the soil around the plant to a depth of 10–15 cm.

Fertilizing

For Brabant, as for all members of the family, timely application of fertilizers is of great importance. When spring planting It is recommended to feed the plants with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers in September, and in early spring apply dry fertilizer “Kemira-universal”. After two weeks, the event is repeated, and autumn is again the time for phosphorus-potassium mixtures. This procedure should be repeated year after year..

Trimming and cutting

Sanitary pruning of western thuja is usually done in June, when they get rid of diseased and damaged branches, cutting them off by no more than 1/3 if possible. . Here's to trimming the plant in order to give it the desired shape, carry out twice a year: in early spring and early autumn. For this procedure, pruners are used, and if the volume of work is large, special garden equipment is used.

Preparing for winter

In preparation for cold weather, the crown of the thuja Brabant is tied with a rope, the plant becomes more compact and can more easily withstand the effects of snow and wind. Young trees can be covered with spruce branches, non-woven covering material or craft paper.

Plant care- it’s not an easy task, but it’s interesting, and the result of this work is often a source of pride for gardeners.

Diseases and pests

Thuja Brabant, like other plants, is not immune to disease. Below is a description of the main diseases and pests:

The use of thuja in landscape design

The use of this tree in landscape design is varied, and often depends on the personal preferences of gardeners. Let's highlight the most popular solutions:

With proper care, thuja With is capable of delighting owners for many years with a luxurious and stylish appearance, both as a single plant and as part of a composition.

Thuja is a genus of coniferous plants belonging to the Cypress family. They are evergreen and delight with their rich color all year round.

The unpretentious and evergreen thuja is worthy decoration any garden, and as a fence it is universal. Thickets of thuja can create a “green fence”, up to 20 m high. It can be used to make either a simple fence or give it to trees various shapes: arches, balls, sculptures, etc.

Thuja cuts well and retains its shape for a long time. In addition, thuja fills the air around itself with phytoncides, which have a positive effect on people’s health.

It also protects against gases, dirt, dust, and wind.

Which thuja is best for a hedge?

There are a huge number of types and varieties of thuja. Thuja Smaragd and Brabant are best suited for hedges.

Thuja hedge Smaragd

Smaragd is a fairly unpretentious plant to care for, characterized by frost and wind resistance. The trees have a cone-shaped crown and can grow up to 5-6 m. The disadvantage of this variety is its slow growth, so forming a hedge from it will take a long time.

Fast-growing thujas for hedges, such as Brabant, for example, are in greater demand than Smaragd. This plant is resistant to winter frosts, unpretentious in care and is characterized by rapid growth (up to 30 cm per year). The seedlings are planted at a distance of 1 m, and after about two years the height of the hedge will be about 4 m. With frequent trimming, which is best done in spring or late summer, this variety becomes more lush and dense, so in a short time you can get dense and tall thickets.

Advantages of Tui Brabant

• Fast growth;
• Evergreen needles;
• Easy to care for;
• Frost resistance;
• Increased decorativeness and well-growing crown.

How to plant thujas for hedges

This plant prefers shade and partial shade, but it also grows well in the sun if it is watered regularly.

note

If you want a pure variety of thuja, for a certain climate, resistant to various diseases, viable, then it is better to buy the plant in a nursery or garden.

In addition to seedlings, thuja propagates both by seeds and cuttings, which are prepared in April-May. Thuja grows poorly or not at all from seeds, even with careful and proper care, such a thuja does not take root. Therefore, it is better to take seedlings that are planted in the spring.

When purchasing, you need to look at the roots; they must be healthy and intact. Trees should be transported carefully, without breaking branches and roots.

Rules for planting a hedge of Thuja Brabant

The distance between thujas in a hedge depends on the purpose of the hedge, on the type of thuja, and the height and width of the trunk is also taken into account:

• when planting one row, it is better to leave a distance of 80 to 100 cm;
• for a two-row hedge, the distance reaches 2 m and the seedlings are planted in a checkerboard pattern;
• if the thuja variety is large, then the distance between plants can reach up to 5 m.

Planting thujas for hedges

• Seedlings are planted in a hole with a depth of at least one meter
• Release the roots from the cover directly in the hole;
• When planting, the root collar must be level with the ground, otherwise the tree will begin to rot or dry out;
• After which the roots are covered either with a mixture of peat and soil, or with ready-made purchased soil;
• The soil around the tree is trampled down so that there are no voids left, and it is watered abundantly so that the earth is soaked to the very roots.

a) the root system of the seedling is freed from the cover directly in landing pit, b) the straightened roots are sprinkled with an earthen mixture, c) the soil around the seedling is trampled down so that there are no voids left, d) the plantings are watered so that the earthen ball is completely saturated with moisture.

Any soil is suitable for planting, but it is best to put peat with sand and fertilizer in the hole for seedlings.

Thuja tolerates planting and replanting quite easily, thanks to its compact root system.

