Autumn care for thuja: secrets for gardeners. How to feed thuja in the fall: useful tips

Feeding thuja in autumn

An important stage in growing thuja is proper feeding of the plant, since errors when applying fertilizers can lead to its death.

You can tell which microelements are missing in the soil by the appearance of the thuja:

1. Lack of iron causes color changes in the needles. On some branches it acquires a light yellow color or becomes white.
2. Lack of phosphorus - at the ends of the shoots the needles turn red-violet.
3. Lack of potassium - the needles at the top turn yellow.
4. Insufficient amount of nitrogen - the number of young shoots decreases, and signs of discoloration of the needles appear.
5. Lack of magnesium - the top of the crown turns yellow.

By the appearance of the thuja you can understand what elements are missing in the soil

With an excess of nitrogen, young shoots begin to grow too actively. However, before the onset of winter, they do not have enough strength to ripen, and they freeze out.

After planting and during the growth process, thuja requires constant feeding with minerals for good rooting and growth. The plant itself is capable of extracting useful substances from the soil only in adulthood.

Why do you need fertilizing?

For normal growth and development, any plant needs a balanced diet. But the soil cannot remain fertile forever; every year the nutrients in it become less and less. Half of them are washed out with groundwater, half are absorbed by plant roots. Without receiving enough nutrients, the plant begins to get sick and then may die. How to recognize what elements a thuja lacks for proper development?

Signs of nutritional deficiency in thuja

When applying this or that fertilizer, you need to remember that an excess of microelements is even more harmful than a deficiency. And excessive nitrogen content is also dangerous, since it causes increased growth of young shoots during the growing season, but they do not have time to ripen before winter and freeze out, which leads to the death of the entire plant.

Technology for applying autumn fertilizing

Basically, autumn feeding is carried out in the summer . It can be applied in September or October only where winter comes late and the climate is quite mild.

Fertilizing can be done in September-October in mild climates.

When applied in the autumn, active growth of young shoots occurs, which is extremely undesirable, since they will not have time to ripen before winter and will freeze out.

The final payment is made in mid-August . In the summer, they are added to help the bush gain strength and prepare for winter. It is also necessary to use organic fertilizers once a season.

In the autumn season it is recommended to feed:

1. Complex fertilizers for conifers to improve growth. These preparations provide the plant with a good appearance;
2. Organic. They help to quickly saturate the soil with the necessary nutrients. These include:
   peat;
3. slurry;
4. compost.

How to feed thuja in the spring so that it does not turn yellow?

Before taking action, it is necessary to identify the causes of yellowing of the thuja:

• Burns - in winter, the sun, reflected from the snow cover, burns weakened scaly leaves. To preserve the needles, in February the plant is covered with gauze or a mosquito net.
• Spread of diseases or pests - you need to carefully examine the crown, remove injured branches, and pick out debris. The appearance of yellow sores indicates the presence of thuja false scale. If measures are not taken, the entire trunk will soon turn yellow and the thuja will die. The plant is treated with insecticides - Aktellik, Rogor, Oksikhom. For preventive purposes, spray with a solution of Bordeaux mixture twice a year.
• Root rotting - thuja loves moisture, but does not tolerate stagnant water. It is planted only in a well-drained area. If there is excess moisture, the needles turn yellow and mold appears. If the plant has not been in water for long, the damaged branches are cut off and the crown is treated with an antifungal agent. In case of close groundwater, replanting is required in another part of the garden, otherwise the tree will die.

To speed up the recovery of needles, growth stimulants are used. At the same time, the plant is fed with complex fertilizer for conifers. The biostimulator Ecogel-Antistress demonstrates a good effect. It accelerates growth, increases disease resistance, and triggers internal defense mechanisms.

Rules for applying fertilizers

Fertilization in the fall is carried out:

• if the soil needs improvement ;
• when replanting a plant;
• to quickly saturate the soil with useful substances.

Fertilizing is necessary when transplanting thuja in the fall.
For this purpose, growth stimulants and special complex fertilizers for coniferous plants are added to the soil. When applying fertilizers, the following recommendations should be taken into account:

1. Fertilizers must be applied after a certain period of time. 14 days should pass between fertilizing with various microelements .
2. Before applying fertilizers, it is necessary to water the soil around the plant a day before. Applying fertilizer to dry soil will burn the root system.
3. Before applying fertilizers from different manufacturers, it is recommended to carefully read the composition so as not to apply the same microelements twice. This can lead to oversaturation.

Fertilizing must be done by adding soil . For this you can use:

• bone meal;
• ash;
• peat;
• compost.

Bone flour

This bedding will not provoke the growth of young shoots in winter . Adult plants do not need additional feeding.

If the soil is saline, it must be limed. Gypsum is added to the soil and dug up. In September or October, you need to add quicklime to the podzolic soil.

How to avoid common mistakes when applying fertilizers

When choosing fertilizers to feed juniper, you need to take into account a number of important points that can lead to serious mistakes in caring for coniferous shrubs:

• Nutrients must be selected based on the composition of the soil, as well as the requirements of a particular crop. The wrong choice of fertilizing can lead to a change in the acidity level of the soil, which will certainly affect the condition of the plants.
• Compliance with the recommended dosages when applying fertilizers is vital, since excessive concentrations of active substances can lead to burns to the root system of plants.
• It is important to follow a certain sequence of procedures for applying fertilizers, as well as the necessary intervals between them. Otherwise, an excess of one or another element forms in the soil, which negatively affects the quality of the soil and the condition of the plants.

