Cutting instructions with illustrations and video

Why is cutting thuja so delicate?

Tree nurseries and garden centers offer the tree of life as a cut-compatible, evergreen ornamental wood. Of course, a thoughtless moment is enough to disfigure a thuja forever. As an introduction to the tutorial, we therefore examine the question of why cutting thuja requires a careful approach:

• Thuja only grows on the tips of the shoots
• Other woody areas have stopped growing forever
• Arborvitae species does not have sleeping eyes as an "iron growth reserve"

If you cut back a thuja vigorously once, you will regret the misstep for a lifetime. The conifers no longer sprout from old wood. There are permanent gaps that reveal the dry interior of the bush. On tree of life hedges, brown spots spoil the appearance that no longer turn green. This rule of thumb therefore applies to every type of cut on Thujen:

Correct cutting for shape and vitality - an overview of cutting types

Uncut, an occidental tree of life stretches 10 meters and more into the air and is 3 to 4 meters wide. Even the slim thuja variety 'Smaragd' can reach a height of up to 6 meters. With these dimensions, the conifers in the normal garden quickly reach their limits. In view of the reservations outlined above about a deep cut, regular, moderate pruning regulates growth and preserves evergreen vitality. The following table lists all suitable Types of cuts for the tree of life as a solitary and hedge:

A Taper cutas you know it from deciduous trees not for cutting care from Thujen. A regular cut acts as a continuous taper so that a tree of life does not become bald or too big.

Build thuja solitaire with a stable framework

Upright growing Thuja species thrive with several scaffold shoots that are in competition with each other. Every shoot strives - as fast as it can - towards the exposed outside and from there upwards. This creates a one-sided weight shift from an early age. When there is snow pressure or strong winds, the shoots simply fall apart. With a successive build-up section, you create a stable scaffolding structure that does not lose its weight even in later years. Here's how to do it properly:

• Let the 3 strongest ground shoots grow upwards uncut as the thuja center
• Side shoots lead to lower, short shoots
• Pulling off on a stair-like structure of side shoots around the scaffolding center

It is important to note when making the cut that you are at the Derivative cut limit to the green shoot area. Do not wait so long with the construction cut until you can only divert outer scaffold shoots into the brown area. In this case it is too late and you should delete the cut type from the maintenance program without replacement.

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Trimming the tip of the central shoot stops the increase in height

Seldom cut thuja as a solitary eye-catcher

A thuja with a stable skeleton thrives excellently without an annual pruning. As the illustration below suggests, the pruning care is dedicated to long or heavily drooping branches if necessary. This is how the shape and preservation cut succeed:

• The best time is in February
• Thin out dead shoots inside beforehand
• Derive branches protruding or arching from the shape
• Place the scissors at the fork between old and young wood

To ensure that the removal of individual branches does not leave a gap, proceed as follows: Bend the branch in question to one side. Use this trick to check whether the cut creates a gap or a bald spot. If so, choose an intersection further out.

If a tree of life becomes too big or individual side shoots hang over, fixes it Derivative cut the problem. Redirect the branches in question to a shorter, upright side branch.

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Cut thuja sculptures often and with a template

Building a tree of life hedge - you should pay attention to this

It takes years of patience to build a privacy screen thuja hedge. Even a knee-high fence or Border does not form overnight. In contrast to deciduous shrubs, like Hornbeam or cherry laurels, cutting errors are unmistakable for every observer for half an eternity. Devote yourself to the construction of your arborvitae hedge with serenity, create an evergreen showpiece for your garden. Here's how to do it properly:

• Blend at least twice a year: February and June (optional: again at the end of August)
• The New addition Cut back to 3, 4 or 5 centimeters
• Cut off weak and inward branches
• Raise thuja hedge in a trapezoidal shape: broad base and narrow hedge crown
• Tension cords along the hedge for orientation

As illustrated below, please give your arborvitae hedge one right from the start conical shape. Because the surface is narrower than the base, the evergreen wall flourishes flooded with light and densely needled. Furthermore, there is less snow on the hedge bushes and the tightly upright scaffold shoots do not fall apart as quickly. The reliable dimensional stability is only acquired through the successive build-up section, as recommended by this tutorial.

A thuja hedge is always built up in a trapezoidal shape. If the abutment cut is made twice a year, there is no risk of having to cut into the unpinned area.

