There is still plenty of work in the garden in autumn. One of the procedures that must be performed is pruning the thuja. It will not only improve the appearance of the plant, but will also effectively thicken it and prepare it for winter. However, we need to know how to perform this treatment correctly to help and not harm them.
There is no clear answer to the question of when you should prune thujas, because it depends on what specimens we have in the garden. In the case of thujas growing in hedges or those intended for garden sculptures, we should prune them 2-3 times a season. However, in the case of free-standing thujas, we can perform this procedure less frequently and do it only when the bushes grow too large.
It is also important first pruning after planting them. However, you should not cut thujas that are less than a year old. We only prune those that exceed 1.5 m in height. We also cannot forget about autumn thuja, which will allow us to prepare them appropriately for the upcoming winter.
The purpose of autumn pruning is to thicken thuja bushes. However, we must be careful to do it at the right time so as not to expose the plants to frostbut also so that the juices stimulated to circulate do not prevent the young branches from becoming woody before winter. Therefore, it is best to perform this procedure as soon as possible, without extending it until November.
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The tools we use have a significant impact on the success of thuja pruning. Due to the fact that the shoots of all varieties are relatively soft and we can easily cut them we won’t need fancy tools.
To prune thuja, we only need an ordinary pruner a hedge created from this plant is best cut with hedge trimmers. Alternatively, if you want to speed up your work, you can use electric scissors.
The most important thing, however, is that use clean and well-sharpened tools that will not hurt or tear the shoots. It is also worth disinfecting them before the procedure to reduce the risk of transmitting various types of diseases on their blades.
The day we choose to trim our thujas is also important. This procedure should be carried out on a dry and sunny daybecause too humid conditions could lead to the development of fungal diseases.
In addition, remember to limit yourself to delicate shaping of the thuja, a leave the deep cut for spring or summer. Instead, in the fall, it is better to focus on removing broken and infected branches, performing only sanitary pruning. Too much pruning would reduce the plant’s frost resistance and contribute to the development of various diseases.
In autumn, thujas need our care, not only in terms of pruning. Before the frosts arrive, we must ensure their hydration. Even though the days are getting colder, thujas need regular watering especially on dry days when the soil is low in water.
It is also very important to cover the bases of the plants with bark, leaves or agrotextile. Thanks to this protection, we will protect the roots against the approaching frost and cold wind. Let’s also remember that in autumn you can fertilize and use special preparations for coniferswhich will provide thujas with the necessary nutrients and improve their winter resistance. However, avoid fertilizers with nitrogen because it stimulates growth, which is undesirable in autumn and may cause young shoots to freeze.