Foliar feeding

Thuja responds well to foliar feeding in the form of irrigation .

With root application, thuja uses only twenty percent of the nutrients, while with irrigation, nutrients are absorbed by 80%. Complete absorption of nutrients by the plant occurs within 5 hours .

For foliar feeding, you can use the preparation “ Zircon ”. This preparation is sprayed onto the crown of the plant, which opens up and absorbs nutrients well. These types of feedings are performed 3 times, with a regularity of 1 time in 14 days.

Among the mineral fertilizers recommended for fertilizing thuja, the most effective is “ Kemiru-universal ”. This is a balanced complex of minerals and trace elements that can be used for both foliar and root feeding.

Foliar feeding of thuja

Complex drugs

Ready-made mineral products are developed taking into account the needs of a specific plant. They contain essential microelements in a balanced form.

Activin

The mixture consists of potassium, nitrogen, phosphorus, iron, amino acids and a bioactivator. All substances are in the form of chelates. The drug improves growth and development, gives rich color to leaves, and protects shoots from pests. It is used when planting 25 g per 1 m of thuja height. A single application of Activin is enough for 4 months.

After applying fertilizer, the soil must be watered abundantly..

Brexil Combi

Brexil Combi complex fertilizer is also used for coniferous plants. It contains boron, iron, zinc, copper, magnesium, manganese. The drug is used for foliar feeding or emergency assistance in case of diseases or lack of substances. The product is sprayed in the morning or at dusk so that the sun's rays do not reach the sheets. This protects them from burns.

It is known that needle scales open better when irrigated. Minerals quickly reach the tissues. An hour before watering, prepare a nutrient solution. A 10 liter bucket of water requires 20 g of powder. This volume is required for 5-10 adult thujas.

Fertika Spring

A long-term fertilizer has been developed for coniferous plants. It is used at the beginning of the season. Minerals from 1 feeding are enough for the entire growing season. Fertik contains a lot of calcium in water-soluble form. It is used for young plants - 30 g per tree. The product is scattered over the surface or embedded in the ground.

Adult thujas are given Fertik 2 times per season (from May to August). For 1 sq.m. 60 g of the drug is consumed. It is recommended to pour the granules at a distance of 15 cm from the trunk. The product improves growth and promotes the appearance of lush greenery.

Basal

When applying fertilizers under the roots, you can use both liquid and dry ones. For these purposes, it is best to use compost . They lay a tree trunk circle and mix it with soil. The layer thickness must be at least 5 cm .

You need to mix very carefully, since the root system of the thuja is located close to the surface of the earth. You can add bone meal to the humus.

Granular fertilizers are sprinkled around the seedling, and after 2-3 waterings they decompose and are completely absorbed into the soil.

Liquid fertilizers must be diluted according to the instructions on the package. The most proven drugs:

• Green Guy - lush needles;
• Agrecol for coniferous plants (autumn).

To feed thuja, it is strictly forbidden to fertilize it with fresh chicken droppings and manure, since fresh organic matter contains a lot of organisms that cause various kinds of diseases.

Some pests can be controlled using traditional methods. So, for example, to combat spider mites, spraying thuja with garlic tincture or dandelion tincture can be useful.

With proper care and timely application of balanced fertilizing, this green beauty will delight the eye and decorate your garden plot for a long time.

How to properly fertilize thuja in the spring?

Spring feeding provides the plant with energy for subsequent development. Fertilizers are applied in two ways:

To get the expected effect, follow several rules:

• water the pre-moistened soil with a nutrient solution;
• Arborvitae are fertilized in spring and summer, but feeding is stopped in autumn;
• There is an interval of at least 2 weeks between feedings;
• spraying is carried out in the early morning or late evening so that the sun's rays do not burn the crown;
• They use drugs with different compositions to prevent overfeeding.

Initially, the following is placed in the planting holes:

1. wood ash (3 kg);
2. compost or humus (2 buckets).

However, it is better to use ready-made soil designed specifically for conifers.

A favorable time for planting a plant is spring or the first half of summer. If you plant thuja in the fall, it will not have time to take root before winter.

After planting, the soil is watered with Epin's solution to improve the survival rate of seedlings. If you prepare the soil correctly, you will not need fertilizing in the first season. In March of next year, when the earth warms up, the plants are fertilized with preparations containing the NPK complex.

Application at the root

Fertilizers are applied in close proximity to the roots in dry or liquid form. At the beginning of the season, organic matter is placed in the tree trunk circle. It is carefully mixed with the top layer of soil, being careful not to touch the root system.

Water-soluble fertilizers are prepared in accordance with the instructions. It is prohibited to exceed the permitted dosage: excess nutrition leads to disease and even death of the plant.

Long-acting drugs are used once a year. They enrich the soil for 3 months, which is quite enough for the full development of thuja.

Trees older than two years are pruned annually by 2-3 cm to create a dense hedge.

Foliar feeding

The above-ground part of the thuja is sprayed with a working solution from a spray bottle. The plant quickly absorbs the necessary substances through the needles. Foliar treatment allows you to quickly replenish nutritional deficiencies and revive a tree if the root system is damaged.

If the thuja is frozen in winter, it is irrigated with growth stimulants - Zircon, Kornevin, Agrecol. The drugs activate growth, increase stress resistance and resistance to adverse factors. During the season, 2-3 treatments are carried out with a minimum interval of 2 weeks.