Cut the thuja hedge into shape in February

If the top-up cut releases the thuja hedge with the desired final height, an annual shape cut preserves the result achieved. Select one as the appointment frost-free, overcast day in February. As a result, your hedge will keep its well-groomed appearance for many weeks. The late winter cutting time is also the best opportunity to clear dead wood and weak branches. How to do it right:

• At the beginning with the one-handed scissors or saw Thinning out dead wood and inward-facing shoots
• Stretch out cords as auxiliary lines for an accurate trapezoidal cut
• Hedge trimmer(€ 77.00 at Amazon *) Take it in your hand and set it up with a view of the uncut hedge area
• With your arms straight, swivel motorized scissors evenly up and down parallel to the hedge
• Hedge crowns with a horizontal cutter bar cut from the back by swiveling movements

Always cut in the green needled shoot area to avoid brown spots and holes in the hedge. In contrast to the construction phase, only a few millimeters of the green jacket should remain. If only 1 centimeter of shoot length is added to each shape cut and side, your arborvitae hedge will widen by a space-consuming 20 centimeters within 10 years. All considerations and measures to maintain the correct distance to the neighboring property are then no longer applicable.

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The right tool for every type of cut

Care cut only when necessary - this is how it works

To maintain the shape of a majestic arborvitae hedge, it is an advantage if you end of June reach for the hedge trimmer again. Thujas will grow thicker and bushier the more often you cut. Tighten cords again as marking lines for the advantageous trapezoidal shape. A skilful care cut is limited to shoots that protrude from the shape of the hedge. Do not cut more in summer than has been added in growth since early spring.

For slow growing Thuja emerald this year's pattern care is finished at the end of June (St. John's Day). If it is a more strongly growing arborvitae hedge, such as Thuja Brabant, it is up to your horticultural decision to use the August for the last time to cut before winter. From the beginning of September the hedge trimmer should rest so that regrowing branches mature in time for the first frost.

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Check thuja hedge for nesting birds before each cut

frequently asked Questions

Is it possible to keep the Occidental Tree of Life (Thuja occidentalis) at a height of 400 centimeters and a width of 80 centimeters?

That is possible without any problems. However, the upbringing does not succeed afterwards on an old tree of life. If you shorten an established thuja a lot and cut it right into the brown wood, it will not sprout from the inside. On the other hand, initiate the education with a freshly planted tree of life and limit yourself With the annual pruning on the green area, it thrives even in old age 80 centimeters narrow and dense.

My trees of life have visibly turned brown from the inside out this year. Outside of that, the thuyas were always beautifully green. I shook the bushes a bit, and a lot of brown needles fell to the ground. Is that normal? Am I doing something wrong?

Yes, that is perfectly normal. Like all conifers, thuja thrive densely needled. Inside, the needles often turn brown due to the lack of light. A tree of life basically only has a "green coat". This aspect is important when editing. Always measure the depth of cut so that green needles are retained. If you cut too deep, the branches will die and an unpinned branch will stop growing.

I would like to plant thuja 'emerald' in the bucket as a privacy screen for the terrace. What do you have to pay attention to? Which bucket size is correct?

In order for thuja 'emerald' to thrive in the bucket, it is important to have an even supply of water and nutrients. So that a tree of life does not tip over in the wind, the vessel should always be wider than the shrub. Unless you prune the plant regularly, a tub needs to be enlarged every few years. To start with, we recommend a pot volume of 30 liters.

My thuja hedge has gotten way too big. It's nice and green on the sides. Can I prune the hedge?

If the arborvitae hedge has grown too high for you, nothing speaks against a stronger cut along the hedge crown. Tension a cord in advance to mark the straight line of the cut. Then cut the individual thuja stems back to the desired height. From a bird's eye view, the hedge crown then appears bare and patchy. You can assume that vigorously growing side branches will close the crown again within a few years. We recommend that you cut the trees of life at eye level as much as possible in order to take the bare branches out of sight.

Are thujas poisonous?

Unfortunately, all thuja species are poisonous garden plants. Toxins are contained in all parts of the plant. The highest concentration is in the shoot tips. Intentional or unintentional consumption can lead to nausea, vomiting and even liver and kidney failure. Direct skin contact with the sap causes allergic reactions. Wear gloves, protective goggles and long-sleeved clothing for all cutting and maintenance work on the tree of life.

What to do with the clippings of thujas?

Since all parts of the thuja plant contain toxins, the compost heap for the disposal of clippings is not recommended. The remains are also not allowed to enter pastures or other locations near animals. Cows, horses or sheep are not warned about the toxic ingredients by their instinct and die miserably after being eaten. Transport the clippings to the municipal composting facility. Throw away small amounts in the household rubbish.

The 3 most common mistakes

Slow growth and the lack of sleeping eyes as an “iron growth reserve” make every mistake unmistakable for a long time when cutting thuja. So that you don't have to worry about a crooked Thuja solitaire or brown, bare hedge areas, The following overview lists the most common mistakes in the name with tips for effective Prevention:

Tips

A careful choice of location contributes significantly to the fact that a tree of life develops splendidly as a solitary and hedge. Avoid sunny locations with sandy-dry soil. Fungal infections and pests have an easy time in such locations. Assign thuja species and varieties a place in the temperate Penumbra zu, characterized by fresh, summer moist and nutrient-rich soil.