Plant the Thuja tree of life correctly

It is just as popular as a hedge as it is as an impressive solitary plant: the thuja. As an evergreen plant, it is an excellent wind and privacy screen, but it also looks great as a container plant in front of the house or as a solitary tree in the ornamental garden. In order to cultivate the fast-growing, easy-care plants properly, you should consider a few things before planting in order to enjoy the Thuja hedge for a long time. The tree of life does not make high demands, we will explain to you here how to find the optimal location and the right distances.

Location

Arborvitae are sun worshipers, for this reason alone they are ideal as a hedge plant because they unfold their full beauty in full sun. So avoid shady locations, your Thuja could react by refusing to grow. The soil at the planned location is also important. The trees of life do not like acidic soils, and waterlogging is not tolerated either. Compacted soil, especially along garden paths, should be loosened before planting. In the case of heavy, permanently solid soil, drainage made of gravel and sand is recommended.

• do not plant too close to the paths, keep a distance of 30 to 40 cm
• water a lot after planting so that roots and a firm hold can develop quickly
• acidic soil can be upgraded with a lime application and makes it compatible for the thuja

selection of plants

There are many different varieties of Thuja Arborvitae, some species of which can also grow to impressive sizes as solitaires. For example, the Thuja occidentalis, which can grow up to 30 meters high in an optimal location over time. Some species grow very narrow in height, others stay low and spread a little more. Thuja Brabant is particularly recommended for hedge planting, as it grows relatively quickly and soon fills in the gaps, forming a dense hedge.

• feel free to buy small, young plants, it saves money, they can grow on their own
• When buying, make sure you have a well-rooted root ball

planting time

The classic planting time for trees is autumn. This gives the plant enough time to develop its first solid roots and start growing in spring. This also makes sense because the tree of life needs a lot of water in the first few weeks, the abundant rain in autumn in our latitudes then saves watering. Spring is an alternative. This allows the plants to start sprouting immediately, but they still need a lot of water. Since the container goods can now be planted all year round, a thuja hedge can also be planted in the middle of summer, for example when laying out a new garden.

• with container goods, make sure they have good, strong roots
• do not plant in full sun, morning or evening is the best time
• mix the excavation with horn shavings or compost, so you don't have to fertilize at first
• with potted plants, no roots should protrude from the pot, these thujas have been standing for too long

Correct spacing is important

Arborvitae belong to the cypress family, which means that they grow narrow and trapezoidal in height, broad growth and proliferation is not to be feared. However, this also means that when planting a hedge, smaller distances should be maintained than with other plants. As a rule, a distance of about 50 cm is recommended for a Thuja Brabant as a hedge, the narrow Korean Thuja only needs about 40 cm. However, it should not be less, because if you plant too densely, the trees of life take away water and nutrients, which can lead to the lower branches becoming bare and aging. Individual plants may even die off, creating unsightly holes. Anyone who plants young plants must note that it can take some time before the gaps are closed and a dense hedge is created as wind and privacy protection. Nevertheless, it should not be planted too densely.

• the planting hole should be twice as deep and wide as the root ball
• even if the soil is loose, add some sand to make root formation easier
• Firmly step on the ground so that the slender, tall plants find a footing
• the top of the soil should end where the soil ended in the pot or container

Recommended Varieties

• Thuja Brabant, ideal for hedges, fast-growing, spreads a little
• Thuja occidentalis, remains narrow, suitable for hedges and solitaires
• Thuja aurea nana, dwarf thuja about 2.50 m high, also ideal as a container plant
• Thuja koraiensis Nakai, spreading

care and cutting

The Thuja requires little care, which is one of the reasons why it is so popular. If you planted the tree of life as a hedge, it will need pruning from time to time. It is important to note that pruning is done in spring if possible and only new shoots are pruned. He is happy about a gift of long-term fertilizer in spring, which is sufficient for the whole summer.

• do not cut anything into the old wood, these areas can become bare
• all parts of the plant are considered poisonous, work with gloves, skin irritation may occur
• use sharp hedge trimmers so that no plant parts are crushed
• keep the trapezoidal shape when cutting, it is the natural shape of cypress trees
• the height of the hedge can be limited by regular trimming

Conclusion

The easy-care evergreen Thuja Arborvitae is an ideal choice for a hedge or as an impressive specimen tree. When planting, the chosen location and the requirements for the plants should be considered. With a sunny spot and optimal spacing, the tree of life grows quite quickly into a dense hedge, which is particularly suitable as a windbreak. If you choose the right variety for your individual requirements, you can soon look forward to a robust, evergreen hedge that becomes more impressive every year.

Learn more about hedges