Spraying does not replace the main root feeding, but is only an addition to it.

Feeding thuja in autumn

Proper feeding of thujas in the fall will allow the plant to survive the winter without problems. At the same time, you need to feed the tree correctly in the fall so as not to interfere with its preparation for winter. This is as necessary a part of care as removing branches, mulching, watering and covering young plants. It is not advisable to apply any fertilizers after the beginning of September. This will prevent the thuja from preparing for winter in time and may harm it.

An important exception to the rule is the mandatory fertilizing for the winter after autumn replanting. To do this, it is worth using liquid mineral fertilizers, peat and even forest soil.

Feeding procedure

Autumn feeding is done as follows.

When to feed thuja

The answer to the question “what to feed thuja in the fall” directly depends on the initial quality of the soil. It is the composition of the soil that determines what fertilizers each specific plant needs. Unlike in the spring, feeding thuja in the fall means the end of the growing season.

It is necessary to add nutrients in the fall when:

• To improve the agricultural background;
• It is necessary to quickly enrich the soil with useful substances;
• After the autumn transplant.

At this time, basic and additional feeding materials are introduced. Special fertilizers for conifers, growth stimulants and complex products are used. If the tree is planted in the ground in the spring, it does not require feeding in the coming year. Excessive fertilization of young trees can lead to the death of young roots. In the worst case, this causes the death of an immature plant.

When to fertilize

You need to feed thuja under the following circumstances:

• if you need to quickly enrich the soil with nutrients;
• to improve the agricultural background;
• after transplanting the plant in the fall.

How to feed thuja? Depends on the quality of the soil. Only the initial composition of the soil determines which fertilizer is suitable for the plant at a certain period. In autumn, thuja needs additional feeding and basic supplies. Most often, gardeners use growth stimulants and complex fertilizers designed specifically for coniferous plants. If the thuja was planted in the spring, it will not need feeding in the coming year. Excess fertilizer applied to young plants can lead to the death of young roots. A weak plant may simply die.

How to properly feed thuja

Autumn feeding has many important features. In most cases, it is poorly tolerated by thujas and as a result leads to a significant weakening of the tree. Adult thujas are able to grow even in poor soil, having an excellent appearance. If the thuja grows in a container instead of open ground, you need to fertilize the soil every 2 weeks, regardless of the season.

In this case, fertilizing does not prevent the plant from overwintering safely. But the only type of safe feeding that provides winter rest for a tree in the open ground is adding soil.

For this you can use:

This helps to enrich the soil around the tree and is well accepted by the thuja, without leading to intensive growth of young shoots after the end of the growing season. If the soil is enriched in advance, mature trees do not require any additional fertilizing.

Also, if necessary, liming of saline soil is used. To do this, it is enough to add gypsum to the soil before planting trees, and then plow the soil. Quicklime is added to podzolic soil; it is best to do this in September - October.

How to prepare fertilizer yourself

Mulch

An excellent way to enrich the soil is mulching. You can use special purchased mixtures for it, as well as straw, tree bark, and pine needles. The material is distributed in the area of ​​the trunk circle so that its thickness reaches 10 cm. After wintering, the mulch should be moved away from the base of the bush to avoid rotting.

The benefits of mulching include:

• maintaining the required level of soil acidity;
• development of favorable microflora in the soil that contributes to plant nutrition;
• mulch acts as an obstacle to the appearance of weeds that delay the nutrition of the juniper;
• preventing rapid weathering and leaching of useful elements from the substrate.

Compost

Rotted compost is an excellent fertilizer for cypress. The technique of use is similar to mulching - a 10-centimeter layer is formed under the plant, only dry grass is used as the material in most cases.

Preparations and means for feeding thuja

When choosing fertilizer for thuja, you need to take into account factors such as the age and condition of the tree, as well as the condition of the soil. The supply of soil nutrients can be:

• low (up to 1% humus);
• low-income (2 – 3% humus);
• environment provided (3 – 4% humus);
• high (from 5% and above).
• For autumn feeding of thujas of different ages, the following types of fertilizers can be used:

Complex for conifers. Provide good annual growth and attractive appearance of trees. It is advisable to use them to feed thujas, since universal complex fertilizers and garden mixtures are not suitable.

Organic fertilizers. Popular products such as peat, slurry and various types of composts help quickly saturate the soil with useful substances. Another popular option is the so-called “green” or green manure fertilizers. They do not lead to increased tree growth after the end of the growing season. They are used mainly to improve the overall agricultural background.

The following types of fertilizers are used more carefully in the autumn:

• Potassium. Calcium chloride, various potassium salts or sylvinite are well-proven fertilizers for conifers. A lack of calcium in the soil causes the needles to quickly turn yellow and lose their attractive appearance, and then leads to the gradual death of the upper shoots. This is an affordable option for mineral fertilizers used to improve the agricultural background.
• Nitrogen. If necessary, feed weakened and stunted seedlings before planting in the ground. They provoke increased tree growth, so they cannot be used before autumn planting in the ground. This is a good option for winter feeding of thujas growing in pots or containers.
• Microfertilizers. They are used to enrich soils with useful microelements such as boron, manganese, cobalt, zinc, molybdenum and others. If the pre-planting treatment of the seeds with all the necessary substances has not been done, this is done using spot feeding. It is most necessary in the 2nd year of life of seedlings.
• Bacterial fertilizers. They are used exclusively when it is necessary to accumulate various nutrients in soil with a low humus content. If the soil is acidic, it is necessary to lim the soil before doing this.

