Thuja is one of the most popular decorative conifers used in landscape design. Due to its low maintenance and wide variety of garden forms, it is used as a suburban areas, and in the urban environment. To maintain the crown, the plant requires regular pruning. In this article we will look at how and when to prune thujas.
Thuja pruning can serve different purposes:
- sanitary – cleaning the crown from dry and diseased branches;
- shaping - limiting the growth of the crown and giving it the desired shape.
Most species and varieties of thuja in the process of natural growth take a certain shape of habit (spherical, columnar or pyramidal). They need a shaping haircut only in two cases: when the density of the crown is not satisfactory or when the gardener wants to change the natural shape.
Sanitary pruning of thuja is an essential part of caring for this plant. It is required if dry, yellowed, pest or frost damaged branches appear in the crown.
Thuja varieties and their pruning needs
In Russian climatic conditions, thuja occidentalis is most often planted; it tolerates frost, high humidity, and other conditions well. unfavorable conditions. There are many varieties of this species, and they all have different pruning needs. This need depends on the growth rate of the plant:
| Thuja variety | Growth rate per year | Need for pruning |
| Brabant | Height – 35 cm, width – 15 cm. | 2 times a year |
| Emerald | Height – 10 cm, width – 5 cm. | 1 time per year |
| Columna | Height – 20 cm, width – 10 cm. | 2 times a year |
| Holmstrup | Height – 12 cm, width – 4 cm. | 1 time per year |
| Wagnery | Height – 10 cm, width – 5 cm | 1 time per year |
The varieties given in the table during the growth process form a pyramidal or columnar shape. Low-growing spherical thujas grow even more slowly, so their need for pruning is extremely low and comes down to maintaining the normal sanitary condition of the crown.
Terms and rules for pruning thuja
Thuja is cut in spring or summer. The timing of pruning varies depending on the phase of the growing season and the task at hand.
If you start pruning thuja early spring, before buds open and flower, you can stop its growing season. This technique is used when it is necessary to thin out the crown by removing old branches. If it is necessary for the thuja to produce growth, pruning is postponed until the plant has flowered.
🎥 Video tutorial from Irina Shcherbakova “Topiary haircut of western thuja.”
The main rules for pruning western thuja from Irina Shcherbakova, an experienced gardener.
In order not to spoil the appearance of the thuja, when pruning it, it is important to avoid a number of mistakes:
- Too much pruning.
We must remember important rule: do not cut off more than 30% of the vegetative mass from the thuja at one time.
- Exposure of branches.
Unlike deciduous trees, conifers cannot grow young green mass on bare branches. Such shoots will simply dry out.
- Making cuts close to the kidney.
Thuja shoots should be cut at a distance of 1-2 cm above the bud. This will keep it from drying out while the cut heals.
Tip #1. The cuts are made depending on the position of the branch and the direction of growth that needs to be given to the shoot. On branches raised upward, cuts are made to the outer bud. On drooping shoots - on the inside.
Tools for cutting thuja
To trim thuja, you do not need a large set of tools. This plant has thin shoots, so the gardener only needs scissors and pruning shears.
Garden shears are a tool with long or telescopic handles that are convenient for cutting ornamental plants any height. They can be mechanical or electrical. Practice shows that electric shears are needed only for professional trimming of large plantings. In a small area there are enough mechanical ones.
All garden tools must be kept clean and sharpened promptly. Not only the convenience and speed of work, but also the health of the plants depends on their condition.
Forming a hedge from thuja
Thuja is one of the most suitable plants to create an evergreen hedge. To keep it smooth and dense, immediately after planting the plants, perform the following manipulations:
- cut off the tops same height(about one third);
- The next year, the plants are trimmed in height again.
Do-it-yourself topiary haircut of thuja
Very often, thuja becomes an object for experiments in the field curly haircut. It's called topiary, and it can be used to create a wide variety of green sculptures.
Despite the apparent complexity of the task, even a novice gardener can handle the simplest topiary haircut. The main thing is to choose the most suitable form, focusing on the natural habit of the plant. It will be easiest for a beginner to make a ball, cube, cone or pyramid.
