Western thuja Little Giant is one of the most popular varieties. This is due not only to the decorative properties of the plant, but also due to its unpretentiousness and the ability to tolerate winter without problems. In addition, this is a universal shrub that will decorate any garden and playground.
Grade description
Little Giant is a decorative coniferous bush with a magnificent pillow-shaped crown. Due to densely located shoots, it has a dense structure. It grows to 80 cm in height. The width in diameter does not exceed 1 m, but averages 0.5–0.6 m.
The shrub has a bright green color, which darkens to brown in the winter season. Small buds grow on it. The root system is superficial. Life expectancy: up to 200 years.
Did you know? The word "thuja" has an ancient Greek origin. It means “sacrifice” and “incense”, because the plant has a pleasant smell and was often used in rituals.
Landscape design application
The shrub is actively used in landscape design, because it looks great in any garden. Its root system does not interfere with other plants. Due to its dense structure, western thuja is often used as a hedge. For example, you can improve the appearance of a terrace or square. Also, the plant will look great if you plant it along the road in the garden.
Landing
Thuja can be called unpretentious shrub. However, for the plant to open in all its glory, some knowledge will be required. And you should start with the right fit.
Site selection and preparation
Western thuja can be planted in any season, except in late autumn and winter. But spring will be the best season to plant. Thus, the plant is much better able to adapt to changing environmental conditions and will be less susceptible to disease.
A slightly shaded area is suitable for landing. Because in direct sunlight the plant withers. Also, a too dark area will not work, because the lack of sunlight will not allow the shrub to develop normally.
Thus, an ideal site is a territory with light shading, without strong winds. As for soils, the western thuja is not very demanding for them, but it grows best on a site with underground water. In this case, you only need to dig a hole for the plant. If the shrub is planned to be planted in loams, then it is necessary to lay 20 cm of the drainage layer on the bottom of the pit.
Landing rules
When planting, you must consider what should be the distance between the seedlings. Any distance will come down for the arborvitae, it all depends on the planned composition on the site. But for full development, the plant needs space. The optimal distance for landing will be a distance of 1 m from each other. With this landing, you can create a green corridor. If you plant shrubs closer, then the crowns and roots of the bushes will interfere with each other.
Did you know? Tuja is used not only for decorative purposes, but also for healing. It makes a valuable essential oil that is added to the bathroom to relax and fight skin diseases.
Step-by-step instruction
Landing can be divided into three consecutive stages:
- Digging a hole. You can determine the desired depth for the pit by the root neck - it should be at the same level with the surface of the earth.
- Place the seedling in the pit.
- Dug the ground should be mixed with peat and sand in a ratio of 1 to 1 and bury the seedling, then lightly tamp.
Care Features
After planting, it remains only to properly care for the bush. Despite its unpretentiousness, there are a number of rules that must be followed in order for the plant to develop as it should. These rules will be discussed.
Watering and fertilizer
Western thuja requires a lot of moisture. To water one seedling, you need 10 liters of water. Watering should be once a week. However, if the dry season has come, then the frequency of watering can be increased up to 2 times a week.
In addition to watering, sprinkling is also useful. Using a spray nozzle, plants are irrigated once a week. In hot summer you can do it every day. It is important to irrigate the bush in the morning or in the evening, when the sun does not burn at full strength. Also, there is no need to do sprinkling with a strong wind. This procedure will help flush away dust particles, thereby improving the physiological state of the plant and its appearance.
During the spring season, you need to feed thuja. Top dressing occurs during watering. In a bucket of water you need to add 50-60 g of fertilizer "Kemira-universal" per 1 m².
Loosening and mulching
It is necessary to loosen the earth a little after each watering and rain. You need to do this around the shrub itself. It is very important not to touch the roots, so you do not need to go deeper than 8 cm. Mulching the soil must be done after loosening. Sawdust or peat chips are suitable for mulching.
Important! Many beginner gardeners do not know how to determine how much moisture is needed for a plant. It is very easy to determine in Western Thuja - yellowness on the crown means a lack of moisture.
Trimming and Shaping
Many ornamental shrubs require pruning, and the western thuja is no exception. Pruning is carried out in the spring, at a time when the buds are not yet ripe. The higher the shrub is trimmed, the more magnificent its crown will be.
Different shapes can be formed from the crown after it reaches the desired height. For example, you can give it a shape: a ball, pyramids, pillars or a cone. Re-pruning is done at the end of the summer season.
Important! Some gardeners worry that during the winter the thuja crown shape may deteriorate without trimming. However, this is not so, since the thuja perfectly retains its shape, and sanitary pruning will be needed only in the spring.
Proper wintering
The adult thuja has excellent frost resistance and does not require additional care. But for a young plant, additional measures are needed. In late autumn, the bush can be insulated with spruce branches.
You can also use improvised materials, for example: burlap, kraft paper, mats made of paper or reeds. If the temperature drops below -5 ° C, the plant is additionally covered with a film.
Thuja Little Giant is a beautiful shrub that will delight your eyes with its neat appearance. It will serve as an excellent decoration for any composition. The main thing is to properly care for him, especially since it is not difficult.