The amount and frequency of fertilizer application depends on the composition of the soil and the age of the trees. They must be used exactly according to the instructions. Autumn feeding of thujas is a complex procedure. If administered incorrectly or untimely, it may harm the tree instead of the desired effect.

Mineral and organic substances for thuja

What substances are used to feed thuja in summer:

• wood ash;

• slurry at a concentration of 1/20;

• mineral complexes for coniferous plants;

• single-component fertilizers depending on soil fertility.

Wood ash is one of the most useful fertilizers. It’s simple to use: just dilute a liter jar of ash in a bucket of water, let it sit for 3–5 days, and the fertilizing is ready. To ensure that the fertilizer completely penetrates the soil, a hole is dug around the tree and the solution is poured into it.

Before planting the ash, water the soil well. The ash solution is used as a fertilizer for thuja when planting, because it provides the cuttings with all the necessary microelements and basic nutrients - potassium and phosphorus. The downside of ash is the lack of nitrogen.

If you root seedlings in the fall, no nitrogen is added. But in the spring it is necessary for the growth of shoots and the formation of greenery. If you use an ash solution as the main nutrient additive, then the nitrogen components are added separately, 2 weeks after adding the ash, so that the fertilizers cannot neutralize each other.

Coniferous plants love fertile soils with a lot of humus, so they respond well to manure-based fertilizers. The concentration must be diluted. Fertilizer is applied in liquid form. This is a good feeding for thuja growth, but a balance must be maintained for the tree to look lush.

Video: Fertilizers for conifers

Of the mineral complexes, it is better to use special compounds for conifers. They are easier to use, especially for those people who are just starting to grow thuja and do not know how to properly combine fertilizers.

The packs usually indicate what time of year the mixture is intended for. In spring it contains nitrogen, in autumn – potassium and phosphorus. There are special complexes that are designed for rapid rooting of seedlings. They contain substances from which roots are formed, as well as stimulants - growth hormones.

Autumn care for thuja

With proper care in the fall and the necessary operations to prepare the plant for winter, you will provide it with the necessary conditions for a successful winter. What you should pay attention to:

1. Plant nutrition.
2. Stimulation of the root system.
3. Watering.
4. Trimming.

Stopping the application of nitrogen fertilizers

In the fall, you should stop fertilizing the thuja with nitrogen. This fertilizer stimulates the formation of young shoots. By the time the cold weather begins, they will not have time to get stronger and may die over the winter. Feeding with this fertilizer should be done for the last time in mid-August.

Root system stimulation

Another, no less important operation that you must carry out in order to properly prepare the thuja for winter is stimulating the root system. Not everyone needs it, but only young shoots and those plants that were transplanted to a new place before winter. To do this, treat the shrub with preparations that stimulate root growth: Kornevin or Zircon. Dilute the preparations in 10 liters of water: Kornevin - 10 g, and Zircon - 40 drops. Water the tree with the resulting solution. A few days after this procedure, you need to water the bush with 30 liters of water, pouring it into the circle around the trunk. This procedure is necessary to drink moisture from the roots and prevent them from freezing.

Watering

If the region in which you live is characterized by autumn without much rainfall, then you should water the thuja regularly. Coniferous bush loves moisture, but keep in mind that its excess will lead to rotting of the roots. The plant should be watered generously before winter. Then the moisture will saturate the roots for a long time, and the frozen soil around the bush will protect them from hypothermia due to longer freezing of the soil.

Trimming

Pruning is another necessary action in the autumn to care for a coniferous tree. It provides him with healthy development and beauty of form. It is very important not to overdo it when pruning a coniferous bush in the fall. If you expose it too much, then it will not have time to recover and may not survive the winter cold.

Why is pruning needed? You need to prune, first of all, to remove dry and diseased shoots. Untimely processing can lead to the death of the entire thuja.

It happens that not the entire branch is affected, but only a small part of it. Then you shouldn't remove it completely. Trim only the part that is affected. You can just run your hand along the branch, and the dried, diseased needles will fall off on their own. You can fully expect that healthy needles will grow in place of the fallen ones and the tree will be saved.

Additionally, the thuja is trimmed to adjust the shape. To ensure that the bush retains its original appearance, trim trunks that have grown strongly upward. This will also ensure the growth of side branches. By pruning the tree, you will create good air circulation and protect it from pests.

Thuja tolerates procedures for removing unnecessary shoots well both in spring and autumn. Nothing bad will happen if you trim a third time. There is no clear time frame for pruning. The main condition that you must adhere to when processing the plant is dry weather without precipitation and an air temperature of +4 degrees.

It is important to prune the thuja correctly. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Remove all dried, insect-damaged branches from the top of the coniferous bush.
2. Trim off any sprouts that shoot up.
3. Clear the inside of the plant of any excess branches.

You can form any shape of a coniferous bush at your discretion. Purchase a metal mold designed for shape correction from a gardening store and place it above the plant. When the free spaces are filled with shoots, remove the shoots that stick out upward. This manipulation is called a topiary haircut. In addition to it, there are spherical and spiral trimmings. These types of haircuts are carried out in a similar way to topiary pruning: branches that shoot up are removed until the bush takes on the desired shape.