A more complex but interesting shape is a spiral. It can be performed on any tall thuja, for example, Brabant or Smaragd varieties. The formation of a spiral occurs as follows:
- A long rope is tied to the top of the thuja and the plant is wound in a spiral from top to bottom. Thus, the marking is obtained.
- Using garden shears, a light outline is laid along the markings.
- A deeper cut is made along the contour, the turns of the spiral are worked out so that the difference in the length of the branches is pronounced, but smooth.
- The rope is removed from the tree.
There is another method of shaping thuja - growing inside metal frame. It is made of wire, mounted in the right place and thuja is planted inside. When the shoots of the tree grow to the frame and begin to look out, they are cut along the contour, and the frame itself is removed.
Tip #2. When performing a topiary haircut, it is important to carefully ensure that there are no bare shoots left in the crown, otherwise “bald patches” will soon appear on the sculpture, and it will be impossible to correct the situation.
Maintenance and thinning pruning of thuja
This type of work is carried out according to the following plan:
- The plant is carefully examined and areas that require adjustment are identified.
- Dry, damaged and yellowed shoots are cut out from the crown.
- The crown density is assessed. If it is excessive, part of the shoots is evenly removed from the thin green mass. This is done so that holes and gaps do not form in the crown.
- The height of the plant is estimated. If it is higher than necessary, the top is trimmed.
- All growths sticking out are trimmed to the required length.
Light pinching of growths is possible throughout the summer.
Caring for thuja after pruning
Despite the fact that the thuja easily tolerates pruning, it still experiences stress and needs support after the procedure. Post-haircut care consists of the following activities:
If large branches have been removed from the thuja and large wounds remain after pruning, they may require treatment. Special putties for coniferous plants are not produced because they perfectly heal cuts on their own. Treatment is needed if the plant is weakened and does not produce enough resin.
As a putty for cuts on thuja, you can use the usual means that are usually used to process fruit trees – "RanNet" paste, "Fasco" or "Gardener" garden varnish. However, they do not contain natural pine resin, so the effectiveness will not be too great. The only thing they can do is seal the cut.
Slightly better suited for conifers bio-balm "RobinGreen" and garden var "Zhivitsa". They contain pine resin, which partly compensates for the thuja's own deficiency.
The ideal putty option is a self-prepared garden varnish. There are many recipes, but it’s perfect for thuja var Reshetnikova. To prepare it you will need 1 kg of resin, 100 g of beeswax and 150 ml of medical alcohol. The resin and wax are melted in a water bath, carefully mixed with alcohol, poured into a jar, the mixture is sealed and cooled.
Current questions about pruning thuja
Question No. 1. At what age can you start forming a thuja crown?
Thuja begins to be trimmed when it reaches the age of six. By this time the plant has formed a good root system and proceeds to more intensive crown growth.
Question No. 2. Is it possible not to cover the cuts on the thuja with garden varnish?
Practice shows that if the cut is made correctly and with a good sharp tool, it will be better tightened without putty. Garden varnish may only be needed to treat large wounds, but on thuja such cuts are made extremely rarely. In addition, a healthy tree produces an amber-colored resin with a large number of disinfecting and healing-stimulating components. It is very difficult to replace this natural remedy with an artificial composition.
Question No. 3. Is it possible to prune thuja in the fall?
It is possible, but only for sanitary purposes. In September-October, flower buds are formed on the tops of this year's growths. If pruning is done at this time, the thuja will not bloom next year and will give poor growth.
Question No. 4. After cutting the thuja turned yellow. Why did this happen?
Perhaps the cutting was done on a sunny day, and the cut shoots quickly lost moisture. To prevent this from happening, thujas are trimmed in cloudy weather and watered well immediately after trimming.
Question No. 5. Is there any difference between pruning young and old thuja?
No, it's no different. Once the crown of a young thuja is formed, all that remains is to maintain its condition throughout the life of the plants. And considering that thujas are among the record holders for life expectancy, any special work to care for the old thuja will not be required.
A popular evergreen coniferous plant from the Cypress family, thuja, grows quickly and does not require fancy care. Being decorative due to its unique crown, it will decorate any landscape. It will look especially impressive if you follow the rules for pruning it. This procedure is an important part of tree care. The article will tell you how to prune thuja and in what seasons it is best to do it.
