One of the advantages of owning a house is the opportunity to landscape your yard exactly the way you like. Due to their size, shape, and color, trees and shrubs are essential elements of residential yard design. They allow you to create distinct areas of light and shade, dividing the landscape into different zones as desired. One tree that has many landscaping uses and is easy to care for is thuja. This evergreen conifer has a dense crown, grows quickly, is resistant to diseases and pests, and thrives in warmth and moderate humidity. However, there are specific care requirements for thuja, which are outlined in this article.
Watering
After transplanting thuja into the garden, your primary concern should be proper watering. The root system of each tree must be sufficiently hydrated, or the plant will dry out. The amount of water needed depends on the age and size of the plant. If you purchase mature thuja with a well-developed root system, it should be watered at least every other day for a few minutes per root ball. This ensures that your thuja does not dry out, and its foliage does not turn yellow or brown—common symptoms of insufficient watering.
Fertilization
Once the roots of thuja are thoroughly soaked with water, it is also important to use liquid fertilizer to stimulate new growth. Apply general-purpose fertilizers suitable for thuja and other landscape perennials. These fertilizers contain essential elements such as magnesium, boron, iron, and sulfur. Fertilization should be performed no more than two to three times per season, depending on the type of fertilizer used.
Planting in Winter
An exception to the regular watering rule is planting in cold weather. If the temperature drops below 10°C (50°F), watering should be avoided. This typically means that thuja should not be watered from November to March. Wait until spring to fertilize the plants, ideally around April, when these conifers resume their vegetative cycle.
Caring for Thuja Under Two Years Old
For the first two years after planting, thuja varieties do not develop a fully mature root system capable of sustaining the plant independently. Without some assistance, such as burlap ties to keep the branches in place, young thuja trees may be at risk of splitting under harsh weather conditions. However, by the time the plant reaches about three years of age, it becomes fully resilient.
Common Problems When Growing Thuja
Although thuja is relatively easy to grow and maintain, it requires extra care until it is well-established in the garden. For at least two years after planting, special attention should be paid to watering, fertilization, pruning, and weeding. This will minimize the likelihood of common issues affecting thuja plants.
The most frequent problem gardeners encounter with thuja is browning foliage. If the foliage of your new plant turns from green to dull brown, something is wrong. This is usually due to either a lack of water or a fungal disease.
Fungal infections primarily affect the foliage and lower shoots of young plants. These infections often develop in dense plantings with poor air circulation, especially in dark and damp growing conditions. Pruning the affected branches is the most effective way to prevent disease progression. While chemical treatments are not entirely effective, applying systemic fungicides in the spring can help slow disease development.
To prevent thuja from drying out in winter when it should not be watered, rely on mulch to protect the roots and maintain optimal moisture levels. A combination of composted bark chips mixed with compost is an excellent choice.
Thuja trees do not require intensive care, but to avoid common problems such as browning foliage, it is crucial to water and fertilize them correctly with liquid fertilizers. Generally, most thuja varieties under three years old will thrive if watered every other day. The key is ensuring the root system receives enough moisture. In winter, this can be achieved by applying a layer of mulch to protect the roots from drying out. If your thuja has already developed brown foliage, simply prune the dead growth, and new leaves will sprout in spring.