Control of diseases and pests of thuja

The most common disease of thuja is fungal diseases. The main sign of a fungal infection is yellowed and drying shoots. The infection spreads very quickly, so measures must be taken urgently and without delay. The plant must be completely processed. The treatment is carried out in several stages with a solution of copper sulfate.

The main pests of thuja are false scale insects and aphids. Scale insects attack most of the plant in a short time. It is capable of destroying the entire above-ground part of the bush. At the first sign of a pest, it is recommended to spray (in two stages) using the aerosol preparation “Karbofos” or a powder of the same name. The powder is dissolved in water strictly according to the instructions on the package. You can add 90-100 grams of the drug to 10 liters of water.

Aphids are a pest that settle on shrubs in huge families and feed on plant sap. Very quickly the shoots begin to change color from green to yellow, then dry and crumble. This pest can be controlled using various insecticidal preparations (for example, Korbofos, Fitoverm).

With high-quality care and maintenance, the evergreen thuja will retain its decorative value and will delight you for many years to come.

Thuja serves as a real decoration of the site. Thanks to its lush, green crown, several plants can be used to create a hedge or plant it as the main accent, around which flowers or smaller shrubs will grow.

Growing such a plant in the garden is not so difficult, just follow the following recommendations:

1. Watering.

Should be plentiful, administered as needed. At stable warm air temperatures, once a week will be enough. But in hot, dry weather, the amount of watering should be at least doubled. One adult plant will require approximately two buckets of water.

1. Spraying.

Root watering is not enough. Thuja needles actively absorb moisture, so you need to periodically spray them with a spray bottle.

1. Covering.

For the winter, the trees are covered with fabric (gauze or mosquito net) to prevent freezing and death. You can remove the “fur coat” only when the spring sun has already well warmed the ground around the base of the thuja.

1. Loosening the soil.

This procedure should be performed regularly to avoid stagnation of water in the root area.

1. Getting rid of pests and diseases.

A tree cannot get rid of such problems; it will definitely need human help.

1. Lure.

Let's take a closer look at this point.

Fertilizing in spring and autumn to stimulate thuja growth

Tree fertilization includes the following periods:

1. Planting in open ground.

Most often, thujas are planted in the spring. In order for young seedlings to take root and grow confidently, gardeners dig small holes where the thuja will be planted, and then mix soil with ash and natural fertilizer (manure, humus, etc.) in it. If you have done a similar procedure, you can forget about the need to feed the tree for a whole year.

1. A year after planting, in the spring.

Here the owners have a lot of room for imagination. You can use natural fertilizers, urea, potassium mixtures. An excellent solution would be to purchase a complex fertilizer designed specifically for coniferous trees.

1. In August.

The fertilization procedure is repeated so that the plant can prepare for a long winter. But you should not carry out the procedure in the fall, so as not to provoke the growth of additional shoots that will die from the first frosts.

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The homeland of this beautiful evergreen plant of the Cypress family is considered to be North America, where it was also called the “tree of life” and, apparently, for good reason.

After all, thuja, in addition to its extraordinary stature and majesty, also has healing properties. Like all representatives of conifers, this type of tree releases phytoncides, having a beneficial effect on the human respiratory system.

Currently, thuja is most often used for decorative purposes, for example: for landscaping streets, parks, alleys, in the landscape design of country houses, as a hedge, and for decorating garden plots.

In order for the thuja to feel good and delight you with its magnificent appearance, you need to properly care for it.

Complete adaptation of a young thuja to weather conditions will take 2-3 years.

Despite all its unpretentiousness, the tree requires careful attention and proper care. In winter, these representatives of the coniferous family especially need care.

Preparation for the winter period should take place before the onset of cold weather and snowfall (in late autumn, depending on the region of growth). First you need to carry out a number of works:

1. Near the tree trunk you need to lay a decent layer of mulch made from tree bark and nut shells. In winter, it will rot and, accordingly, release heat.
2. The root collar of a coniferous plant also needs to be insulated and hilled, covered with a decent layer of peat or compost.
3. Then the thuja must be watered well.
4. An adult plant is tied with a rope so that it does not break under the weight of wet snow.

Then the tree needs to be covered so that it can withstand the frosty winter. The plant is also wrapped in order not to expose it to attack by small rodents and the influence of sunlight.

To do this, you need to prepare a special covering non-woven material or spruce branches. It is not recommended to use materials that do not transmit light, since photosynthesis in this plant also occurs in winter.

Good to know:

Some plant growers throw snow on the tree. This should not be done, since closer to spring the needles may overheat and they may darken.

Mature trees do not need to be covered. Since they are able to independently survive the cold and the onslaught of the sun.

Is it necessary to feed thuja in the fall?

Thuja does not need special fertilizer in the fall, except for the time after pruning the tree: then it should be fed. After these manipulations, the plant is weakened and must be carefully inspected. If you notice pests: false scale insects or aphids, be sure to spray the bush with preparations to protect coniferous trees from insects. After you trim the crown, feed the thuja using the following fertilizers:

• green manure;
• manure;
• complex mixtures intended for coniferous plants.

The main thing you must remember when feeding is to be a reasonable measure. A large amount of fertilizer can lead to the death of the plant. This is explained by the fact that fertilizing strongly stimulates the development of the tree. Young roots and newly formed shoots are not able to withstand the cold and the thuja may simply die.

The safest way to fertilize a plant in the fall is to fertilize it with peat, wood ash or compost. This type of fertilizing well enriches the soil in which the thuja grows, and at the same time is correctly accepted by the tree: the fertilizer does not lead to the active formation of young shoots.

