Mix 2 tablespoons in water and water the thuja throughout the season. They will be thick and green
Thujas, also called thujas, are small coniferous trees from the cypress family. In Poland, they are grown both in pots and in gardens. This is the most frequently chosen species for hedges. . Depending on the variety, they can grow up to several dozen centimeters a year. For example, Thuja Brabant grows up to 60 cm per year. On average, thujas grow about 20 centimeters per year. Thujas do not require specialized care and in the right soil they can grow practically on their own. The most important thing in their care is regular access to water and pruning the shoots. However, it may happen that the thujas begin to thin out and turn brown on the shoots. Most often, this happens as a result of diseases, too dense planting or too little access to the necessary nutrients. Regular fertilization may help in such a situation.
you don’t have to buy liquid fertilizers in gardening stores. A gardener friend of mine who specializes in thuja care told me that simple gelatin is enough to fertilize thujas. Prepare 6 glasses of warm water and dissolve 2 tablespoons of gelatin in them. Water the thuja substrate with the prepared solution. Few people know, but gelatin contains large amounts of nitrogen, which is responsible for the density of the shoots. It makes thujas grow faster and better. They are greener and new shoots appear throughout the year. To ensure that the thujas constantly have access to the nutrients they need, you can water them with water after cooking the vegetables. Cooled water after cooking carrots, vegetables or potatoes contains more minerals and vitamins and is a great supplement to fertilization for thuja.
How to care for thujas to make them thick and green?
is relatively simple, but requires following a few basic rules to ensure healthy growth and beautiful appearance. Choosing the right location is crucial – thujas prefer sunny or slightly shaded places, sheltered from strong winds. The soil should be fertile, permeable and moderately moist. Young thujas require regular watering, especially during periods of drought, but overwatering should be avoided, which may lead to root rot. Older, well-rooted thujas are more resistant to drought. It is also important to fertilize thuja, especially in the first years after planting. You can use mineral fertilizers intended for coniferous plants, in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations. Fertilization should be done in spring and early summer to support plant growth and development. Mulching around the thuja, e.g. with pine bark, helps maintain moisture in the soil, reduces the growth of weeds and protects the roots from freezing in winter.
Regular pruning is an important part of thuja care, especially in hedges. Pruning helps maintain the desired shape and density of plants. The best time to prune thuja is early spring, before the start of vegetation, and late summer, after the end of growth. Avoid pruning during hot and dry periods as it may weaken the plants. When pruning, remove dry, damaged and diseased branches and shorten too long shoots. It is important not to prune the thuja too deeply, as this may result in unsightly gaps in the crown. Regularly checking your thuja for pests and diseases is also important. If you notice any disturbing symptoms, use appropriate plant protection products in accordance with the recommendations of specialists.
The most common thuja diseases and pests – how to recognize and combat them?
Although thujas are considered resistant plants, sometimes their needles begin to turn yellow and brown. Contrary to appearances, pests or diseases are rarely the culprit. Most often, these problems result from basic care errors, such as inappropriate fertilization, incorrect location or, most importantly, watering errors. Deficiencies of key ingredients, especially magnesium and iron, may result in a loss of intense green color. Before you use plant protection products, it is worth checking whether your shrubs have optimal growing conditions.
The real threat that we can unknowingly bring to our thujas are fungal diseases. The development of pathogens is favored by excessive moisture remaining on the shoots. That’s why it’s so important to avoid spraying the needles when watering. However, if you notice disturbing symptoms that do not subside despite improved care, act quickly and use appropriate fungicides to prevent the disease from spreading to other plants in the hedge.
Perfect soil for thuja – optimal pH and composition
Success in growing thuja begins with preparing the right soil. Thujas do best in fertile, permeable soil that can maintain moderate humidity. Its pH is also crucial – thujas prefer slightly acidic soil, with a pH in the range of 5.5-6.5. Extremes can be harmful to them: sandy soil allows water to pass through too quickly and washes out nutrients, while heavy, clay soil stores excess moisture, which leads to root rot.
If the soil in your garden is far from ideal, nothing is lost. It can be easily improved by mixing with peat. This addition not only improves the soil structure, but also helps to obtain the desired acidic reaction. It is worth remembering this already at the stage of planting the bushes, sprinkling peat under each root ball. This treatment will give the thujas a better start and make it easier for them to absorb nutrients from the ground in the following years.
Watering time and technique: why avoid spraying the needles and how to water under the root?
Proper irrigation is the foundation of thuja’s health and beautiful appearance. The most important rule is: pour water directly on the ground, under the plant itself, and not on its shoots. Sprinkling needles is one of the most serious mistakes that brings double jeopardy. Firstly, wet twigs combined with warm weather create ideal conditions for the development of fungal diseases. Secondly, on a sunny day, water drops act like miniature lenses, focusing the sun’s rays and causing the delicate needles to burn.
Watering time is as important as technique. It is best to do this in the early morning or evening, after sunset, to minimize water evaporation. Thujas should be watered less frequently, but abundantly, so that the water reaches a depth of about 30 cm. This method of irrigation stimulates the roots to grow deeper, making the plant more resistant to periodic droughts and making better use of the resources available in the soil.