Description of culture
The woody plant thuja is used in landscape design and gardening to decorate areas. There are many varieties of it known. In the Russian Federation, the Western variety is used. Decorative crops are planted in gardens, parks, and alleys. separate trees and groups. It is also good for hedges. Belonging to the class Coniferous, the Cypress family, the genus of gymnosperm coniferous plants, thuja can be classified as both shrubs and trees. It all depends on the size, which can reach 70 m in height.
According to botanical description, the following signs are noted:
In the rhythm of development, the following 2 phases are observed:
- Budding of buds, their increase in size, which occurs with the gradual establishment of stable temperature conditions up to + 5 degrees C.
- Flower blooming and flowering occurs when the temperature increases from +5 to 10 and 20 degrees C.
Flower buds are laid a year before the process. In winter, already formed flowers are hidden in them. Good lighting is especially favorable for their establishment. The pollen ripens so much that nearby bodies of water are colored yellow. Weather and other conditions must be appropriate for successful pollination.
Thuja, as a crop, does not have any special requirements for care during growth. These can be home plants decorating a dacha, or part of the landscaping of public gardens, parks, and urban areas. They can be used as protection against industrial smoke. Cultivation is usually done in open ground, which is facilitated by significant resistance to frost. Various garden forms are known. Many varieties also grow in nature:
- Karelian;
- western;
- gigantic;
- Japanese;
- Szechuan.
These 5 species are common in North America and East Asia.
Arbor vitae
Pruning thuja Brabant, Smaragd
Pruning thuja allows you to shape the crown, which enhances the decorative properties of the tree and serves the sanitary purpose of removing affected branches. You need to get:
- pruning shears good quality or garden shears;
- growth stimulants.
For different varieties there are rules. For example, Brabant is pruned significantly for the first time so that the crown does not subsequently thicken excessively. But if this thuja is not trimmed at all, the branches will become sparse and become loose. That is, the procedure is mandatory, otherwise the decorative effect will be lost. The shape is given immediately after planting, after which it is adjusted annually as it grows.
Thuja variety Smaragd is trimmed in compliance with its natural pyramidal shape. Only those branches that go beyond the main contour are removed. The plant has its own regular outline. Only the proportions need correction. Sometimes entire garden figures are made from Smaragd: chess pieces, balls, three-dimensional images of animals. The variety is easy to remove branches. The hedge simply needs to be trimmed, which is started immediately after planting. As they grow, the procedure is repeated annually. The columnar thujas Columna and Fastigiata are subject to similar rules.
Thuja Danica or Woodwardi are low-growing, which also requires compliance with the natural outline, removing branches that go beyond it. After the procedure, growth stimulants are applied to the plants and organic, mineral supplements. For example, this is “Florovit”, corresponding to coniferous species.
The sanitary treatment of thuja, its pruning and the formation of a decorative crown differ according to the seasons in which it is most favorable to implement a haircut aimed at certain purposes.
Thuja pruning time
Thuja is trimmed regardless of the variety. This is done for the first time after planting, without waiting for the tree to grow, which will give it the required shape. The next procedures are carried out so that growth continues calmly. Pruning of side branches is carried out depending on the chosen form. This is how a bushy tree is obtained by pinching the upper shoots. The formation of the thuja crown can occur according to the following most common varieties:
- Pyramid shape.
- Columnar.
- Ball type of pruning (spherical).
As for the season, both spring and autumn are suitable. The first option is sanitary pruning of dry or frost-damaged branches. The second serves the purpose of preparing for winter. How to trim a thuja, taking into account these two options and additional crown adjustments? The sanitary type of treatment is carried out twice throughout the year: in the spring and autumn. The formation of a tree can begin with warming and be carried out before the season of withering of nature.
Thuja pruning
It is allowed to cut off excess crowns from the first year of life. But optimal time– 3 or 4 years, when the plant gets stronger and takes root. When can you start trimming thujas relative to the time of year? Choose the summer period, its middle, and continue until autumn. So the tree will be trimmed once during the season to form a shape and 2-3 times for the purpose of adjustment, which is best planned closer to autumn.
How to prune thuja in order to do it successfully will be indicated by the following basic recommendations:
- First, they study the natural outline in order to focus on it.