Fertilizer for thuja when planting

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In order for the thuja to quickly take root during planting, it is necessary to plant it only in well-fertilized soil. It is best to take humus, compost, and wood ash for these purposes. Together, they will become a source of a lot of nutrients for the thuja and ensure its proper development.

In order for the thuja to grow quickly, it needs to be planted only in well-fertilized soil.

Compost, ash and humus are added to the soil that will be used for planting and mixed thoroughly so that the roots of the seedling are not damaged by direct contact with the fertilizer. In this form they will not harm the culture. On average, one planting hole measuring 50x70x70 cm should contain about 1 bucket of compost, the same amount of humus and 3 kg of wood ash.

Important!

When planting thuja, fresh manure cannot be used as fertilizer, as it can cause the death of the plant. Only humus is taken for this procedure, because it has a lower concentration and a more suitable composition.

Steps to prepare thuja for winter

Thuja is considered a frost-resistant coniferous tree. The exceptions are decorative varieties and recently planted trees that have not yet matured. With them you should carry out the actions necessary to protect them from low temperatures. After properly caring for the thuja in the fall, it is necessary to prepare it for winter.

1. Warm the soil using mulching. To do this, dig up the soil near the plant trunk, remove all weeds and lay down protective material. Suitable mulch: compost, manure, dry leaves, straw. The height of the insulating layer can reach from 10 to 30 cm.
2. Insulate the bushes. To do this, you need to lift the branches of the plant up, pressing them against the trunk and securing them with wire or rope. Place a light-colored bag on top of the bush: photosynthesis processes take place year-round, so the plant needs a constant source of sunlight, otherwise it may turn yellow. The protective material should not fit tightly to the wood. This is necessary for constant air circulation.
3. To cover a young tree, use 5-liter plastic containers. Cut off the bottom of the bottle and place it on top of the pine tree.
4. Preventing bark burns is another important step in caring for thuja and preparing it for the winter. To do this, starting from February 15, install shields near the tree on the side of the active source of sunlight.

The insulation is removed immediately after a stable positive temperature has been established.

Is it necessary to cover the thuja for the winter?

Very often we read reviews from experienced people that it is not necessary to cover the thuja in winter, but it is not always clear why this should not be done. What should a novice gardener who has no experience growing thujas do? Before taking measures to protect plants, it is necessary to figure out whether conifers need additional shelter for the winter.

Initially, you need to proceed from the age of the thuja and the time of planting. If conifers were planted in the spring or summer of the current year, it means that young thujas have not yet overwintered on your site in winter conditions. Therefore, it is recommended that young thujas be protected from adverse weather conditions in the first year after planting.

What happens to adult plants? thujas that have been growing in the country for more than one year can overwinter without shelter, but provided that they grow in the shade of other large trees or shrubs, near the house, along a high fence, etc. Conifers planted in partial shade are protected from the bright spring sun, which causes the main damage in the form of sunburn.

It is worth protecting thuja from severe frosts only when the temperature outside drops below -35 °C. Thuja is frost-resistant, so it can easily tolerate frosts. If an adult thuja grows in an open sunny place, then the coniferous plant should be covered to avoid unpleasant consequences in the spring. Many gardeners who do not cover thujas for the winter make a mistake and are sad to discover in the spring numerous branches of a rusty red color, beginning to look for the causes in diseases.

Thuja grows at a fairly fast pace, but not all. In any case, young and mature plants need proper care for lushness and healthy growth. It is advisable to cover young tuikas in the first year after planting in the ground and carefully monitor the condition of conifers in the first two to three years of growth. Arborvitae planted in autumn must be covered in winter (the adaptation period is very short, so there is a high probability of freezing).

in the photo - a thuja covered with burlap from the spring sun

Thuja can get sunburn not only in spring, but also in winter, when the sun is bright and the frosts are not severe. There is practically no sap flow in conifers in winter; lack of moisture and the scorching sun lead to the appearance of red wounds on the branches. Direct sunlight in large quantities can dry out the thuja branches irrevocably, the plant will suffer greatly, and will recuperate all year long. Young and adult thujas are first carefully tied with twine so that the tall fluffy plants do not break under the weight of snow in winter. You need to bandage it tightly, but so as not to break the branches. If the tie is weak, a large amount of snow can easily damage the plants. The branches are collected upward towards the center and tied in a circle. Light-colored material that reflects sunlight well and allows air to pass through is used as a shelter.

To protect the roots of the plant in a snowless, frosty winter, it is necessary to remove all weeds in the tree trunk circle before the first frost appears. Insulation of thuja for the winter in the root zone is carried out in October. To protect against frost, a loose layer (25-30 cm) of rotted manure, leaf litter, peat chips or straw is placed around the trunk around the perimeter of the crown. Many summer residents add spruce branches on top of the mulching material.

Features of the regions

The scheme for covering thujas for the winter may differ. It depends on the region in which the coniferous bush grows. For example, in the middle zone, the thickness of the mulch should be 15 cm. After warming the soil, all necessary actions are carried out to protect the crown of the plant.

In the Volga region, the difference in preparatory procedures for the winter is to increase the thickness of the mulch by 6 cm. That is, the protective layer of soil should be 21 cm.

In the Urals and Siberia, a large amount of snow falls, which can damage the thin branches of the thuja. To protect the bush, before covering it with a protective layer, build a frame of cone-shaped wire. This will prevent heavy snow masses from settling on the plant.