Thuja hedge care

Caring for a thuja hedge is simple:

• watering depends on the condition of the soil and the location groundwater. It is enough to water once a week, using a bucket of water for each plant. During the dry period - twice a week, 1.5-2 buckets of water;
• loosening is carried out after each watering;
• The soil should be mulched with peat or wood chips a month after planting;
• Every spring it is necessary to apply mineral fertilizers;
• young seedlings should be protected from the sun until they become stronger;
• It is better to trim thuja in spring and autumn, removing old branches and forming a crown.

Thus, with proper care and selection of varieties, you can get a decorative and effective hedge in a short time.

In order to make your garden perfect, you will have to try. After all, when planning a personal plot, you need to take into account many little things. Thus, in landscape design today, evergreen coniferous crops are widely used, including western thuja. They form rock gardens and hedges, arrange alleys and group compositions, and such plants are also used for single plantings. The topic of our conversation today will be a comparison of thuja Brabant and Smaragd in landscape design. We'll tell you which one is better and what the differences are between them.

In design, Smaragd and Brabant are usually used to form hedges. Both varieties of thuja are widely used by gardeners and landscape designers. Hedge can be a wonderful addition to a personal plot; it is not only an important design detail, but also helps protect against dust and snow.

What are the differences between Brabant and Smaragd??

Both of these plants are representatives of the western thuja. They are tall, but Smaragd grows a little slower than Brabant. So for those who want to get a live fence as quickly as possible, there is nothing better than Brabant in the design of the site. If you provide them good care, then they will be able to add from thirty-five to fifty centimeters per year. Such trees have a columnar crown shape, and in adult plants it can be one and a half meters in diameter.

What are the best qualities of Smaragd for design? As for this type of western thuja, this culture has other advantages. Its crown looks cone-shaped, and remains especially rich in color in the cold season, maintaining the richness of its dark green color. Thuja Smaragd has a slightly slower growth rate, which in some cases can play into the hands of gardeners. After all, such trees do not need to be trimmed very often, unlike Brabant.

As for the use of Smaragd and Brabant in landscape design, both varieties of thuja, as we have already found out, are used in the organization of hedges. They can be molded - clipped, or unshaped - freely growing. Thujas of the Smaragd species look better when grown in free-growing hedges, because they are characterized by less branching. In addition, the cone-shaped crowns of such trees do not begin to close over time.

Species of thuja Brabant the better, which is more successful when cutting. So, annual pruning these trees in March, as well as in August, will be stimulated by the active interweaving of their branches, which in turn will ensure the creation of a dense impenetrable wall.

Features of planting western thuja Brabant and Smaragd

Both of these varieties of thuja are planted on personal plot in spring or mid-autumn. Immediately before starting work, it is worth marking a straight line on the site; it is along this line that the planting should be carried out. The easiest way to mark a line is to stretch a rope between the pegs or stretch it across the surface of the soil.

Focusing on the intended line, you need to dig holes. Each of them should be approximately seventy centimeters deep. And the width of each hole depends on the size of the rhizome with some margin.

Trees should be planted at regular intervals. When forming a hedge from Brabant seedlings, it is best to place them at a distance of one meter from each other. After all, in a year the plants will have time to grow fifteen centimeters in width or more. As for planting Smaragd, the interval between trees can be smaller - seventy centimeters.

Although both varieties of western thuja are quite unpretentious to soil characteristics, those readers of Popular About Health who own a plot with poor soil should fill the planting holes with a soil mixture made up of turf, sand, compost, and peat. In case of heavy clay soil, it is necessary to lay a layer of drainage at the bottom of the holes.

If the seedlings were purchased in containers, the rhizomes must be released immediately before planting in open ground. The root collar of plants should be level with the soil. The soil is mulched after planting.

Features of caring for thuja occidentalis Smaragd and Brabant

In order to get a bright and succulent hedge of thuja trees, you need to properly and systematically care for them. Plants need to be periodically watered, fed and trimmed regularly. If long-acting fertilizers were applied to the seedlings during planting, there is a need to feed them only in the third year - in the spring. In this case, you need to use fertilizers that are intended specifically for thujas.

The soil around the plants needs periodic loosening and weeding.

In the first years of cultivation, it is worth covering thujas with special awnings so that they are not damaged by scorching heat. Sun rays. For the winter, it is better to wrap them in light fabrics, because otherwise the bright greenery may turn yellow and dry out. It is clear that Smaragd and Brabant will be of little use in design in this case, so it is better to prevent such difficulties.

Pruning the crown of such thujas should be done twice a season - in March and also in August. During this procedure, dried and unattractive branches should be cut off from the tree. When forming a crown, you should focus on your taste preferences. The Brabant variety needs to be pruned more radically, since it grows much more actively than Smaragd. For the same reason, Smaragd trees can be given a variety of shapes that will last a long time.

It should be noted that thuja occidentalis Brabant is less frost-resistant than Smaragd. But in principle, both types of trees need shelter for the winter. It is advisable to cover thuja Brabant well with spruce branches.