- To reduce stress, the tree should be pruned by 1/3 of the total number of branches at a time.
- Resin is released from cut branches, so it is advisable to wear gloves and protect your clothing.
- The thickness of the stems varies. Therefore, they prepare tools: pruning shears, hedge trimmers, garden shears. Each is for a separate cutting diameter. It is important that it is sharp enough so that the plant does not break.
- You should start in cloudy weather. This prevents yellowing of the needles and brown areas from forming.
- When finishing processing, you need to water the tree.
How to trim thuja in spring if this is the preferred season? You can not only remove dried shoots, but also give the tree the intended shape. There are four steps to follow:
Is it possible to prune a thuja tree to reduce its height? The rules include removing the top shoots for this purpose. Further growth will extend in width. They also thin out the crown if it is too thick.
Pruning for winter
The required shape of the thuja is maintained as needed. Sometimes you have to do this every month until the coldest weather. The condition for successful work is dry weather. If the garden or park is damp, there are many microorganisms in the air that can infect open wounds. First of all. eliminate damaged branches.
Pruning in autumn
The branches that have grown on the tree over the summer should be removed by 1/3 of their number with the onset of autumn. This will correct the already created form. Step by step instructions next:
Summer pruning
Thuja pruning done in summer only involves thinning the crown. They also adjust the existing form. Decorative haircut continues in the spring, as well as throughout the summer season. Young greens are periodically removed. After the procedure, you should water the plant generously. If fouling occurs at a rapid pace, reduce fertilizing and reduce the amount of fertilizer applied.
How should a thuja be formed if the required shape is a ball? Bare branches are not left, as they are doomed to dry out, because this tree does not have dormant buds. If you limit vertical growth by cutting off the shoots at the top, they will develop in width. This way you can create a plant with a spherical outline. To do this, long stems that stand out from the mass are removed.
From the western variety of thuja, to give a similar shape, the following varieties should be used:
- Woodwardy;
- Danica;
- Hosery;
- Globozoom.
Thuja is popular all over the world. It attracts attention with its amazing natural shape, year-round greenery and unpretentiousness. It is necessary to trim the tree annually so that it looks as decorative as possible and has the desired shape. The procedure also provides sanitary care and regular adjustments.
Now, having mastered the basic rules, gardeners know how to cut thuja. By following them, you can make yourself attractive for a long time. various varieties located on the site. Systematic care does not take much time. But the result pays for these costs.
Thuja is considered one of the most unpretentious and spectacular plants for landscape design. The description of the main characteristics, as well as the rules for caring for the plant given in the article, will allow gardeners to enjoy this shrub all year round without spending much effort.
Thuja is called evergreen perennial shrub from the cypress family. It is perfect for building living and landscaping areas. Care is not characterized by complex elements or manipulations, but it must be done systematically. The most famous and popular varieties of thuja include:
- Aurea;
- Albospicata;
- Wagnery;
- Globoza;
- Globoza nana;
- Danica.
Description of landing
Thuja is planted with seedlings or seeds. The best time for planting is the main care after this consists of systematic watering and protection from direct contact. sun rays and wind.
Thuja can also be grown in an apartment or house. For normal development, the plant needs diffused sunlight, abundant watering in summer and moderate watering in winter period. From spring to autumn, the plant must be fed with specialized fertilizers.
How to prepare needles for winter
Thuja after winter may become covered with brown-brown spots. This effect occurs due to the receipt sunburn. In winter, the sun and wind dry out the plant, and the frozen ground does not give required quantity moisture. To avoid such consequences, care should begin in the fall. Thuja should be protected from direct sunlight. This must be done using linen, chintz, matting or special industrial material. Just wrap the plant well with a cloth.
Caring for thuja in spring will make it much easier proper preparation thuja for winter. Make sure that the plant is not covered with snow. Snow during the thaw period can cause the bush to become warm, and as a result, spots will appear.
Also, under the weight of snow, the crown may “break” and the needles will lose their shape. It is better to secure the crown with a rope.
Caring for thuja in spring
1. Haircut. Caring for thuja in the spring involves removing dry shoots. If the bush was wrapped up for the winter, then in the spring it is necessary to remove protective material and give the crown time to take a natural position. After this, you can start cutting.