How to protect thuja in winter?

To preserve the thuja crown, gauze is often used. Breathable, thin mesh fabric is perfect for wrapping coniferous wood. The piece of gauze should be wide so that after covering, the crown of the plant is completely hidden. Wrap in one or two layers, depending on the quality of the gauze. For fastening, use rope or wire; you can also use a construction stapler to connect the pieces.

in the photo - thujas insulated for the winter

The use of non-woven materials to cover thuja is fraught with debate inside the tree; the products retain moisture well, and with the appearance of the sun a steam effect is created inside. In unpredictable weather conditions with thaws and frosts, the use of agrospan, lutrasil, spunbond is not considered the best remedy. The use of plastic film has an equivalent effect. For thuja, frames made of wood or wire are often used, over which protective fabric is stretched. The structure must be strong so that heavy snowfall cannot destroy the constructed frame. Small young thujas can be covered with wooden or plastic boxes. Burlap is perfect for protecting thujas.

The main thing is to have time to cover the thuja for the winter and mulch the tree trunk area before the arrival of frost and snow. In different climatic zones, the timing of work differs. In the Urals and Siberia, thuja is prepared for winter from the end of September; in the south, it is not covered before November; in the Moscow region and central Russia, the period can last from mid-October to the second half of November. Gardeners must focus on the local climate in order to prepare thuja for winter in time. And with the arrival of spring, many nuances should be taken into account, since it takes time and a little knowledge to keep the plants lush and green.

Mistakes that should not be made during autumn care

The following mistakes when preparing thuja for winter can lead to its damage and death, so when caring for the tree, you should definitely know them.

1. When does winter come? Do not cover coniferous wood with protective material.
2. The tree is not protected from active sunlight using shields.
3. Instead of fertilizers for coniferous plants, which are what you need to feed thuja, use preparations for deciduous trees.
4. Carry out pruning during periods of active sunlight. This causes the needles to turn brown.

Properly caring for this evergreen beauty in the autumn will not be difficult. This does not require special knowledge or special skills. It is necessary to carry out all of the above simple steps to care for this coniferous tree in the fall, be sure to cover the crown of the bush, as well as insulate the soil for the winter. Then this coniferous tree will decorate your garden plot, delighting you with eternal greenery for many years.

Mycorrhizal preparations for thujas

Mycorrhizal vaccines can be used in addition to fertilizers. The preparations contain mycorrhizal fungi, which have the following effects on plants:

• increase the absorption capacity of the root system;
• improve water supply;
• reduce sensitivity to environmental stress;
• increase resistance to fusarium, late blight and other diseases;
• stimulate root growth;
• increase the availability of nutrients.

With proper feeding of the thuja and proper care, the plant will delight you with its beautiful appearance and green needles.

Juniper is a fairly unpretentious crop that does not require much effort in caring for it. It does not need constant feeding and can grow successfully in rather unfavorable conditions. However, when growing juniper in the garden, it does not hurt to feed it occasionally to ensure uniform development and a consistently healthy and attractive appearance of this evergreen plant. It is enough to apply fertilizer twice during the season so that the coniferous shrub receives all the nutrients necessary for its growth. This article will talk about what to feed juniper and how to do it correctly.

Deadlines for depositing

Conifers are fed several times a season.

• Spring. Apply immediately when signs of nutritional deficiency become noticeable - the color of the needles and the general condition of the crown change. Applying fertilizing in early spring acts as a means of quickly awakening the thuja, this helps it recover from the cold and activates vegetative processes. Suitable period is March.
• Summer. Fertilizers are applied if the tree was not fertilized immediately after winter, but more often they are limited to foliar spraying without nitrogen. The best root fertilizers for irrigation will be solutions prepared on the basis of vermicompost and complex products with protective properties against fungal diseases and pests.
• Autumn. Top dressing is suitable for thujas grown in the southern regions. The main attention is paid to the root application of fertilizers on greenery. Suitable period is September-early October.

Types of fertilizers

You can feed thuja with different fertilizers: organic, mineral and complex compounds.

Organic

Such fertilizers improve the structure of soil layers and activate the vital activity of beneficial bacteria found in them.

Organic matter (humus, compost, rotted manure) for feeding thuja is used mainly in dry form, mixed into the soil at a shallow depth in the root area.

Do not feed conifers with fresh, unrotted manure and chicken droppings - they have a high concentration and burn the roots.

Finished preparations produced by the agricultural industry based on organic components.

• Biud - it contains waste products of cattle and minerals in an easily digestible form;
• Humvit-eco is made on the basis of vermicompost, which stimulates vegetative processes.

Minerals

The health of the tree depends on the correct application of fertilizers.

For coniferous species in the spring, mineral complexes are needed that contain high doses of potassium, magnesium and phosphorus.

Ready-made preparations quickly and effectively replenish nutritional deficiencies, eliminating starvation.

Unlike deciduous plants, thujas do not require a lot of nitrogen, which contributes to the growth of green mass, because this component does not have a significant effect on growth.

Feeding with minerals is allowed only in the dosages specified in the instructions.

Urea, ammonium nitrate and nitroammofosk help to compensate for the lack of nitrogen in the soil immediately after planting. They are applied in dissolved or granular form.

Dry fertilizing allows you to simultaneously combine the replenishment of missing elements and loosening the soil.

The application of nitrogen is stopped at the onset of summer, so that new shoots do not grow, which weaken the conifer, do not have time to become lignified by winter and, as a result, freeze out.

Fertilizer complexes

You can feed thuja with complex fertilizers designed for coniferous trees.

They contain a set of useful elements necessary for full development. Their concentration and cumulative effect allows you to save on consumption by applying them every 3-5 years.

The most popular among gardeners: Khvoinka, Zdraven, Aquarin, Fertika, Green Needle.

Nutrient mixtures for juniper

What to fertilize juniper can be found in your garden plot. This may be humus that has been lying in the pile for 1.5 - 2 years. Do not use fresh manure, which contains a lot of free ammonia.

An excess of nitrogen has a bad effect on the condition of the needles. It turns yellow and dries, and with it the branches. It is advisable to add humus when planting. And do not use fertilizer for the next 3 years. Except when the conifer grows on sandy soil.

Compost, which is used to fertilize juniper in the fall, is used once every 3 years for adult plants. It is dug up with a top layer of soil above the roots. Then water and mulch. Young trees can be supplemented with compost more often - once a year in the spring - to speed up growth and gain of green mass.

Video: Caring for juniper

Wood ash is a popular substance used to feed juniper in the fall. It contains potassium and phosphorus in large quantities, as well as trace elements: magnesium, zinc, iron, boron, calcium. In order not to spend money on special additives, once a year you need to make a solution of ash and water the bush. 300 g of the substance is added to a bucket of water and infused. In this form, the fertilizer is absorbed faster. Ash has an alkaline reaction and reduces acidity in the area where the juniper is planted.

Green manure is used to replenish humus reserves. They are placed in a barrel and filled with water. When they begin to ferment, water the soil with the resulting liquid, and lay the plant residues around the bushes, covering them with a layer of bark on top. This is necessary to create darkness.

Soil bacteria process organic matter in the dark; under the rays of the sun, microorganisms die. Mulch prevents the top layer of soil from drying out and eroding nutrients.

Mineral fertilizers for conifers

Mineral complexes are used in spring and autumn. Stores sell special compositions where the amount of nitrogen is strictly limited. Plants need it for needle growth, but an excess can destroy the plant. Per square meter you need about 30 g of complex fertilizer containing nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus.

You can make a combined fertilizer for feeding juniper in the fall yourself. For this you need superphosphate and potassium sulfate. 40 g and 30 g respectively per square meter. The granules are dissolved in water and watered over the root zone.

The main mistakes gardeners make

When feeding thuja, beginners often make the following mistakes:

1. They do not follow the schedule - the nutritional needs of the thuja change as it grows. At the beginning of the growing season, nitrogen should predominate in the composition of fertilizing, in the second half of the season - phosphorus and potassium.
2. Exceed the dosage - too concentrated solutions burn the roots. Under natural conditions, thuja grows slowly - excessive amounts of fertilizer will not make it develop faster.
3. Pour the solution onto dry soil - the soil must first be moistened abundantly, otherwise the nutrient solution will injure the root system.

Proper care allows you to grow beautiful thujas with bright needles even on infertile land. Fertilizing should be applied regularly, without waiting until the plants begin to hurt and wither.

Varieties

Today there are a huge number of different fertilizers for junipers. Among them:

• organics;
• mineral supplements;
• complexes.

Organic

This fertilizer should be used when preparing holes for planting. To do this, make a mass by mixing peat, humus, and turf. All components must be taken in equal proportions.

After planting, the plants are treated with organic matter throughout the entire growing season. Remember that bird droppings and mullein are not suitable as fertilizer for junipers, because they can lead to burns on the bushes and their subsequent death.

What and how to feed juniper?

Many people plant junipers on them to decorate their plots of land. Like other plants, such coniferous shrubs need proper care. Feeding plays an important role here.

Basic rules of procedure

The soil must be moistened before fertilizing.

• The interval between adding compositions with different elements should be 2 or more weeks.
• In the fall, stop using all mineral and organic complexes, because... Late stimulation of vegetation processes negatively affects future wintering, with the exception of conifers grown in southern areas.
• A day before the planned date of fertilizing, the tree trunk circle is watered with water to moisten it; fertilizers are not applied to dry soil.
• Mineral complexes alternate and do not use together those containing the same components, because there will be an oversupply.

You can feed in one of the following ways - by applying at the root or by spraying along the crown.

Root feeding

Root feeding consists of laying granular preparations or watering with liquid solutions.

Fertilizers are applied to the tree trunk circle, not reaching closer than 15 cm to the trunk, after which it is mulched with peat, pine needles or tree bark.

Mulch additionally serves as an obstacle to the evaporation of moisture, creates breathability of the upper layers and protects against the appearance of weeds.

Deadline for root application:

• in the spring, spread evenly over the surface of the moistened soil and dig up, the consumption standard is 30-40 g per tree;
• throughout the entire growing season, from May to August, 2 times, standard - 60 g per 1 m².

Foliar feeding

Foliar spraying along the crown helps to absorb nutrients faster and more efficiently through the needles.

Compared to root fertilizers, the percentage of fertilizer digestibility is 2-4 times higher and is about 80%.

Application time – from May to August, frequency – once every 14 days. The number of irrigations per season is 3-4 times.

Spray the crown using sprayers and atomizers with preparations based on complex metal compounds - chelates. These include Kvatum, Brexil, Aninomax, Kafom.

Epin and Zircon act as growth stimulants that reduce stress conditions in plants under unfavorable growing conditions.

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