2. Feeding. In spring, the plant definitely needs additional feeding, for example, it can be liquid organic fertilizers, compost or mineral fertilizers.
In the first year after planting, the plant does not need additional fertilizer.
How to prune thuja correctly in spring
In order to prune thuja, you will need garden pruners.
To carry out this procedure correctly, you must adhere to the following rules:
- Carry out the procedure only in dry weather.
- Thuja pruning in spring is carried out at the beginning of April or in summer, at the end of June.
- After removing dry branches, thin out the thickened crowns. By pruning healthy branches, you ensure better air circulation and thereby reduce the possibility of pest infestation of the bush.
- In order for the thuja to grow wider rather than upward, it is necessary to trim the upper part. To form a spherical bush, if the variety allows it, it is necessary to trim branches that differ in length from the main body of shoots.
- Part of the annual growth must be regularly removed during decorative cutting. This pruning of thuja in the spring is done in order to maintain the selected shape of the needles. However, if you overdo it with pruning, areas without greenery may appear in the crown, which will lead to the loss of its decorative appearance.
- If the plant grows very quickly and requires frequent cutting, then it is necessary to reduce the amount of fertilizer applied to the soil.
- If pruning of the thuja in the spring was not done in a timely manner, then in the summer it is necessary to remove the dried branches and thin out the crown.
- Thujas that grow in shaded areas often do not need crown thinning. These plants cannot boast of lush greenery.
Growing this plant will bring a lot of pleasure to gardeners, as it can be used to create a unique landscape design.
This perennial like thuja, it belongs to the cypress family. Original form thuja has made it popular among gardeners. This plant has many varieties; it is quite undemanding to growing conditions.
For many decades, thuja has been used in landscape design to create unique hedges, as well as individual elements of the natural landscape.
With a professional approach, you can make a beautiful shape for this plant.
In order for the thuja to have a beautiful shape, the pruning procedure must be carried out in a timely and professional manner. Data care green plant involves removing damaged branches, in which case the plant will have a chance to renew itself, the crown of the thuja will be beautiful and lush.
Let's analyze the rules for pruning thuja, as well as the timing of such activities. To prune thuja, you will need sharp garden pruners, as well as a growth stimulator. Experts call the beginning of April the optimal time for pruning thuja. In order for the crown of the plant to have a beautiful shape, pruning should be carried out monthly until cold days arrive. It is advisable to prune this plant in dry and windless weather.
To obtain the desired shape, in April all old and damaged branches are removed from the thuja. If the plant’s crown is too thick, be sure to thin it out and remove some of the branches, increasing the circulation of fresh air in the crown and reducing the risk of pests.
In order to correct the growth of thuja, pruning should be carried out in the upper part of the plant. In this case, you will have a plant that will begin to grow in width and not in height; the thuja will delight you with its original appearance. To become the owner of a spherical thuja bush, cut off the branches that form the crown.
Decorative pruning of this plant involves constant pruning of the plant, getting rid of all annual growth. Such actions will help maintain the crown of the thuja in an aesthetic condition and shape its crown. With monthly pruning, there is a slight loss of the plant's decorative appearance, but after a short period of time this problem will automatically be resolved, and the plant will again have a lush green form.
Some gardeners are convinced that the accelerated growth of the crown is caused by constant adjustments, while experts suggest reducing the amount of fertilizer applied to the plant.
If a green crown has not yet formed on the thuja over the summer, invite specialists; they will carry out sanitary pruning of the plant, carefully cut off all excess branches, and trim the crown. If the thuja is planted in the shade, thinning can be eliminated, and the crown of the plant will remain thick and lush. If you want to transplant a thuja from one place to another, make sure that the plant has a layer of soil located around the roots of the plant. Adult plants do not like replanting, so it is best to replant young plants.
Old spherical or columnar-shaped plants gradually form in several trunks and may fall apart. The cause of this problem is snow, which sticks to the branches and pulls them down. You can solve a similar problem by using old stockings; they need to firmly tie the tree crowns together; in addition to nylon stockings, you can use electrical tape or PVC.
Serious pruning of thuja can only be done by professionals, as it is a labor-intensive procedure. Upon completion of such pruning, the plants receive the correct geometric shape, you will enjoy their naturalness and originality.
In the vast expanses of our vast country with a fairly diverse climate, the western thuja takes root well. From the many varieties of this species, you can create hedges that are not only different in height and shape, but also in color scheme. Thuja lends itself well to cutting, so the hedge can be given any shape.
From tall growing dense varieties such as Brabant, Maloniana, Cristata, spiral columns and tiered columns can be formed. The medium-sized varieties Argentea, Smaragd, and Golden Smaragd make beautiful curly hedges with the outlines of a cube, cone or ball. The spherical and dense bush varieties Dumoza, Erikoides, Globoza are material for low borders and voluminous cropped figures.
Haircut time
You can cut thuja at any time of the year. She tolerates this procedure well both in spring and autumn. Some species need to be cut two to three times a year. Then the procedure is repeated in the summer.
Any variety of thuja is pruned immediately after planting. It’s correct if you immediately give the plant the desired shape, without waiting for it to grow. In the future, pruning is done in such a way that the thuja slowly grows. To do this, only the apical shoots are cut off to cause tillering. The Brabant variety reacts especially to this. The sides are trimmed to create the desired shape and width of the hedge.
Sanitary pruning in the spring will include the removal of dead branches. And after the fence reached required height, only formative haircut is performed.
Spiral-tiered or spherical-tiered pruning of western thuja is carried out in the third year after planting. In the first two years, you need to allow the plant to take root and develop well. After this, the bushes are given required form, and in subsequent years it is maintained with small adjustments.
Features of cutting some varieties
One of the most common types of western thuja is the Smaragd variety. The pyramidal shape of the crown allows only sanitary pruning. You can sometimes cut it to give it a more regular shape. If your fantasy plays out, then you can make anything out of it garden figure- chess, ball on a leg, column-spiral. To get a tight beautiful hedge from thuja Smaragd, it is necessary to carry out a shaping haircut.
Thuja Columna and Fastigiata grow very beautifully on their own. But if you see that some branches stand out from the overall composition, then you can safely take up the garden shears.
But the Brabant variety requires regular trimming. If this is not done, the plant will be loose and ugly. Curly pruning is carried out immediately after planting. In the future – only corrective. In hedges, Brabant undergoes shaping pruning in order to obtain a dense and bushy defense. To limit hedge growth, Thuja Brabant should be pruned in March and August.
To obtain dense, stuffed balls, varieties such as Woodwardy, Hosery, and Danica are cut 2-3 times a year. In this case, only those branches that stand out from the general outline are pruned, since low-growing varieties themselves have an excellent shape.
Thuja Woodwardy Tools and devices for cutting thuja
Proper pruning of thuja can be done using pruning shears, garden shears or electric shears. To avoid creases on the branches, the tool must be well sharpened.
Main types hand tools for circumcision To make a curly hedge correct form, you need to use templates, or vertical racks. To do this, you can make metal arches if you want to get a rounded outline of the fence. A rectangular shape can be easily created by taking ordinary pieces of reinforcement and stringing twine between them.
The twine is stretched at the level at which the top point will be. This marks the line above which all unnecessary branches are cut off. Then the twine is lowered. There is no need to rush to get the shape right.
A few rules for proper thuja cutting
- You should cut thuja with a confident hand. The more branches are cut, the thicker the crown will be. This is especially true for the Brabant variety.
- The branches must be trimmed correctly, leaving part of the young shoot.
- If you leave a slightly narrower area in the upper part of the bush, then over time you will get a hedge of the correct trapezoidal shape. In this case, the lower part of the bushes will not be exposed. This will allow sunlight to penetrate deeply. New shoots will grow faster and develop better.
- To start work, it is better to choose a cloudy day to avoid the appearance of brown and yellow areas of thuja needles as a result of increased evaporation of moisture.
- After trimming the thuja, it should be watered well. At first, you need to observe the condition of the thuja. If the needles begin to turn yellow, then it is necessary to urgently take measures to prevent diseases.
If you follow these simple rules and trim your plants correctly, you can end up with a thick and beautiful hedge the correct shape that will decorate your site for many years.
Watch also the overview video:
